AFTER initially naming an unchanged 19-man squad for Saturday's engage Super League Grand Final at Old Trafford, Leeds Rhinos have suffered a blow with the loss of key player Brent Webb.
Luke Burgess and Ryan Hall were added to the 17 players who defeated Wigan in the Elimination game last Friday at Headingley Carnegie.
They join a squad which includes former Drighlington ARL junior Lee Smith and Morley-born prop forward Nick Scrut
on.
But Leeds are now without full back Webb who has been ruled out of the showpiece event at Old Trafford by the re-occurrence of a back injury he suffered earlier in the season.
He had suffered a knee injury against St Helens a fortnight ago but that injury had been cleared earlier in the week and the club were confident he would be available for Old Trafford. There is a strong possibility that he will also miss the World Cup with New Zealand but he will have further medical tests next week before a final decision is made.
However, the re-occurrence of the back injury now means that Webb will not be able to even travel across to Manchester to watch the game.
Head Coach Brian McClennan commented: "We are all behind Brent at this time and he is bitterly disappointed to be missing out. We were confident earlier in the week that he would be available but then he suffered a re-occurrence of the back injury in training.
"The last time he suffered it he was out for three to four weeks and it is worse this time. He has been a huge contributor to our team and to getting us to the Grand Final.
"It is probably the worst week in his sporting life, he is devastated to miss out on Old Trafford, having missed the semi-final earlier in the year, and also possibly representing the Kiwis in the World Cup.
"He has wished the boys all the best and he will have to watch the game at home because he is in so much pain that he can not even sit down in comfort. Our medical staff are working with him to help him as much as they can and he knows he has got our full support."
The Rhinos are out to make history St Helens, having never retained the title in the club's 113 year history.
Leeds have only ever won the Championship on five occasions. In 1961, Lewis Jones led Leeds to victory over Warrington at Odsal, however the following year they failed to make the play-offs.
In 1969 they defeated Castleford at Odsal only to lose the following year to St Helens at same ground. In 1972, they avenged that defeat with victory over Saints at Station Road before relinquishing their title to Dewsbury 12 months later.
Finally in 2004, a 32-year wait was over but a year later, Bradford Bulls, led by Jamie Peacock, prevented Leeds from once again retaining their title.
Eight members of the current squad have played in both the 2004 and 2007 Grand Final wins, joining John Atkinson, John Langley and Ray Batten as the only Leeds players to ever win two Championships.
Of the current eight, seven will be appearing in their fourth Grand Final, matching the record of John Atkinson who played in the 1969, 1970, 1972 and 1973 Championship Finals. The only player not to have played in 2005 was Keith Senior, the other seven are: Kevin Sinfield, Danny McGuire, Matt Diskin, Ryan Bailey, Ali Lauitiiti, Rob Burrow and Jamie Jones-Buchanan.
The squad in full is:
2. Scott Donald
4. Keith Senior
5. Lee Smith
6. Danny McGuire
7. Rob Burrow
8. Kylie Leuluai
9. Matt Diskin
10. Jamie Peacock
11. Jamie Jones Buchanan
12. Gareth Ellis
13. Kevin Sinfield (c)
14. Ali Lauitiiti
16. Ryan Bailey
17. Nick Scruton
18. Ian Kirke
19. Carl Ablett
22. Ryan Hall
24. Luke Burgess
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