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*NEW* BLUEY'S VIEW | EXCLUSIVE TO LEEDSRHINOS.BIZ

"IT WAS A TOUGH GAME"
By Shamoon Hafez May 31 2008
Bluey's View is a new feature to the website where you will be able to read the full post match press conference made by Brian McClennan after each Leeds Rhinos home game. This is the only place on the internet where you can read IN FULL, what Bluey had to say after the game.

         

vs Wigan Warriors- Saturday 31st May 2008.
Challenge Cup Quarter Final 
Headingley Carnegie, Leeds

They made it tough for you didn't they?

Well we made it tough for them too. It was one of those classic, tough, fight it to the bitter end sort of match. The only thing missing to make it a real classic was mud.

What about Jamie Peacock's effort for the whole 80 minutes today?

Outstanding. I made a comment to the coaching staff in the last five minutes that, "Look at JP. It looks like he's fought in all the wars."
He was bleeding from the eye, the elbow but he kept battling and it was a phenomenal effort from a truly great rugby league player.
Himself and Keith Senior just step up when the team need them to and they're the only players here to have won a Challenge Cup and we know how special it is by the way Jamie played today.
It must be good, for him to think that he wants to get to the final again..

Do you think you can go all the way now, regardless of who you play?

We just take one game at a time. We're determined to do well in this competition as is everyone else and we'll get ready for whoever we're drawn against.

The Danny McGuire tackle on Liam Colbon; Was that a crucial part of the game?

Yes, it certainly was but that was the beauty of the game. The big plays by people on both teams.
I thought Feka Paleaaesina's break late on was a great play. You look at the game and see good things from both sides and that shows the passion involved.
We respected how tough Wigan were going to be, they have a proud history and have won the most Challenge Cups and it was a great effort by all that took the field today.

Finally, why do you think Leeds won it? What gave you the edge?

It's hard to say and I feel that the game was dominated in periods by Leeds or Wigan.
The start of each half, we were the ones that were dominating territory and then at the back end of each half it was them.
In the end, we managed to capitalise on our breaks a little better than them but there wasn't a lot in it. It wasn't that far away from Wigan getting the victory. It's how tough the game was.
For us as a team, it's one of those courageous battles you need to win in order to build your character for big games later in the year.
We've played flash and been able to win flash and this was a sort of open rugby style of play.
To be able to win the tight contests is what we need to do.

Shamoon Hafez

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