INTERNATIONAL: Morley

by Stuart Martel

International stars Iestyn Harris and Adrian Morley have been named in the Leeds Rhinos squad to face York Rugby League Club at Huntington Stadium.

Half-back Harris and forward Morley, two of the hottest properties in the game, are included in a strong 19-man line-up provisionally announced by Rhinos coach Graham Murray.

Murray has selected a dozen players who featured in the Leeds squad defeated by Castleford Tigers in the Silk Cut Challenge Cup fourth round last month.

Great Britain forward Barrie McDermott continues his comeback from a badly broken leg with a slot against the Wasps on Friday, kick off 7.30pm.

The prop forward will be joined by a host of regulars from the Headingley club's 1997 Super League campaign, including Paul Sterling, Graham Holroyd, Francis Cummins, Jamie Mathiou, Martin Masella and Anthony Farrell.

Former Keighley Cougars player coach Daryl Powell, the multi-capped international, is also expected to figure in the fixture.

The Leeds line-up for the pre-season friendly is likely to attract one of the largest Huntington Stadium crowds for a number of years.

The Wasps were fearful that the Rhinos, with a friendly arranged at Halifax Blue Sox on Sunday, would field a squad largely made up of youngsters and fringe players.

But the inclusion of the likes of Harris, Morley, Holroyd and McDermott adds spice to the occasion for supporters and also the York squad, eager to impress coach Dean Robinson with the second division season just three weeks away.

Said Robinson: "I am delighted that the Leeds squad is more or less at first team strength, apart from one or two exceptions. It will give a real tough test to the York squad, which is something we needed at this time in our pre-season arrangements.

"I am certain the lads will relish the opportunity to actually play against players of this class. There are a few Leeds fans in the squad and they will be used to seeing them from the terraces, but now they can show them what they have got.

"It will be a great day for everybody at the club. It is what rugby league is all about and what we are trying to aspire to. The result does not matter, it is about our preparations and giving a good account of ourselves.

"We are really looking forward to it and I just hope we have got a full stadium to try and get behind the lads."

The Leeds match provides a baptism of fire for the Wasps most recent signing John Strange, the former Featherstone Rovers full-back.Wasps chief executive Phil Elliott declared the game a mouth-watering prospect, adding that he anticipates a crowd of 1,500 to 2,000.

"It is excellent news. It will be great to have talent like Iestyn Harris on the field at Huntington Stadium. We are hoping for a big crowd. I would expect to see 1,500 to 2,000 for a match against a Super League team with names like that," said Elliott.

"It is the first test at home for our squad. Every match we have been going through we have added players to the squad. It will be a very interesting match."

* York council representative Peter Warters was today attending a meeting of second division clubs at Preston, where Oldham were expected to lodge a complaint with the Rugby Football League about Bramley's link up with Headingley landlords Leeds.

Converted for the new archive on 30 June 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.