Famous Peacocks (a series)

via: UK's The Independent
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Peacock ready for the Super League Grand Final

By Ian Laybourn, PA
Wednesday, 1 October 2008

Forward Jamie Peacock insists Leeds have sustained no lasting damage from their recent mauling by St Helens as the two teams prepare to do battle for the big prize at Old Trafford on Saturday.

The Rhinos were thrashed 38-10 by Saints in the qualifying semi-final at Knowsley Road less than a fortnight ago but bounced back against Wigan last Friday to earn a re-match with Saints in the Super League Grand Final.

And Peacock says there are no emotional scars from their recent meeting.

"They will have no advantage whatsoever," he said. "As far as I'm concerned, it's fish and chip paper now.

"It's pretty easy to get over it when you've got a game the following week. The difficult one is the game coming up.

"If you lose that, that's the one that's hard to get over because you have to wait a long time to put the shirt on again.

"This is a different game and a different occasion, one we're looking forward to playing in. These are the games you play professional sport for. Old Trafford is a fantastic venue."

Leeds have taken the same route to Old Trafford as last year, beating the Warriors in the final eliminator, and Peacock believes it could once more work in his side's favour as they look to become only the second club to retain their Super League crown.

St Helens, who played every week of the regular season after reaching the Challenge Cup final for the third successive year, have earned two weekends off after reaching the Grand Final at the first attempt and on Saturday will be playing only their second game in a month.

"I think it's a benefit for us, for sure," said Peacock. "Speaking for myself, I would not have liked to be going into the Grand Final on the back of one game.

"You tend to get a bit rusty and you don't have that cohesion that you normally have. It was good to put in a great performance against Wigan."

St Helens are the only club to have previously retained their Super League title.

They won back-to-back crowns under Shaun McRae before the advent of the play-offs, and in 2000 Ian Millward successfully masterminded the defence of the title won by his predecessor Ellery Hanley.

Peacock, who appeared in five consecutive Grand Finals with Bradford and led them to victory on his farewell appearance at Old Trafford three years ago, believes a win on Saturday would rank alongside any other achievement in the 13 years of Super League.

"It would be fantastic," he said. "I don't think it's been done when a team has won the World Club Challenge but we'll be out there trying to achieve that goal.

"Saints are a great side but we feel we can achieve it."

Leeds began their 2008 campaign back in January with a friendly against South Sydney in Florida as part of their preparations for the World Club Challenge with Melbourne Storm.

The Rhinos went off the boil after their euphoric triumph over Melbourne but have regained their form with five wins from the last six matches, their only blip coming against St Helens.

(famous peacocks)