BAT’S THE WAY TO DO IT
No kidding, JJB must win
MELBOURNE: LEEDS: Referees: Sky Sports Arena, 9am
JAMIE JONES-BUCHANAN has the force of a Batman baddie driving him on in this morning’s World Club Challenge.
The Leeds forward is desperate to help the Rhinos pull off a sensational win over Melbourne.
The Super League champions have been crowned world champions three times, the last time six years ago.
But victory in this one – in the Storm’s own back yard in Australia – would be the most incredible one yet.
Ruthless
Jones-Buchanan admits it would be one of his proudest moments and reckons he has more incentive than most of his teammates.
The 36-year-old father of four said: “My kids are pretty ruthless and they have told me not to come home if we don’t win.
“I’ve won it three times so my three eldest have got a medal each but the pressure is on me now because the youngest one hasn’t got one yet.
“But I love that sort of pressure – it’s all about doing things that are aspiring for the next generation.”
Jones-Buchanan, 36, named his three eldest sons Lore, Dacx and Kurgan after sci-fi characters and his four-year-old youngest is called Bane after the Batman baddie. The name Jones-Buchanan itself is already guaranteed to live long in the ® Rhinos’ history, thanks to a glittering career that saw him debut in 1999.
But the former England star is convinced victory today will turn the champions into one of Super League’s all-time greats.
Jones-Buchanan, who will make a record equalling seventh WCC appearance, added: “We could be about to witness history and it’s exciting to be part of.
“An England club side hasn’t won the World Club Challenge in Australia since Wigan in 1994, so it will mean a lot if we do it.
“But it’s not just for us at Leeds, it’s for Super League and England rugby league because there is a lot of apathy towards our game from Australia.
“There is a lot of arrogance on their part and I do not mean that in a disrespectful way because they have got a fantastic competition in the NRL.
“Their game is where ours should be and that is our responsibility. We can start to change those perceptions by winning there.”
Rhinos coach Brian McDermott said: “We believe we can win. That is not being over-confident, it is belief in what we are doing. We have been restricted because of the travel time but it has not been a problem. We have got through as much work as we needed.” ¬ The game will be shown live on Sky Sports Arena from 8.30am, kick off 9am.