McGuire blow adds to Leeds problems

Leeds Rhinos must do it the hard way if they are to win a fourth successive Engage Super League title after losing Danny McGuire for the rest of the season.

McGuire's worst fears were realised when told the extent of the knee injury he sustained in the closing stages of the play-off victory over Wigan on Sunday. Scans revealed the 27-year-old needs to undergo surgery which will rule him out of the rest of the play-offs and sideline him for England's Four Nations campaign.

Leeds head of physiotherapy services Meirion Jones said: "After further investigations and a consultation with our knee specialist, it has been confirmed that Danny has ruptured multiple knee ligaments which will require surgery and an extended period of rehabilitation extending into next season."

The body blow comes two months after McGuire's team-mate Jamie Peacock, the England captain and inspirational forward, was ruled out for the rest of the campaign, also with a knee injury.

McGuire has been in outstanding form this year and will be sorely missed as the Rhinos seek to book a return to Old Trafford.

He has missed only one Super League match this year and on Sunday night scored his 27th try of the season.

McGuire scored the 200th try of his career in Leeds' Challenge Cup semi-final triumph over St Helens last month and was only last week named the club's player of the year.

Leeds will be hoping for better news later on Tuesday when hooker Danny Buderus appears before the Rugby Football League's disciplinary committee charged with a grade A dangerous tackle.

The former Australian international was put on report for the incident during the Rhinos' win at Wigan and was charged by the RFL's match review panel.

Any suspension would rule him out of Leeds' qualifying semi-final on Saturday week and throw another major obstacle in the way of the champions' defence of their crown.