Influential Peacock can guide Leeds Rhinos to silverware

Leeds Rhinos have been handed a major lift ahead of the new Super League season with prop Jamie Peacock signing a new contract.

The former Great Britain and England captain, who was named the club’s player of the year and nominated for the Man of Steel award, has agreed an extension to his current deal which will keep him at Headingley until the end of the 2015 season.

“I am looking forward to the new season and the next two years,” he told the Rhinos website.

“Last year was the first time in over a decade that I had a full off season and I can feel the benefit of that again this winter as I look towards the new campaign.

“I still have a lot of goals I want to achieve in the next two seasons and high in those priorities is helping the transition of this group of players onto the next stage of their career and helping the Rhinos maintain the success we have had in recent years.”

The 36-year-old has been an influential member of a Rhinos side which has finished as Super League champions five times in the last seven years.

He has won the Grand Final a record eight times and his experience will be vital for Brian McDermott’s side as they attempt to win a 10^th Championship title.

The Yorkshire-based club are 4/1 to win the Grand Final behind 7/2 joint-favourites Wigan and Warrington, while McDermott’s charges can be backed at 5/1 to finish top of the league.

And though Peacock won everything the domestic game had to offer at Bradford the former England international is yet to pick up the Challenge Cup in Leeds colours.

The Rhinos are 5/1 for Wembley success this year and with Peacock at the heart of their challenge they will have an excellent chance of lifting the trophy for the first time since 1999.

All Odds and Markets are correct as of the date of publishing.

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