Colella's enforced retirement adds to Giants' pressure

Dave Hadfield
Friday 09 May 2003 00:00 BST
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Huddersfield have suffered a blow with the decision of their Australian second-row forward, Anthony Colella, to retire at the age of 27.

Colella had made a good impression since arriving from South Sydney, but says that a recurring knee injury has forced him to bow out.

"I felt it wasn't fair for the club or my team-mates to carry on at what I felt was around 50 per cent of my ability," he said.

Colella's decision comes after Matt Calland's retirement, following a fractured eye socket, and could force the Giants to look for reinforcements.

Bradford will be without their full-back, Michael Withers, for the foreseeable future after a second operation on a stomach problem. The Australian has missed eight of the Bulls' 12 games so far, including the Challenge Cup final victory over Leeds.

London Broncos need to overcome their aversion to playing at home if they are to put further dents in Leeds' season tonight. The Broncos, effective on the road, have not won at Brentford in Super League.

Their coach, Tony Rea, watched Leeds drop their first point of the season against Wigan on Tuesday and has added Richard Marshall to a squad that includes two players on loan from Leeds, Austin Buchanen and Damien Kennedy. Jonny Hepworth, who had a similar stint with the Broncos last year, is in line for his Leeds debut, in place of the injured hooker, Matt Diskin.

St Helens could give Keiron Cunningham his first start of the season against Wakefield, while Warrington can build on their top-six credentials at last-placed Halifax, despite the insistence of their coach, Paul Cullen, that safety from relegation remains the priority.

"There are a number of games to come before we raise our sights to the top six," he said. "You always have to be wary of desperate sides." Warrington are without Jérome Guisset, who is playing for France today in the Victory Cup against Russia in Moscow. Britain's representatives, the Barla XIII, play the United States for the Victory Bowl.

Hull's captain, Jason Smith, will be out for another month after hearing he has a cracked bone, as well as tendon damage, in his shoulder.

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