Rhinos Rocked By Injury to Key Signing Buderus

Leeds Rhinos' plans for next season have been thrown into confusion by a serious injury to their major new signing Danny Buderus following the weekend announcement that Clinton Toopi has played his last game for the club.

The Rhinos have released Toopi from the remaining year of his contract after the New Zealand centre, 28, suffered his second serious knee injury of the season in last month's Challenge Cup semi-final defeat by St Helens.

Now they have been rocked by the news that Buderus, the 30-year-old former Australia hooker, is facing a race to be fit for the start of next season after damaging his right biceps during Newcastle's victory over North Queensland. He was due to have further scans overnight but initial fears of a rupture prompted speculation in Australia over whether his move to Headingley could be at risk.

The Rhinos are expected to announce another new recruit for 2009 this week and are being linked in New Zealand with Ruben Wiki, the 35-year-old prop who is the most-capped player in the history of international rugby league.

Wakefield Trinity, who Leeds play in their last league game of the season on Sunday week, ended an eight-match losing run going back to June with an unexpected 38-22 win against the Catalans Dragons in Perpignan on Saturday night.

Damien Blanch scored two of Trinity's six tries but it was the welcome return to form of Danny Brough and his effective combination with Brad Drew that caused the most problems for a Catalans team who are guaranteed to finish third in the table, but were missing seven regulars.

In Saturday's other game Celtic Crusaders beat Salford 20-10 in Bridgend to ensure that the two National League clubs who have been awarded Super League licenses for next season will finish as the top two in the First Division. The Crusaders will now travel to Salford in the play-offs, with the winners of that game going into the National League grand final at Warrington.