Leeds doubtful over Brett Delaney's fitness for Melbourne Storm decider

Leeds Rhinos have an injury concern over their Australian signing Brett Delaney ahead of the World Club Challenge against Melbourne Storm at the end of this month. Delaney limped out of Friday's home Super League defeat by Castleford, and the unprecedented refusal of the Rhinos' coach Brian McClennan to discuss any of his players' injuries has fuelled fears that the former Gold Coast Titans centre could be out for a while. McClennan said: "Any statements regarding injuries for the rest of the year will be dealt with by Meiron Jones [the head physio]. There is a privacy part for the actual player whether or not they want to disclose the nature of their injury, and it is up to them if they want that to happen." There is similar uncertainty over whether the Rhinos' second-row Carl Ablett will miss the Melbourne game, after he was forced off in the early stages of the champions' 24‑10 defeat by Castleford. Melbourne's coach, Craig Bellamy, confirmed to rugbyleague.com today that four of the club's internationals – Brett White, Sika Manu, Cooper Cronk and Chase Stanley – have already been ruled out of the trip after off-season surgery. Bellamy also said Greg Inglis, the Australia centre who holds the Golden Boot as the best player in the world, is also a major doubt because of a hip injury. Inglis has been forced to withdraw from the Indigenous All Stars team who will play an NRL All Stars team on Saturday in a new high-profile fixture to launch the countdown to the Australian season, and Bellamy said: "We won't be taking any risks, put it that way." Castleford have been given permission by the Rugby Football League to wear their new red away strip for the first home game of the season, against Warrington on Saturday. The Tigers hope that Sky's coverage of the game will raise the profile of their initiative to donate £4 from every shirt sold to the Help for Heroes charity which assists British service personnel who have been injured in the conflicts in Afghanistan and Iraq, following the death of three Castleford supporters in Afghanistan during the past eight months. The Catalans Dragons have issued a statement backing the five players who were arrested following an alleged brawl in Leeds last Sunday and detained for more than 24 hours before being released on bail. "The players have been advised to put this incident behind them and concentrate on their rugby league," said the club, adding that after a meeting with the chairman Bernard Guasch they are now preparing for Sunday's game at Harlequins.