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Page last updated at 08:06 GMT, Tuesday, 15 September 2009 09:06 UK

Senior savours Dream Team recall

Leeds centre Keith Senior
Senior is a survivor from the inaugural season of Super League in 1996

Leeds centre Keith Senior says he finds it "insulting" people think he is hitting his peak at the age of 33.

The veteran three-quarter was named in Super League's Dream Team after helping the Rhinos finish top of the table at the end of the regular season.

"When you get to a certain age, people write you off," said Senior, whose last Dream Team selection came in 2004.

"At the ripe old age of 33, people say I'm playing the best rugby of my career which I find quite insulting."

The England star added: "I wouldn't say I've improved but I've definitely been more consistent this year and it seems to have stood out a little more because I'm an old man."

Senior will be aiming to help the Rhinos take another big step towards a hat-trick of Old Trafford appearances on Friday when they host Hull KR in the first qualifying play-off at Headingley.

Like Leeds, Rovers have four representatives in the Dream Team in winger Peter Fox, scrum-half Michael Dobson and back-row pair Clint Newton and Ben Galea.

St Helens, on the other hand, have a solitary representative in Australian centre Matt Gidley, who was shocked at the exclusion of reigning Man of Steel James Graham.

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"We haven't as many representatives as in previous years and I was initially surprised because James Graham has had an fantastic year," stated.

"But then you look at guys like Adrian Morley and Jamie Peacock who have been fantastic for their clubs.

"There is a wealth of front rowers going around the Super League at the moment and there's some depth in all positions."

Wigan's 20-year-old stand-off Sam Tomkins was one of eight new faces in the Dream Team.

Tomkins did not make his Super League debut until four matches into this season but has enjoyed a meteoric rise to fame and was a travelling reserve for England's international against France in June.

"Things have happened so fast, I can hardly believe it," said Tomkins. "It is a huge honour. There are a lot of very good players in my position and to think I am in there ahead of them feels amazing."

The team, which is chosen by a panel of journalists and broadcasters and is based on form throughout the regular season is:

Brett Hodgson (Huddersfield); Peter Fox (Hull KR), Matt Gidley (St Helens), Keith Senior (Leeds), Ryan Hall (Leeds); Sam Tomkins (Wigan), Michael Dobson (Hull KR); Adrian Morley (Warrington), Scott Moore (Huddersfield), Jamie Peacock (Leeds), Ben Galea (Hull KR), Clint Newton (Hull KR), Kevin Sinfield (Leeds).



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see also
Salford 24-30 Leeds
11 Sep 09 |  Rugby League


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