Gardner gets tools to plant his record

England and St Helens winger Gardner has been chief beneficiary of Gidley’s classy and unselfish play over the past two seasons and the partnership is set to continue into 2009, with the latter agreeing to stay on for another year before heading back to Australia.[>

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The majority of Gardner’s 26 tries this season have come from Gidley’s  radar-like final passes – some of them simply brilliant.[>

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Thanks to Gidley’s influence, Gardner has managed to stay ahead of Leeds wing Scott Donald at the top of the try-scoring chart.[>

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And the stakes will be huge when the two players come face to face again tomorrow, when Leeds play St Helens in the Carnegie Challenge Cup semi-final at Huddersfield.[>

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Gardner scored a brace of tries in the win at Wigan last Friday, while Donald completed his 23rd of the season with a spectacular effort from his own line, as Leeds sealed victory over the Catalans Dragons in Perpignan.[>

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It is little wonder, then, that the bookmakers William Hill make both Gardner and Donald  joint 10-1 favourites to score the first try at the Galpharm Stadium.[>

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Gidley has scored only six tries so far this season. He could have gone over the line against Warriors but chose to give Gardner a walk-in. “To be honest, I didn’t quite realise where I was. I didn’t think I was so close to the line,” said Gidley.[>

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“Ade has got plenty [of tries], so I should be saving some for myself. I don’t think I’ll do that again. But if someone gets the tries, I’m not bothered really who gets them.[>

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“Ade is playing well and scoring tries but, for me personally, he saves many tries as well, which is equally as important. He has been very strong for us this year.[>

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“Both Ade and Scotty Donald are proven try scorers, great finishers and the teams rely heavily on them. Hopefully if we get some chances we can capitalise on them and try and negate what Scotty can do. We are fully aware of his strengths.”[>

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Gidley believes that tomorrow’s battle cannot help but be a classic because of the talent on view – the sides are by far and away the best in Super League and only separated at the top by points difference.[>

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“It’s going to be a great occasion,” he said. “Two real quality teams, full of good players. Both teams are well supported, so it should be really exciting for English rugby league to have an occasion like this.[>

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“I hope it’s a nice, dry day because both teams like to play an attacking style. If that happens, everyone will be happy. [>

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“There is not much between the teams. We need to be mentally switched on but, at this stage of the season, physically, we are pretty much at our peak.”[>

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Gidley was captivated by the new Wembley when he helped Saints beat Catalans in last year’s final and it will serve as some added inspiration this time.[>

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“Wembley is the  best stadium in the world, so we would like to get a taste of that again,” he said.[>

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Tonight’s Super League match sees Wigan host Huddersfield and the Warriors’ coach Brian Noble has told his under-pressure players to go all-out for victory.[>

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After back-to-back defeats, Wigan need a win to cut the three-point gap on fourth-placed Warrington – and boost their chances of a home draw in the play-offs.[>

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“It’s a massive game – I am not going to call it in any other way,” said Noble. “Friday night will dictate where we finish.”[>

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Canberra Raiders’ Marshall Chalk, who can play full-back or wing, will be the second overseas signing for new Super League side Celtic Crusaders.[>

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Castleford have agreed a two-year deal with St George Illawarra utility back Rangi Chase, while New Zealand Warriors’ Nathan Fien is set to join Huddersfield.[>