Hull ask RFL to 'go easy' on Lee Radford with play-off derby in mind

Hull will plead for leniency at tomorrow's meeting of the Rugby Football League's disciplinary committee in an effort to clear Lee Radford for Saturday's play-off derby against Hull KR, arguing that they and the prop have already suffered enough. Radford was dismissed for throwing a series of punches at Ryan Bailey in the ninth minute of Hull's last game of the league season, against Leeds at the weekend, when an 18-14 defeat cost them a place in the top four and left them playing sudden-death against their fierce rivals. "If ever there was a case for the sending off being sufficient [punishment], I think this is it," said Hull's coach Richard Agar, who continues to argue that Radford was provoked by Bailey's use of an elbow in the tackle, even though the Leeds forward has not been referred to a disciplinary hearing. "The ramifications for us of playing for 71 minutes with 12 men have already been pretty severe, as we've missed out on a place in the top four. Lee also has a clean disciplinary record, which for a bloke like him who has been playing at the sharp-end for more than a decade is pretty amazing. "He would be devastated to miss a derby like this. He's a fairly prominent character in the city and he's a pretty rare character in that he's popular with both clubs – as Hull KR showed recently by trying to sign him." Hull have their full-back Jordan Tansey available again after serving a two-match suspension for a spear tackle in a stormy victory against the Crusaders three weeks ago, but Agar said there are no guarantees that he will return after Craig Hall filled in impressively against Leeds. Agar also expressed surprise that Tom Briscoe, the 20-year-old wing who was outstanding against Leeds, has failed to earn a place in the Engage Dream Team that gathered for the official launch of the play-offs at Old Trafford. Joel and Sam Tomkins are two of four Wigan players included, becoming the first brothers to be recognised in the same season, and Hull KR's scrum-half Michael Dobson is the only player selected from a team outside the top four. Keith Senior has been selected for a fifth time, Paul Wellens for a fourth, and the Warrington prop Adrian Morley has become the first player to be recognised in three separate decades having previously been included as a Wolves player in 2009, and twice in the late 90s, when he was playing for Leeds. St Helens will definitely be without Leon Pryce at home to Warrington on Friday with the Saints coach, Mick Potter, confirming that the stand-off requires neck surgery that will also rule him out of England contention for the Four Nations series in Australia and New Zealand. The Kiwis have included the Leeds second-row Greg Eastwood and Wigan's scrum half Thomas Leuluai in their training squad for the tournament but will be without Steve Matai, the fiery Manly centre who is facing a lengthy suspension after his fifth offence in the past two years. Matai's former Manly team-mate Matt Orford, whose first season with Bradford was curtailed by a shoulder injury, is expected to seek a release from the remaining two years of his deal to join Canberra next year. Engage Super League Dream Team: Wellens (St Helens); Richards (Wigan), King (Warrington), Senior (Leeds), Hall (Leeds); S Tomkins (Wigan), Dobson (Hull KR); Morley (Warrington), Roby (St Helens), Graham (St Helens), Westwood (Warrington), J Tomkins (Wigan), O'Loughlin (Wigan).