Durable Senior set for landmark appearance

Evergreen centre Keith Senior has no plans to slow down as he reaches the remarkable landmark of 500 professional games this weekend.

The 33-year-old Leeds veteran has been one of the outstanding players of the Super League era, featuring in every season since the switch to summer rugby in 1996.

"You hear all these people who have retired who say once you have retired that's it, you can't go back," said Senior. "I'm still enjoying my rugby and still feel like I am performing at the highest level."

He has made 304 appearances for the Rhinos alone and he intends to make many more after bringing up a quintuple century unique in the modern game in Saturday's clash at Hull.

Senior recently agreed a contract extension with the Rhinos until the end of the 2010 season and even then the fit and highly-motivated former Great Britain international might not be finished.

He added: "Retirement is something I'll have to cross when I come to it but at this moment in time I am looking forward to the rest of the season and definitely next year as well."

Senior came to rugby league late having played union as a junior for Huddersfield YMCA but he soon made up for lost time.

He caught the eye of Sheffield Eagles and was thrown into their first team at the age of 18 for an ignominious debut in a 22-0 defeat by Widnes.

"It was the first time Sheffield ever got nilled," recalls Senior. "That's why I can remember it!"