Appo leads by example

The Australian replaced injured skipper Lee Briers in the role at home to Halifax in July and he finished the game with a club scoring record of 34 points, made up of four tries and nine goals.

Appo's outstanding form has continued since then and his spectacular chip kick touch down at Leeds Rhinos on Friday night - hailed by Paul Cullen as 'the nearest thing he has seen to Phil Blake since Phil Blake' - sent him to the top of Super League's charts with 20 tries to his name.

Injuries will force team changes for Sunday on head coach Cullen, with Darren Burns and Lee Penny returning to the fray, but all eyes will remain on 29-year-old Appo attempting to improve on his try tally and keeping alive Wolves' hopes of finishing in a top six play-offs spot for the first time.

It is quite an incentive for Appo to stay at the peak of his game against one of the worst sides that the eight years old Super League has produced but he is not the only Wolves player who has to avoid any level of complacency against a side that have lost their last 24 matches.

Contracts for next season are still up for grabs and the players want another crack this year at toppling one of the top four clubs, which would only be possible by reaching the play-offs. And to do that, they must figure on winning all three remaining games and hope that London Broncos or Hull FC slip up at least once.

Many believed Wolves' play-offs hopes went up in smoke when the team's leader Briers broke his wrist two months ago. Part of the reason why Wolves are still in the running now is the success of Appo's switch from three-quarter to stand off.

Cullen said: "Even I couldn't foresee how well he would go when he moved to stand off. During the year he has kept reminding me that he has played a little bit at half back in the past and I never took him on with it until Lee's injury.

"The dynamic x-factor he has was no surprise because we'd seen that from him in the three-quarters. He has the ability to step off both feet and glide. He's very unpredictable.

"What has been a surprise to me is the way he has been controlling the shape and structure for the team as well as doing his dynamic part. Controlling shape and structure is a difficult job and to do that along with his dynamic part is a very difficult act but he's jumped straight into that role and doesn't look out of place."

Appo, signed from French outfit Lezignan last year, is out of contract at the end of this season and Wolves must lose one of their overseas stars for 2004 to fit in with reduced quota rules.

Sadly, fellow Australian and Wolves' 2002 player of the year Sid Domic looks to be heading to London Broncos for Super League IX. In turn, this would indicate it looks good for Wolves fans hoping to see Appo setting the new stadium alight next term. However, the word from the club with regards to players' contract renewals is that the process is ongoing.

Domic led from the front in intensive training sessions earlier this week to show he has recovered from a heavy tackle that 'winded' him at Leeds and he will therefore keep the loose forward's jersey against Halifax.

Burns will be back in the second row after shaking off a swollen facial injury from the Widnes win a fortnight ago.

Ian Sibbit, Nick Fozzard and Jerome Guisset are set to be absent this weekend.

Centre Sibbit has a fracture to the tip end of his thumb but, depending on his ability to grip, could return to the side as early as the next match away to Huddersfield Giants, which has been brought forward to September 12, kick-off 8pm, for Sky television coverage.

Guisset has damaged wrist ligaments and Fozzard is being troubled with a calf problem, but both are eager to play against Halifax.

Expected team for 3pm kick-off: Lee Penny; Daryl Cardiss, Brent Grose, Ben Westwood, Dean Gaskell; Graham Appo, Nathan Wood; Paul Wood, Jon Clarke, Mark Hilton, Darren Burns, Mike Wainwright, Sid Domic. Subs: Gary Hulse, Mark Gleeson, Warren Stevens, Paul Noone.