Rugby League: Big names put shirt on Steve winning fight.

Byline: Trevor BAXTER Rugby League Correspondent

BRAVE Steve Prescott will pull on a St Helens shirt again tomorrow just three days after resuming his battle for life.

'Preoky' has started chemotherapy treatment for a rare former of stomach cancer.

But the former Saints, Hull and Great Britain star is determined not to let down his old team-mates.

And some of the game's greatest names will ensure they're at Knowsley Road to support the 33-year-old father of two.

Prescott was diagnosed with pseudomyxoma peritonei last year.

His plight touched the rugby league community and a Trust Fund was established for him, wife Linzi plus sons Taylor (5) and eight-month-old Koby.

Internationals Lee Radford and Stuart Fielden raised pounds 50,000 from their 'Rumble on the Humber' boxing bout.

Former team-mate Tommy Martyn auctioned his 1996 Challenge Cup winners' medal.

And tomorrow's meeting between Saints' '96 double winners and a Legends XIII including Shaun Edwards, Denis Betts, Martin Offiah, Gary Schofield and Barrie McDermott will swell the Fund still further.

The support shown has overwhelmed Prescott.

"One man sent a cheque for pounds 5,000 saying his father had suffered from cancer. This is just a single example of the kindness and concern that has been shown to me and my family."

And for his part, the son of St Helens legend Eric Prescott said: "I've just got to fight it.

"I was a fighter on the pitch and now I will be a fighter off it. The chemo is going to be hard and I've got a big battle ahead. But I'm a strong enough character to deal with it

"The game will be fantastic. There's some great stars playing.

"I get goose pimples thinking about that 1996 St Helens team. I've watched the Challenge Cup Final at Wembley numerous times - the team of that year was immense. I definitely want to get out on the field and get a shirt on again.

"We'll just have to see what state I'm in at the time. I know I've got a long road ahead."

Former Leeds Rhinos favourite McDermott said: "Sunday's game will be a fantastic way for the game of Rugby League to unite and show it's support for one of the sports true heroes.

"Rugby League is such a small family that when someone is in trouble, people rally round.

"We can't ignore each other. Steve was a player who gave his all for which ever team he played for."

The game kicks off at 2pm and a limited capacity set on safety grounds has been lifted to Knowsley Road's maximum.

HULL KR'S crucial home match with bottom-of-the-table Salford City Reds tomorrow has been disrupted by rumours of an audacious swoop for Paul Cooke from Humberside rivals Hull FC.

It is no secret Cooke is a Rovers fan, but both clubs have denied a cross city move is on the cards.

CAPTION(S):

FIGHTING BACK: Steve Prescott is back in action tomorrow

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Title Annotation:	Sport
Publication:	The Mirror (London, England)
Date:	Apr 21, 2007
Words:	492
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