2000: A new Golden Era

Under Daryl Powell's guidance the next few years saw a massive turnaround in personnel within the Rhinos squad with a new breed of young, local players emerging, with the likes of Danny McGuire, Richard Mathers, Rob Burrow, Ryan Bailey and Matt Diskin all making the transition from the Academy ranks to the first team. The changes brought about a resurgence in the team and from finishing fifth in 2001 just two years later the team went onto lead Super League for the majority of the season, narrowly missing out on a place in the Grand Final. That year the Rhinos also made their first appearance in the Challenge Cup final for three years and their journey to the Millennium Stadium that year involved one of the greatest ever semi-finals. In what was a nail biting finish, two tries from Danny McGuire sent Leeds into the Final with a thrilling 33-26 extra time defeat of St Helens. McGuire's last minute try and a touchline goal from Kevin Sinfield saw the scores leveled and for the first time, the semi final went to extra time when McGuire supported his captain's break and scored in the corner on 98 minutes to seal a thrilling win. Unfortunately, heart breaking defeat followed in Cardiff to Bradford but the young stars had shown their talent for the future.

In November 2003, Australian Tony Smith took over from Daryl Powell as Head Coach and he masterminded the club's first Championship win in 32 years. Leeds stormed their way to the top of the league, finishing the season nine points clear of their nearest rivals, with crowds at their biggest for over 50 years. Led by inspirational captain Kevin Sinfield, the Rhinos defied the critics throughout the season, recording their first Super League double over Bradford Bulls and remaining undefeated at home in the regular season, holding their opposition scoreless on three occasions, including defeating St Helens 70-0.

Danny McGuire set the competition alight with an amazing 39 tries in a season. His try scoring exploits providing a vital edge over the team's opponents throughout the campaign and especially so in the Grand Final at Old Trafford when his try six minutes from time brought the Rhinos' fans to their feet as they realised their wait for Championship glory was over with a memorable victory over the Bulls ensuring the Super League Trophy was coming to Leeds. In fact, only three players in the Leeds team were born the last time Leeds held the championship crown in 1972.

The final was decided by two tries in each half and along with captain Kevin Sinfield's 100% goalkicking the team ended as the worthy victors. Matt Diskin clinched the Harry Sunderland Trophy as Man of the Match after an industrious display that saw him open the scoring for the Rhinos with a try on 15 minutes. The match also marked a fitting finale for veteran Australian forward Dave Furner, who hung up his boots in style. The victory was a personal triumph for Leeds coach Tony Smith, succeeding at his first attempt where a host of his predecessors failed.

In 2005 the young side joined by new recruit from Wakefield, Gareth Ellis, continued to set the benchmark and became World Champions for the first time in the club's history defeating Australian NRL Champions Canterbury Bulldogs at Leeds United's Elland Road in front of a sell out crowd. The Rhinos took the early lead with tries from Chev Walker and Mark Calderwood and once again Sinfield led with distinction, with a 100% kicking record. Each player showed pride and determination as they took on Australia's finest and Danny McGuire, Willie Poching, Rob Burrow, Richard Mathers and Jamie Jones-Buchanan all scored tries to seal the memorable win.

The final was the first of three that the Rhinos competed in that season and the team set a host of new records over the campaign. The average attendance at Headingley Carnegie of 17,011 was a Super League record and the highest since 1952. Leeds finished with a record number of points with 1,152 from a record 209 tries, beating the previous record set by Bradford in 2001 and St Helens in 1999.

The incredible try scoring skills of Mark Calderwood, Keith Senior and Rob Burrow lit up Super League, not to mention the skill of Willie Poching and Ali Lauitiiti.

Although the year had started on such a high there was heartache to follow as the team crashed out of both domestic competitions at the final hurdle. In that year's Challenge Cup Final, the Rhinos' fourth in seven years, the team lost to Hull by a single point, and their return to Old Trafford for the second consecutive year also ended in disappointment, losing out to their bitter rivals Bradford.

In 2006 the Rhinos looked to strengthen their side, with the capture of former Bradford Bulls captain Jamie Peacock and Australian winger Scott Donald, who both proved quality additions to the squad. Unfortunately, after the highs of the previous two campaigns, the season was a disappointing one with defeat in the Challenge Cup semi final to Huddersfield and a third place finish in the table meaning that defeat to Warrington in the Play Offs ended the Rhinos season. There was progress off the field however with the opening of the new Carnegie Stand, the first major development at the stadium for over 70 years.

If 2006 had been a disappointment it only served to make what followed even more sweeter in the subsequent years. 2007 saw New Zealand star Brent Webb arrive at the club and the Rhinos played a brand of rugby that lit up Super League. Head Coach Tony Smith announced he would be leaving the club at the end of the season and his team gave him the perfect send off with victory over rivals St Helens at Old Trafford. The Rhinos produced the best performance by a Leeds team in a Final to blow the reigning Champions away. Rob Burrow picked up the Harry Sunderland Award on the day that another former legendary Leeds scrum half, Jeff Stevenson, passed away whilst Scott Donald scored the pick of the tries with a piece of sublime finishing.

2008 saw the arrival of Kiwi Brian McClennan at the helm and the likeable coach immediately made his mark on the club by leading his team to victory in the Carnegie World Club Challenge against Melbourne. The Super League season was a game of cat and mouse all season with St Helens. Saints got first blood with victory in the Carnegie Challenge Cup semi final and then snatched the League Leaders trophy by a single point. A comprehensive victory a fortnight later at Knowsley Road for the home side left Leeds in a tough position. However, McClennan picked his players up and they did what no Leeds team had ever managed before by retaining the Championship with a memorable 24-16 win over Saints at Old Trafford with Lee Smith man of the match after being drafted in at full back as a late replacement for the injured Brent Webb.