Top ten pantomime villains

The signing of England international Jake Connor has certainly got Rhinos fans talking today. So often a thorn in the Rhinos side over his decade in Super League, Connor often falls into the the role of pantomime villain, the guy you think 'I'm glad he's in our team and not theirs'. 

They are the players the opposition fans love to hate; the ones who infuriate and exasperate just by having their name on the team sheet.

They are masters of their craft; tough, uncompromising, unyielding, they play to the edge of the limits – the men the opposition are wary of, and sink a little when they see them warming up.

They court and attract controversy and yet all would like one of their ilk in their side no matter how much they publicly say otherwise - and for the home fans they are cult figures.

Leeds, renowned more for their entertainers than subterfuge, have had a few although some - like Bill Ramsey, Ellery Hanley, Bobbie Goulding and Terry Newton - made that part of their reputation elsewhere.

In no particular order here are ten of the best practitioners of the blue and amber, black arts.

MICK HARRISON

When the tough guys of the 60s and 70s, an era when no quarter was ever conceded and referees were somewhat laissez-faire, say one man they genuinely feared was the Hull-born silent assassin then you know he ranks with the best. Many regretted getting on his wrong side in battle while fans assumed he’d done the dirty work whenever one of their front rowers lay prostrate.

SYD HYNES

Many a winger or centre shuddered when any Leeds player was taken out during Syd’s watch. They knew with him in the team that some form of retribution would be coming their way when the officials were looking elsewhere. As tough as they came, he wasn’t afraid to square up to Artie Beetson, but a complete class act with the ball and leading the team which annoyed supporters of an alternative hue.

TONY FISHER

Without being in any way disrespectful, the slightly unstable ‘combative’ Welshman was like a whirling dervish in the middle of the front row. Always one to get his retaliation in first, he was forever a man on a ‘seek and destroy’ mission by fair means or foul. Audible groans and sighs went up when his name was read out, a one-man incendiary device.

ARTHUR CLUES

He came with a huge reputation, having been sent off against the touring Indomitables in 1946, and more than lived up to it. As much as he had all the skills, with a wonderful kicking game part of his armoury, it was his intention to take no prisoners that riled the non-Loiners. A master of intimidation, he loved nothing more than to put his physical mark on the game.

JACK FAIRBANK

Anything but ‘Gentleman’ Jack, he was one of the true out-and-out hard men to grace the pitch, not just for Leeds, but in the sport. A farmer by profession, he brought the same no-nonsense, unceremonious, sleeves rolled up qualities to the game, ploughing through his opposite number and often planting them in his wake.

BARRIE MCDERMOTT

Big, bad Barrie liked a run-in and was further fired up by the taunting of the crowd. Another for whom ‘x’ marked the spot, the phrase ‘backward step’ was not part of his vocabulary. He tested the patience of competing front rowers and spectators almost as much as he did the merry whistleblowers and disciplinary committee.

KEVIN DICK

Scrum halves are the game’s great wind-up merchants; impish, cheeky chappies who are frequently disputing decisions, running the game and constantly in the refs ear. One of the very best at all of that, the moustachioed one liked nothing more than to stick his chest out and rile those on the terraces not sharing his passion for Leeds.

RYAN BAILEY

The archetypal pantomime villain, who does what he wants. He absolutely mastered the art of getting under the skin of those he came up against and the supporters of competing teams to make him, arguably, the most controversial and undervalued performer of his era. Bailey always saved his best 'wind ups' for when the Rhinos clashed with St Helens whether that was the likes of Jon Wilkin or James Graham or the entire mass of Saints fans at Old Trafford. Honourable mention here too for his Bash Brother Brett Delaney. 

ZAK HARDAKER

Having joined Leeds as a teenager from Featherstone, Zak announced himself as a top class talent with his try scoring performance in the 2011 Grand Final. Unfortunately, his achievements on the field were impacted by disciplinary issues on and off the pitch however his infectious character has endeared him to team mates and fans alike, even earning a surprise return to the Rhinos in 2022 to help the team back to the Grand Final.

LUKE GALE

Luke started out in the Rhinos Academy before going the long route to the top of the game via Doncaster, London, Bradford and Castleford. A serial tormentor of referees with his constant chatter on the field, one of the silver linings of the Covid period of games behind closed doors was the rest of us being able to 'enjoy' his non-stop winding up of opposition with various forms of mickey taking during the game.