21 Jan 2025

Ash Handley | Top Career Tries

There's only five days to go until Leeds Rhinos face off against Wigan Warriors to celebrate the career of Ash Handley at AMT Headingley, kick off 3pm.

Sunday is set to be a special day for the winger, who had played 212 games for the club and scored 127 tries since his debut in 2014. Out of his 127 tries, we've narrowed it down to our top ten picks for Ash's top tries. 

Before we start, here are a few honourable mentions that could have been in the top ten.

(vs St Helens 17/04/2015, vs Huddersfield 18/09/2016, vs Wakefield 01/03/2019, vs Huddersfield 19/04/2019, vs Wigan 03/10/2020, vs Hull FC 02/07/2022, vs Leigh 08/03/2024)


10 - vs Wigan Warriors 2015

Kicking off the list, Handley gave fans a glimpse of what turned out to be many more tries to come when he scored in only his second senior game.

After debuting away at London towards the end of 2014, 2015 saw the winger make his first outing at AMT Headingley against a tough Wigan opponent. Nevertheless, he took the occasion in his stride and casually helped regain the lead for Leeds as he took a pass from Kallum Watkins and sped round Joe Burgess to score in the corner for his first Super League try for the club.


9 - vs Hull KR 2020

Fast-forwarding to prior to the Covid shutdown in 2020, Leeds and Handley bounced back from defeat to Hull FC by running nine tries passed Hull KR a fortnight later.

Handley's was the pick of the bunch as he chased up a break by Harry Newman and made sure the ball made it over the opposition try line for a spectacular finish.


8 - vs Castleford Tigers 2018

As Handley started to break into the first team regularly in 2018, his two-try performance at Elland Road against Castleford is one of the winger's standout games in blue and amber.

With Leeds down 25-10 early in the second half, Handley's speed and footwork came to light again as he bounced off two tackles and beat the retreating Castleford defence to get the Rhinos back in the contest.


7 - vs St Helens 2016

A serial tormenter of St Helens throughout his career (more of that to come!), one of Handley's finest efforts came on the road against the Red Vee.

Cited by Ash as one of his favourite tries in his Reddit Ask Me Anything, he caught the Saints defence napping with a break through the middle and outstripped full back Shannon McDonnell for a brilliant try.


6- vs Salford Red Devils 2020

Ash's only tries in a major final came in 2020 as the Rhinos toppled Salford in the Challenge Cup Final.

In a game where momentum swung between both sides, Handley's tries made sure Leeds stayed in the contest. More crucially, his second try put the Rhinos back on level terms as he snuck over in the corner to make the score 16-16 with 15 minutes left.


5- vs Catalans Dragons 2019

Into the top five of Ash's tries and we're winding the clock back to 2019 when the winger hit a run of try-scoring form.

Coming off a two-try display against Huddersfield away from home, he returned to AMT Headingley and recorded two tries against Catalans. Our pick is his first effort, which saw him combine with Konrad Hurrell for a brilliant piece of play to open the scoring.


4 - vs Hull KR 2024

Number four in our list is one of Ash's most recent try scoring efforts.

An electric start to last year, in which Handley scored seven tries in four games, saw the winger combine with Brodie Croft for a remarkable score against eventual Grand Finalists Hull KR. Croft's cross-field kick on Leeds' 10 metre line caught the Robins out as Handley was there to catch and start a footrace for the try line. Much like his try the week before against Salford, he saw off two defenders again on his way to finish under the posts.


3 - vs St Helens 2015

The number three spot goes to Handley's second try against St Helens at AMT Headingley as the winger recorded hat tricks in home and away outings against the Saints.

Although a couple of Handley's efforts that year could have come in our top ten, this one saw Handley be the perfect support player as he followed Kallum Watkins' break and then took Danny McGuire's inside ball to take the game beyond the visitors.


2 - vs Warrington Wolves 2022

Talk about leaving it late! Handley's try in the opening round of the 2022 season was the pick of the bunch that day as he followed up Kruise Leeming's kick ahead and managed to evade Josh Charnley to ground the ball before it touched the dead ball line.

Take a look and see how close it is:


1 - vs Salford Red Devils 2024

And at the number one spot...

This year's Try of the Season contender from Handley was one of the winger's best in a Leeds shirt. Backed up by their own try line, a quick shift out to Handley beat the Salford defence and the winger showed great speed to beat the retreating Red Devils players to score.


Ticket Information

Tickets are still on sale for Ash's testimonial game as the Rhinos take on World Champions Wigan Warriors at AMT Headingley on Sunday, kick off 3pm.

Tickets for this match are available either over the phone on 0371 423 1315 or online at tickets.therhinos.co.uk

Prices start at £20 for Adults, £15 for Concessions and £5 for Juniors, plus Hospitality is also available in the Howard Suite at £150+vat per person.

For more information, click here.


Stadium Partner

Competition

Technical Partner

Technical Partner

Main Partner

Main Partner

Associate Partners

Tetleys
Berrys
Leeds Beckett University
SMUK
Dynamic
Chadwick Lawrence
Caddick Developments
Ipsum
NIC Group
First Bus
Sedulo
ACS
Johnstone
Bartercard
Axis Group
Evolve Lettings
Best Western
Apache Automotive
Seat Unique
Ponte
Wetherby Whaler
Pickups Self Storage
Heatable
Britvic
Warners Fish Merchants Lts
Skopes
McNally EV
Zenzero