1982-1983

At the turn of the calendar year, matters could not have looked much rosier for the Loiners. League leaders, not least by virtue of an astonishing away record in the West, and having qualified for the John Player final ? amazingly the first decider in any competition against Wigan ? the side were playing determined and attractive rugby and looked destined for silverware. A measure of that was, at the half way stage, John Holmes led the way in the ?Man of Steel? voting. Narrow defeat at Elland Road, two consecutive losses against St Helens and an alarming injury jinx scuppered those hopes; the campaign ending with a fourth successive heavy defeat against eventual champions Hull in the Premiership.

This was a season of three key rule changes and the visit of the 1982 Kangaroos, who were to revolutionize the manner in which the game was played with their eye-opening speed and intricate support play. In came the sin bin on the 1st January 1983 as well as the four point try and the handover. Coach Robin Dewhurst?s contract was renewed as Jack Myerscough stepped down as chairman, Harry Jepson taking over and Alan Smith marked twenty years as a player. Exciting BARLA tourist, full back Paul Gill from Clayton, was signed while John Atkinson, who ended his 17 year Leeds career with 340 tries ? the second highest in the club?s history ? took up the post of assistant coach at Carlisle. He was joined there by Maurice Lucas, fellow prop Mick Harrison returning Hull later in the season. Leeds signalled their intent with a crushing victory in the pre-season Wigan Sevens, masterminded by Holmes and then thrillingly beat Great Britain 22-21 at Headingley in David Ward?s testimonial game.

Victories against three promoted sides in which they scored 19 tries, sent the side into the Yorkshire Cup in good form. Castleford were thrashed at Wheldon Road in the opening round with Dave Heron ? who had scored a hat trick on the opening day against Halifax ? posting two terrific scores. Any pretensions were rudely undermined by Hull in the following round as, inspired by teenager Lee Crooks, they romped home 20-0 at Headingley despite Keith Tindall suffering a broken leg, Loiners? first home nilling for 11 years. Back in League action, Leeds extended their one hundred per cent and best ever First Division start to eight games, with a particularly noteworthy success at Naughton Park; Kevin Dick ruling the roost with 16 points as Widnes were downed.

The run came to an end with another midweek thrashing against the Airlie Birds, this time at the Boulevard when Crooks was again the scourge posting a hat trick and seven goals; Steve Pitchford suffering a broken arm. Blue and amber fans saw the might of the green and gold?s first hand when a full strength Australian side posted their 135th point in five opening matches. The bewildering tourists ran in seven tries, the best a 50 metre special from Eric Grothe, prompting the Headingley management to sound out their coach Frank Stanton. Exciting, narrow wins over Hull Kingston Rovers and St Helens maintained Leeds? unbeaten home record but Cas, with the Beardmore twins rampant, gained revenge with a hiding ?down the lane?; hooker Russ Sowden making his debut after a ?7,000 move from Halifax where he had captained their ?A? team. Another close triumph over Wigan led into the John Player competition, with Maurice Bamford bringing his fourth different side to Headingley in as many seasons in cup competitions as Leeds defeated neighbours Bramley in the first round. Andy Smith posted his first hat trick in a comfortable win over York before the Loiners defied typical Cumbrian grit and freezing conditions to deny Barrow in the quarter final at Craven Park. In the semi at Huddersfield, Mark Conway?s nerveless kicking, some commendable self-discipline and a terrific pack performance despite Kevin Rayne suffering a broken jaw disposed of Widnes in an enthralling contest that did not contain a try. With fixture congestion mounting, a last minute Dick try salvaged a home point against Oldham and Kevin Squire made his first team bow in a determined one point win at Warrington. Prior to the John Player showdown, a slipshod display allowed Featherstone to end the home league record, and although credibility Leeds led courtesy of two Dick penalties against Alex Murphy?s men at half time in front of nearly 20,000 at Elland Road; Brian Juliff?s late try of a terrific spectacle began the revival that was to see Wigan become the dominant trophy winning force in the game for the next thirteen years, as they triumphed 15-4. Retribution was taken out on Workington, Ian Wilkinson posting a hat trick, and three more consecutive wins saw Leeds open up a four point gap at the top of the table in February as the Challenge Cup came around. Another brilliant televised win at Widnes in the opening round, with Conway again outstanding, set up a second round clash with Saints ? remarkably the first home tie for four years and eight cup draws.

Tragedy struck Gill during the game, who was in terrific form at the time with four tries in eight appearances, when he suffered a double fracture of his leg. Leeds never recovered their composure; Harry Pinner dominating the exchanges and so began the injury and form jinx. Saints repeated the dose in the league at Knowsley Road the following week, ending a club record of eight successive away wins across the Pennines in a season. Leeds won only one more match in the championship from eight games to drop to sixth, the only noteworthy landmark being Neil Hague passing 300 first team appearances, saving their worst performance until last with an ignominious 51-2 reverse at Leigh. With their chances written off in the Premiership, they produced a terrific display to win at Wigan with Conway the star before the campaign ended familiarly at Hull in the semi final. Youngsters Colin Cooper and Des Armitage made their debuts and Brendan Hill, Pat Mitchell, David Healey and Roy Powell were signed from amateur rugby league in the West Yorkshire area, while colts Heath Godfrey and Steve McGowan went to seek an opportunity at Bradford. Les Dyl, who felt the force of a young Mal Meninga, David Ward and David Heron on debut tried to halt the Kangaroo bandwagon in the First Test. John Holmes was recalled for his 20th and final cap alongside Heron for the second and there was no home representation in the third mis-match of the Dominion Insurance Series at Headingley.