1990-1991

On the 21st May 1990, Leeds stunned the entire rugby world and created a media frenzy around Headingley when they announced the previously unheralded signing of London-born All Black John Gallagher. The classy full back had been over to his home city to collect the rugby union ?International Player of the Year? award at a glittering ceremony, when he had been approached by the Loiners? management about a possible switch of codes. Aged 26, he was deemed to be at the peak of his powers and although his contract was reputed to be worth ?350,000 over five years, few regarded it as anything other than money well speculated. Having finished second in the previous season, such a huge capture sent a wave of optimism through the city ? with season ticket sales soaring as a result ? and re-established the club?s pre-eminent reputation even overshadowing Wigan and their continued, voracious trophy-gathering. His arrival saw the departure of Warren Wilson to Halifax for ?20,000 while the other major area of recruitment was at scrum half.

Ray Ashton moved to Workington as player/coach and after a bid for Balmain?s Kiwi Test pivot Gary Freeman failed, Bradford?s Paul Harkin, so often the scourge of Leeds, was captured; a tribunal eventually valuing the 32-year old at ?65,000. Ikram Butt went to Featherstone and youngsters Paul Anderson from Redhill and St John Fisher?s Francis Maloney were offered contracts, the latter a club record for an amateur. There was also an unexpected addition when Kenyan rugby union winger Eddie Rombo ? a fervent admirer of Gallagher ? asked for a trial. His four tries and starring role in the Wigan 7?s, where Leeds just lost out to the hosts in the final, ensured him a deal. His arrival saw Friday night Alliance cult figure Norman Francis move on to Oldham. The initial impact of Gallagher?s arrival was seen in testimonial friendlies at Bramley ? for former old boys Peter Lister and Paul Fletcher ? and Ryedale-York. Over 4,000 fans at each saw the newcomer grab tries in both matches as Leeds rattled up 96 points, conceding only 12.

That hugely encouraging, appetite whetting form was not carried into the season, however, where Leeds made a patchy and inconsistent start; their opening twelve matches reading lost three, won three, lost three, won three. As so often, it was a case of the past coming back to haunt them when they faced the holders, Bradford, in the opening round of the Yorkshire Cup, at home. Although the Loiners led 16-8 after 50 minutes, two tries from Paul Medley and one by Mark Wilson saw Northern home, the loss compounded by an injury to Garry Schofield which kept him sidelined for a month.

Desperately disappointing defeat at newly promoted Oldham ? where Harkin was sent off after half an hour for a trip ? and home to Hull, when Simon Irving scored his first tries for the club, also saw leads squandered. There was a desperate need to strengthen the go forward and, first, Great Britain prop Shaun Wane was signed from Wigan for ?60,000 ? inspiring an encouraging win at Warrington on his debut, in a match which saw Gallagher claim his first senior touchdown. The following week Warrington?s Steve Molloy, a ?110,000 capture, made his bow in a home match against St Helens that was switched to 6.30 on the Sunday evening for the new BSkyB channel, attracting 13,000 fans. The championship season seemed back on track a week later with a convincing win at Odsal, where Leeds led 17-0 at the break, which took them to third spot. With Schofield and Harkin running the show, Test second rowers Paul Dixon, with two tries, and Roy Powell were outstanding. An injury time touchline conversion to an Alan Banks try by Martin Pearson saw Featherstone again raise fallibility doubts; Carl Gibson missing his first match after a run of 91 consecutive appearances thanks to a dose of food poisoning. Pride was regained in defeat a week later against the Kangaroo tourists who were coming off victory against Wigan and a week before the first Test at Wembley.

The blue and amber, with Gary Divorty making his first appearance of the season after coming back injured from a summer stint at the Gold Coast, built an astonishing 10-0 lead against a side that contained former players Andrew Ettingshausen and Mark McGaw, on the back of a brilliant kicking game. Gallagher grabbed the first in a storming display that led to calls for him to be included in the GB squad but two Paul Sironen efforts either side of half time and late tries to Mal Meninga and Bob Lindner saw the tourist?s edge home, although Laurie Daley suffered a broken hand. Gallagher had to settle for a role as part of the BBC commentary team at the Twin Towers as Dixon, Powell, Gibson and Schofield performed heroically in a memorable British win. A comprehensive, fourth championship defeat, at Widnes, after a poor start to the game effectively ended realistic title hopes although three big wins followed. The first saw the Test four back up the day after heartbreaking defeat at Old Trafford as bottom club Rochdale were thrashed, Irving claiming 24 points including ten out of eleven goals and Dixon a hat trick. Irving was on target again with nine conversions as the Regal Trophy started; Schofield scoring a brace of tries for the second successive week as Halifax were crushed in the preliminary round.

Eight players with a combined value of ?170,000 were put on the transfer list in November, among them Rob Ackerman who eventually went to Carlisle, Gary Spencer and Chris Vasey who returned to former clubs Wakefield and Dewsbury respectively and Neil James who joined Ryedale-York. The best display of the campaign saw Castleford easily beaten at Headingley, Schofield outplaying their big money signing Graham Steadman; Mike Kuiti posting a hat trick, Molloy his debut try and Irving one from a 90 metre interception. A Schofield try from a scrum move seven minutes from time just overcame Hull Kingston Rovers in a classic Regal tie, Irving?s faultless goal kicking proving to be the difference; Mike Fletcher hitting the post twice in reply. Hopes of a decent run in the competition were dashed, though, in Arctic conditions at Naughton Park under controversial circumstances. Leeds were ahead 6-0 at the break but were incensed by the refereeing of Brian Galtress who sin binned John Bentley and sent Paul Dixon off.

A first visit to the Don Valley Stadium saw Sheffield defeated but only after a 15 minute floodlight failure in the second half; Irving receiving his marching orders after a trip on veteran Keith Mumby. Two Gallagher tries unsettled Wigan at Central Park but scores from Ellery Hanley and Dean Bell gave the cherry and whites narrow victory. Bradford were beaten on Boxing Day in Schofield?s 100th appearance for the club in a howling gale and heavy rain; Harkin scoring a try with a trademark dummy and Bentley crossing from half way before Karl Fairbank was dismissed for flattening Richard Gunn. Gallagher, who had been man of the match against Oldham, came in for some fierce treatment in away clashes at Hull ? the home side saying an emotional farewell to coach Brian Smith with a big win ? and St Helens where there was outrage over a spear tackle.

The confidence-shattering incident went unpunished and from the resulting scrum, Sean Devine scored to put Saints on the way to victory. Tony Butt made a rare appearance at Knowsley Road along with Dave Heron who was back after five months out injured. Eddie Rombo bagged his first try in his third outing away at Castleford, a stunning effort with a step and dash from 60 metres; Leeds going down 16-14 despite scoring three tries to two. Undersoil heating ensured the Challenge Cup first round tie with Dewsbury went ahead despite snow; Rombo claiming a double and Francis Maloney making his debut against his home town club. The season?s nadir came a week later, Widnes inflicting a humiliating 38-0 Headingley defeat to near silence from the dumbfounded home crowd. Martin Offiah and Joe Grima posted embarrassingly easy tries, Andy Currier ending with a hat trick and five goals in a match that left a deep scar.

Some pride was regained at Odsal in the Challenge Cup but for the second successive week Leeds failed to post a point, going down to a Darrell Shelford try and John Pendlebury drop goal in heavy conditions; all the points coming in the opening 25 minutes. A six match unbeaten run ended the campaign which included a double over Hull K.R. and three out of four points against Wakefield; the draw coming at Belle Vue when Tracy Lazenby scored a last minute try although Mark Conway missed the touchline conversion for Trinity. An audacious attempt to bring Bobby Goulding in for ?150,000 broke down but Maloney scored his first and only points for the club with a goal on a narrowed pitch at Rochdale and, although on the transfer list, Phil Ford claimed a hat trick in a big win at Featherstone. In the meantime, David Young moved to Salford and in the final league match of the season there was more anguish as a jaded and injury hit Wigan won at canter to lift the championship trophy; their Headingley lap of honour further galling the home fans. The main drama, on and off the field, came in the end of season Premiership Trophy. A sensational last minute try between the posts, having been denied an earlier 70 metre interception effort, by ?Man of Steel? Garry Schofield brought an unlikely win at Wheldon Road; Vince Fawcett scoring his first try of the season.

Even greater heroics defensively had seemingly put the side to within a minute of reaching Old Trafford for the first time when Gary Nolan, with his first touch, beat Gallagher to a Greg Mackey bomb for the clinching score. Hull went on to win the final against Widnes but it was announced in the aftermath that Chemics coach Doug Laughton had agreed to join Leeds as team manager. The board felt that his experience in winning the big games was the missing ingredient but David Ward resigned in protest at being asked to be his number two. During the season, Harry Jepson had been elected President of the RFL and Garry Schofield also won the ?Ernest Ward Memorial Trophy? as international player of the year after performing superbly in all ten Tests, principally at stand off. Fatigue caused him to turn down the chance of a summer stint at Gold Coast, which Paul Dixon accepted. At the start of another new dawn Dewsbury took Paul Delaney and Paul Worthy for a combined fee of ?45,000 but the club vehemently denied that they had made a ?1million offer to Will Carling.