1993-1994

After nearly a generation, Leeds were finally back on the big stage when a glorious Challenge Cup run saw blue and amber again bedeck Wembley, ending a sixteen year drought.

Initially, there was a pre-season exodus, with one set of youngsters ostensibly replaced by a new intake. Graham Middleton went to Batley in exchange for Steve Parrish and a cash adjustment, Darren Hughes transferred to Featerstone in a deal that brought local grafter Gary Rose a dream move, Leigh Deakin went to his home city York and Lee Child decamped to Wakefield. A quartet moved to Thrum Hall to double Halifax?s ex-Leeds contingent headed by Paul Anderson, who was just starting to make his name; along with Nicky Render, Martyn Smithson and Stuart Arundel.

In their place came Wigan-based BARLA youth tourist Phil Hassan, Lee Maher, Jim Leatham, Paddy Handley, Jamie Field, Ricky Wright, Adam Hughes, Paul Gleadhill, Marvin Golden, Adrian Morley and, significantly St John Fisher?s Francis Cummins. Eight senior players were put on the transfer list headed by Colin Maskill who was offered at ?30,000, Shaun Wane moving to Workington in part exchange for Ian Scott and London Crusaders signed John Gallagher

Under the new freedom of contract regulations, Paul Dixon and Steve Molloy rejected the new terms offered and signed for Bradford and Featherstone respectively, a tribunal valuing them at ?70,000 and ?90,000.

Replacing them, Neil Harmon came from Warrington and the tribunal was again called to adjudicate when Leeds finally captured their main pre-season target. Widnes had asked ?350,000 for second rower Richie Eyres, the panel deeming ?135,000 to be more realistic for a three year deal, although his debut was delayed as he had received a six match ban after becoming the second player to be sent off at Wembley following an illegal challenge on Martin Offiah. A planned summer stint at Canberra failed to wipe it off after they refused to register him.

In dual ?15,000 deals, Andy Goodway returned to Oldham and long serving Carl Gibson moved to Post Office Road with Molloy. There was also change behind the scenes; Paul Fletcher returning as assistant coach, respected Aussie Bob Lannigan looking after conditioning and the new ?350,000 pavilion opening.

It was straight into championship action with Leeds desperate to make a good start after their horror opening to the year before. A new pack, which included 18 year old Matt Schultz in the unaccustomed position of prop spoiled John Joyner?s first match in charge of Castleford with a terrific win at Wheldon Road to start the whole campaign in front of the Sky cameras. Ellery Hanley opened his seasonal try account with a brace and landed his sole drop goal for the club as Leeds took a commanding 15-2 early lead that proved to be a match winning margin.

Usual weight of expectation at home produced the reverse, a poor start but sensational finish as the Loiners registered fifteen points in the closing thirteen minutes to see off Warrington. Teenager Graham Holroyd came off the bench to spark the revival, Garry Schofield doing the scoring damage to see his side get out of jail.

A trip to Central Park proved an initial acid test but Wigan served up an ominous, awesome display; Jason Robinson?s two tries in the rain proving decisive. Simon Irving?s penalty gave Leeds a brief lead for the only time, Hanley again coming up with a try double at his former club.

He went one better in a heavy Headingley defeat of Hull K.R. just after announcing his international retirement but star of the show was Francis Cummins who grabbed two tries after coming off the bench a month before his 17th birthday.

In an almost exact replica of the season before, a terrible run amid a glut of away matches in the run up to Christmas scuppered any title hopes and with one win in ten games, for a while, raised thoughts of a relegation battle. Steve Pickles made his bow off the bench in a surprise loss at Salford.

Eyres scored a try on his debut in a home draw with Hull and Matt Schultz?s sin binning at Oldham ultimately proved costly in a poor performance. Six ex-Leeds players were in the Featherstone side at Post Office Road, Ikram Butt scoring a try and Steve Molloy taking the man of the match award as a late touchdown from Neil Roebuck and a Martin Pearson goal snatched a dramatic victory for the Colliers. Leeds? record of not having beaten the Kiwis was never under threat when the tourists dominated the second half and finished with six tries in a match that was also a testimonial for David Creasser.

Kevin Iro played against his compatriots despite lining up for them in the opening Test, Jim Leatham made his debut off the bench and Gary Mercer so impressed New Zealand coach Howie Tamati in defeat that he was drafted in for the Second and Third clashes with Great Britain.

A rib injury in the final Test encounter at Headingley ruled Garry Schofield out for six weeks, Leeds returning after a fortnight off to Regal Trophy action where a trip to the Willows again proved too much in the second round. Marcus Vassilakopoulos made his debut, James Lowes was sent off and Mark Lee?s 68th minute penalty try proved crucial.

In the week following, Andy Gregory moved to Salford to end his injury ravaged spell in blue and amber, Leeds taking Leigh?s Jason Donohue on loan as cover. A side lacking Hanley and Schofield but with Craig Innes back was beaten by St Helens.

An important home win over Leigh temporarily stopped the rot, Alan Tait posting two tries and Jim Fallon making his first start in the second row where his defence was a feature.

Three tough away games in a week followed, Kevin Iro scoring two tries and Donohue making his first start in a valiant defeat against Bradford at Valley Parade. Another Iro wonder try was not quite enough to topple Widnes in a low scoring game but there was a return to form at Sheffield. Phil Hassan became the ninth teenager of the season to wear the first team colours, with Jim Fallon scoring a 70 metre special. A three week gap to Boxing Day saw Leeds come back with three straight wins. Four first half tries looked to have seen off Wakefield, for whom teenager Henry Paul impressed, Schofield returning with a touchdown but with Hanley twice sin binned; Leeds just held on in a scoreless last quarter. They were more convincing wins at Halifax; Cummins showing his growing maturity with two great tries as Schofield suffered ankle ligament damage.

Harvey Howard was captured from Widnes in a ?110,000 pre Cup deadline signing and he made his debut in a cold midweek thriller against Castleford. Four Graham Holroyd goals proved to be the difference although Richie Eyres and Francis Cummins had tries ruled out for forward passes.

Those efforts told at Warrington the following weekend on a heavy pitch, Wire winger Mark Forster running in a hat trick as part of four tries in twelve blistering first half minutes. Champions-elect Wigan were given a severe test at Headingley, Lowes outstanding and the Loiners creating enough chances to win before a comfortable victory at Hull K.R. in preparation for the Challenge Cup. Cummins notched his sixth try in as many games as Second Division Rochdale were easily accounted for in round four.

Harvey Howard was sent off as Salford were beaten in the league before league leaders Warrington came to Headingley in a televised cup tie. Alan Tait was immaculate and an early Iro burst set the tone for a performance beyond expectations. A late Rob Nolan interception at a frozen Boulevard gave Hull a league win but now all focus was on the Cup for the Loiners with new table toppers Bradford Northern in town for the quarter final, on a long unbeaten run and containing five ex-Leeds players in their forwards along with Peter Fox as coach.

Over 22,000 set up a terrific atmosphere and youngsters Cummins and Holroyd came of age to raise an initial siege by the visitors. The young winger?s sensational 80 metre dash ranked as one of the finest tries seen at the ground while the mercurial pivot?s interception on the stroke of half time was a game breaker. Lowes finished off a wondrous length of the field move involving Leeds? three Kiwis to seal a memorable win, Hanley claiming two touchdowns. Two more four-pointers from the skipper and a brace from Cook saw off Oldham although with five tries apiece, Holroyd?s kicking was the difference but in the week before the semi final a young side crashed at home to Featherstone.

The game against Saints to decide who would face Wigan at Wembley was a victory for indestructible will and determination; a far cry from the humiliations of the previous two seasons in knock out rugby. Forced to make 310 tackles as Saints dominated possession and territory, Hanley was an imperious and inspiring leader in all facets. Alan Tait was again magnificent, his and Kevin Iro?s late breaks setting up tries for the incredible skipper and joyous scenes as Wembley beckoned again.

Two more Easter points when Holroyd?s goals saw off Halifax as fans queued for Wembley tickets with the game in progress. An astonishing encounter at home to Sheffield set a new world record for a drawn fixture with each side scoring eight tries and 60 points being registered in the second half. Playing in new kit after securing a ?2.3 million, ten year deal with Tetley?s, Harvey Howard?s first try looked to have settled things but touchdowns from Paul Carr and Mark Aston in injury time levelled matters.

With fixture congestion before the cup final, Leeds sent a weakened team to St Helens for a midweek fixture and were fined a record ?8,000.

Three Hanley tries in a big win at Leigh and a similar demolition of Widnes, when Leeds ran in 40 second half points, ensured a play off spot although Hanley worryingly injured a hamstring.

Doug Laughton again incurred the wrath of the authorities by playing only four of his Wembley starting line up in the final league match of the campaign which handed Bradford two points in their quest for the title, which Wigan duly won on point?s difference for the fifth successive time.

The Riversiders completed the double the following week but not before Leeds had given them a fright with a second half come back in a terrific occasion. Wigan?s bench strength proved to be critical, Kiwi international Sam Panapa coming on to score the crucial try. Offiah crossed twice again but the blue and amber had the final shriek when Francis Cummins crowned a memorable day, which saw him become the youngest ever to play at Wembley, with a length of the field touchdown. After such a gargantuan effort, defeat in the Premiership at Bradford a week later was no surprise.