1994-1995

8th June, 2017 By Phil Daly

1994-1995

Leeds? Challenge Cup Final appearances seemed just like the proverbial joke about the buses ? you don?t get one for sixteen years and then two come along at once. In a season that changed the rugby league landscape forever, the Loiners made it back to Wembley and for the first time to Old Trafford; those visits bringing crushing disappointment and humiliation to undermine what otherwise had been an impressive campaign.

The season began with the publication of the groundbreaking ?Framing the Future? document and consequent talks of a breakaway, coupled with the stark news that only four clubs were in profit, which led to the introduction of a salary cap in December 1994. By the following April the proposed shift to summer and Super League overshadowed all other events, including those on the field where, somewhat ironically, the only two full time clubs ? Wigan and Leeds ? dominated; although the cherry and whites proved to be in a different league.

In the close season, Garry Schofield was awarded the OBE for services to the sport and Ellery Hanley gave the club a massive boost by announcing he would play for another ? what turned out to be personally historic ? season. By the end of August, following Malcolm Reilly?s shock resignation to join Newcastle Knights, he had also been appointed Great Britain coach for the incoming Kangaroo tour, with Gary Hetherington as his assistant. On the transfer front, Loiners coach Doug Laughton took the Kiwi contingent at Headingley up to five with the acquisitions of Esene Faimalo from his former club Widnes for ?80,000 ? to where Mike O?Neill returned ? and George Mann from St Helens.

The foreign legion was further enhanced with the arrival of French skipper Patrick Entat, which saw the release of Gareth Stephens to Castleford. Simon Irving also moved on, to Keighley while among the junior captures were Gavin Brown and Adam Hughes, both from Milford. Leeds again opened the whole campaign with a televised trip to newly promoted Workington who included Vince Fawcett on debut. Eight points down with as many to go in what was to be the first of four meetings between the clubs, Kevin Iro inspired a late winning rally. Featherstone were easily accounted for in the opening home championship match before a first meeting in 21 years with another newly promoted side, Doncaster at a hurriedly refurbished Tattersfield. Graham Holroyd started at full back and Entat claimed his first try in the colours in another hard fought success.

Travelling to Central Park was the first real test of pretensions and Leeds came up well short, Martin Offiah dancing Wigan to a big half time lead and Barrie McDermott ? recently signed from Oldham ? scoring a try off the bench for Wigan. Young Salford centre Nathan McAvoy, who had turned down Leeds, scored two tries at the Willows as Leeds got back on track, the highlight being a spectacular eleven-man corner to corner move which saw Holroyd cross. Tony Myler?s desperately poor Widnes side were crushed at Naughton Park with Craig Innes back from injury, Holroyd reverting to stand off and Garry Schofield coming off the bench for a try. Three former Chemics crossed the whitewash; Faimalo twice, Alan Tait and jubilantly Richie Eyres while Iro produced a wonder pass to send in Francis Cummins. Castleford took a point from Headingley with former player Lee Crooks going from villain to hero. He conceded an eight point try, fouling Hanley after he had gone over, and was sin binned but returned to land a last minute penalty after Leeds were somewhat controversially given offside.

Attention then switched to the green and gold?s and their first full strength tour match, at Headingley. Over 18,000 witnessed an awesome demolition by the tourists in the 17th and, so far, last clash with Leeds; Dave Furner and Brett Mullins playing alongside returning hat trick hero, winger Andrew Ettingshausen, who did all his damage in the first half. Allan Langer also crossed three times; Alan Tait scoring Leeds? only try although he and Garry Schofield were omitted from the First Test squad, as a result. Schofield did, however, return on the bench for the following two that ended in defeat. League defeat at St Helens followed although each side scored four touchdowns, Jim Fallon and Anthony Sullivan both getting doubles in a terrific cameo duel with Bobby Goulding claiming the vital drop goal.

Gary Rose moved to Hull and Alliance skipper Colin Maskill followed to Doncaster soon after to bolster a squad that was finding elite life tough on and off the field for the first time. Victory at home to Sheffield, with Fallon scoring a hat trick and Phil Hassan his first try in the colours, began a ten match winning run ? with seven of them at home ? into the New Year. Ellery Hanley posted a treble against Wakefield, with Fallon scoring his seventh, almost identical try in three matches. Schofield was back to his poaching best against Workington and Leeds emerged victorious from a feisty clash at Featherstone under their newly appointed coach David Ward. Mark Aston was sent off for Rovers, four players were sin binned and again Hanley was awarded an eight point try; Carl Gibson and Ikram Butt among the home scorers. Freddie Banquet?s long range, late penalty miss ensured Leeds the points.

Hanley was again the destroyer, with another hat trick, this time against Doncaster, his 400th career touchdown coming the following week against Swinton in the Regal Trophy where Graham Holroyd was back and claimed 26 points; Mick Shaw making his debut off the bench. Defensive lapses in that game were a worry going into the home clash with Wigan, who had equalled Widnes? 13 match unbeaten run at the start of a season and threatened to undermine the credibility of the Championship. Over 20,000 saw one of the most memorable clashes seen at the ground, witnessed by the opening broadcast of ?Radio Headingley?. In a wonderful, fast-flowing encounter, benefiting from new referee?s controller Greg McCallum?s edicts to speed up the play the ball ? which saw four men sin binned ? Francis Cummins and Jim Fallon both grabbed two tries on the end of some wonderful handling. Martin Offiah?s 68th minute score looked to have given Wigan, who posted six tries to five, the spoils but Hanley was on the shoulder of Alan Tait to claim the match winner amidst wild celebrations. Tries by Cummins and Schofield rescued a tricky Regal tie at Workington and, unusually, Leeds were away on Boxing Day at a bleak Boulevard; Schofield putting in his best performance at his former club as Hull were swept away in the first half.

A Hanley wonder try from a heel against the head and a Cummins hat trick accounted for Halifax in a second versus third clash to start 1995 but the winning run was comprehensively ended at home in the Regal Trophy by holders Castleford. That sparked another eight game unbeaten run with Marvin Golden making his debut in a midweek win at Oldham. Leeds briefly went top of the table when they won another top three match up, this time with Bradford. Hanley was the star again with another hat trick and a goal ? the 100th of his career ? against his first club, James Lowes making 49 tackles. The game was effectively won with three touchdowns in five minutes either side of the break including a 50 metre effort by Innes. He crossed for four more against Warrington as Leeds responded to late defensive lapses against Bradford by keeping a clean sheet. On his 100th appearance for the club, Hanley matched Innes feat with a quadruple against ailing Widnes despite having been involved in the midweek England versus Wales European Championship fixture which also featured Harvey Howard, Richie Eyres ? who had switched his allegiance to the Dragons under the new grandparent rule ? and Schofield while Cummins was away playing for Great Britain in the World Sevens in Sydney. Bradford were again the visitors as Leeds launched their bid to return to Wembley; Gary Mercer?s try before half time and Graham Holroyd?s grubber and gather just after securing victory in a match where five players were yellow carded. Leeds again went temporarily top of the league at Castleford with a 13th consecutive divisional win; Cummins scoring one of the tries of the season. Schofield started it, five pairs of hands continued the move and Innes produced a wonderful reverse pass. George Mann, who had covered every pack role and stand off by then, crossed for his first try for the club soon after and Jim Leatham made his championship debut off the bench. Patrick Entat was recalled for the Challenge Cup win over second division York, Jim Fallon scoring four tries including a 90 metre interception. An injury crisis ? which saw Innes and Marcus Vassilakopoulos start at half back ? and international calls saw six teenagers play in a re-arranged midweek win at Salford after three pitch inspections; Lowes grabbing a vital, deserved score.

Hanley gave a masterclass in support play as Workington, backed by 55 coach loads of fans, were overrun in the Cup quarter final; his hat trick, which included his 100th try for Leeds, rewarding Schofield?s artistry. Consecutive defeats in four days ruined any chance of a title bid, Graham Holroyd?s 100th goal of the season the only satisfaction in a sluggish display at Sheffield where Gary Mercer became one of the first to be pinged by the new ?on report? system. Ryan Sheridan and Lee Jackson ruled the roost for the Eagles. Bobby Goulding was the architect of Saints doing the double but a better defensive performance brought victory at Odsal, including the repelling of four consecutive sets of six on the line; Cummins grabbing his fifth try in four games.

Massive favourites in the Cup semi final against Featherstone at Elland Road; Leeds duly cruised through aided by an early Schofield length of the field interception and Holroyd solo special. Hanley equalled the world record number of tries for a forward in a season with his 40th which covered the length of the field; Jim Fallon scoring a brace and being sin binned for an uncharacteristic punch. Runners up spot, the equal best placing under two divisions, was ensured after wins over Oldham and Warrington where Hanley established his new landmark, beating former Loiner Bob Haigh?s tally and ending the campaign with 41 touchdowns from 34 matches. Fallon scored a hat trick against Hull but Cup Final concern mounted when Hanley injured a shoulder over Easter. That and debates about who should be receiving ?loyalty payments? as the Super League war broke out overshadowed the Challenge Cup Final as Leeds attempted to become the first side in 42 matches to beat Wigan in the competition.

Expectations after running them close the previous year were high but despite an encouraging early start when Richie Eyres? break petered out for lack of support and Schofield was denied an interception try; the cherry and white?s were in total control. Jason Robinson cut Leeds apart from dummy half and all the Loiners could muster was a consolation score from Lowes. Kevin Iro?s hat trick and Graham Holroyd?s 300th point of the season ? only the fifth blue and amber player to achieve the feat ? accounted for Bradford in the Premiership and revenge was gained over St Helens for their league double in the semi final at Headingley. Leeds had to come from 20-6 down and the loss of Schofield who was sent off for dissent and Alan Tait who was sin binned; George Mann proving to be the star against his old club. The final match of the season summed up the chasm between Wigan and the rest as they completed the first modern Grand Slam. Their victory was the highest score in any final, 19 year old Kris Radlinski becoming the youngest player to win the Harry Sunderland trophy with a 43 minute hat trick. In all the Riversiders thrilled the capacity 30,000 crowd at the ?Theatre of Dreams? with a 12 try romp, Gary Connolly also claiming a treble. Such an ignominious end overshadowed the achievement of the Headingley Alliance and Academy sides winning their respective leagues but all focus anyway was on summer rugby ? which Leeds initially resisted ? and mergers. In the end, Ellery Hanley signed a reputed ?650,000 contract with the Australian Rugby League and before the Centenary season started ? unusually in Dublin ? the Doug Laughton era at Leeds was over.

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