2006

2006 would see Leeds take a break from their cup success. They were up there contending with St Helens, but it would be a case of ?close but no cigar? for Tony Smith?s side.

The off season looked promising with the Rhinos signing a host of Super League talent with interjections of NRL quality. After beating the Rhinos in the Grand Final of the previous year with Bradford, prop Jamie Peacock made the move to Leeds on a four-year contract. Winger Scott Donald was the other big signing for the Rhinos, replacing Mark Calderwood who made the move to Wigan. The year would also be a break out for academy stars, notably backs Jordan Tansey and Danny Williams, with Ian Kirke, Nathan McAvoy and Jamie Thackray also joining the club. Leeds also gained NRL experience with Mark O?Neill, Shane Millard and Clinton Toopi also joining the club with extensive experience in Australia and New Zealand.

With crowds still flocking to Headingley on the opening night, the Rhinos faced local opposition in Huddersfield Giants. Over 16,000 were in for the Rhinos? first match since winning the Grand Final and didn?t disappoint with a 20-12 win. After leading 6-0 thanks to a converted try by Kevin Sinfield, Scott Donald opened his account with the club, scoring on debut to put Leeds up to 10-0. An Albert Torrens effort was counteracted by a Lee Smith score to give Leeds a 14-6 half time lead. Danny McGuire ended the game early in the second half and despite a wrongly called penalty try to James Evans, Leeds held out to win 20-12.

Two away games over the Pennines, starting with a 24-16 win over Wigan and 4-13 loss to St Helens, ended February. Winter turned to Spring and Castleford were the opponents in round four as Leeds got back to winning ways with a third win in four matches. A hat trick from Chev Walker was a highlight as the Rhinos demolished a lacklustre Tigers 66-14. The Rhinos continued to push their weight around winning 58-10 out against Catalans Dragons, who were spending their first season in Super League.

Upon their return from Aim? Giral, Leeds stepped from third to second in the table with a 20-12 win over Salford City Reds, a McGuire double sealing a fifth win of the season. With a Challenge Cup match against Leigh Centurions beckoning, the Rhinos ended the month with a convincing 60-0 win over Harlequins. Another side new to the Super League in 2006, Leeds were clinical again at putting the Quins to the sword. A masterclass by Danny McGuire, who scored four tries, showed Leeds as possible contenders again for silverware.

A strong run in the Powergen Challenge Cup started in April against Leigh Centurions. It was a day when youth shone; Lee Smith and Ashley Gibson both getting on the score sheet in a 38-12 win. The Rhinos then got one over 2005 Challenge Cup winners Hull FC at the KC Stadium. Only a point separated the sides at Wembley, but the holders went down by eight points, with Danny McGuire providing another stand out performance.

Round nine was mouth-watering in any rugby league fans book as Leeds met Grand Final rivals Bradford Bulls at Headingley. It was the first time that Jamie Peacock would play against his former club in front of nearly 18,000 people. Stanley Gene and Gareth Ellis exchanged tries in the first half to keep the scores at a deadlock. It would be this way for most of the match as former Leeds players Iestyn Harris and Marcus Bai?s scores were matched by Rob Burrow and Richie Mathers, before Leeds elected to shoot at goal from 25 metres out to make the game 18-16. But Brett Ferres would have the last say, crashing over in the corner to win the game for the Bulls.

The Easter period saw the Rhinos play three games in eight days. Including the match with Bradford, Leeds had a week to prepare for Salford, who proved a test despite a 24-18 scoreline, and then a four day turn around to play Castleford who were once again swept aside 42-6. Danny McGuire became only the 22^nd player in Leeds? history to reach 100 tries for the club with his try being part of a nine-score drubbing.

Another four-day turnaround at the start of May saw Leeds fall down at the hands of Warrington at the Halliwell Jones. A hat trick from Henry Fa?afili was the stand out performer on the wing as Leeds fell to their third defeat of the season. The quick turnaround was taking its toll as the club met Harlequins in round thirteen. A 36-24 victory showed the game to be closer than it seemed (Leeds were up 36-12 with under twenty minutes left).

As the season reached the halfway mark, Hull were the visitors to Headingley for a Challenge Cup rematch. Another bumper crowd of over 17,000 was in attendance to see Leeds suffer one of their worst defeats of the season. Two tries from Keith Senior as well as tries from Danny McGuire, Richie Mathers and Lee Smith wasn?t enough to hold the storm that wore black and white; Leeds going down 28-44.

If you want to know the best way to bounce back from defeat Leeds knew how, keeping their opponents scoreless two games on the bounce. Starting with a 66-0 Challenge Cup win over Rochdale Hornets, Leeds proved why they were one of the best. A hat trick from Scott Donald plus two tries from Danny Williams and Carl Ablett secured a quarter final spot for the Rhinos.

Leeds continued their run in second place, behind St Helens, by making history at Odsal. After being deducted two points for a salary cap breach, Bradford were off the pace for Grand Final retention and the Rhinos sliced them apart, keeping the Bulls scoreless at home for the first time in 72 years. Chev Walker, Ryan Bailey, Keith Senior, Rob Burrow and Willie Poching were all on the scoreboard as Bradford dropped to fourth.

Wins kept coming the way of the Rhinos; this time in the Challenge Cup quarter finals against Harlequins at the start of June. The London side were languishing in eighth place after a drop goal win over Salford the week before. It would be an afternoon to remember for young gun Danny Williams, who scored a hat trick as the Rhinos went through 36-18. Scott Donald got a double with Willie Poching and Danny McGuire also scoring as Leeds reached their 12^th semi-final in 14 years.

A home win over Wigan, which saw Leeds win convincingly 48-22, was followed up by a narrow 19-18 display against Salford to keep Leeds within two points of leaders St Helens.

Three local rivals meant three wins as Leeds made it eight consecutive wins. League strugglers Wakefield Wildcats caused a stir despite the Rhinos winning 36-20. Lee Smith and Gareth Ellis both scored doubles whilst McGuire scored his second try in consecutive matches. Leeds would score 36 again, this time past Huddersfield at the Galpharm in round 19. Danny Williams made it into double figures with two tries whilst Jones-Buchanan and Peacock both scored their third tries of the campaign in the 36-14 result.

A last gasp win over Bradford at Headingley ignited the crowd of 17,000 in a classic derby match. With four players making their return to Leeds in Bulls colours, this was more than a regular fixture. The Rhinos found themselves chasing the game 8-18 down at half time; two scores from Karl Pryce and one from ex Rhino Marcus St Hilaire being replied to by Scott Donald and Rob Burrow. Youngster Nick Scruton made it 14-18 before Pryce got his hat trick try. Danny McGuire and a last-minute effort from Scott Donald turned the tables, winning the game for Leeds.

With eight games left in the regular season, Leeds were looking strong title contenders but a five-match losing run saw the Rhinos lose St Helens? pace a drop to third. Castleford Tigers nicked a drop goal win at the Jungle and despite tries from Keith Senior and Gareth Ellis, Leeds went down 14-18 to league leaders St Helens.

Seventh place Huddersfield seemed a miss-match in the Challenge Cup semi-finals, but rules are made to be broken as the Giants shocked Leeds 12-30. Scott Donald gave the Rhinos the lead after 17 minutes and Willie Poching levelled the game on half time at 12-12. But Huddersfield dominated the second half, shutting Leeds out to win 30-12.

Losses kept coming for Tony Smith?s side, 16-23 against Hull FC and 18-20 versus Wigan saw Leeds drop to third where they would stay for the rest of the campaign. Kevin Sinfield?s 49^th minute penalty broke the run, Leeds winning 14-12.

With the opening of the Carnegie Stand, Leeds got a second win by demolishing Warrington 54-16, thanks to a Senior hat trick. Jamie Thackray also got his first tries for Leeds after signing from Hull on a three-year deal.

St Helens would post the same score on Leeds a week later before the Rhinos ended the campaign with a win against Catalans at home. Jordan Tansey scored a hat trick and Danny McGuire marked his comeback after six weeks out with a try as the Rhinos ran out 60-12 winners.

Leeds would meet Warrington in the elimination playoffs at Headingley with Leeds the favourites to gain a semi-final spot. The home side were over within five minutes; Rob Burrow ducking through the defence to open the scoring. Henry Fa?afili put made it 6-4 to Warrington before McGuire pushed Leeds out to 12-6 at half time. Two penalties locked the scores up at 16-16 before Sinfield drop goaled on the hour mark. But Lee Briers had other ideas, kicking two drop goals to send the Wolves through and end Leeds? season.

With the Tri-Nations tournament coming up, Leeds would have five players in the revised Great Britain squad to face Australia and New Zealand. Rob Burrow, Gareth Ellis, Danny McGuire, Jamie Peacock and Keith Senior all made Brian Noble?s cut to go down under. Off season departures included Chev Walker, who made the move to Bath rugby union, Richie Mathers signed for NRL side Gold Coast Titans whilst 2004 Grand Final winner Willie Poching announced his retirement after a season ending injury. He joined the back-room staff in place of Francis Cummins, who moved to assistant coach following the departure of Brian McDermott to Harlequins.