2007

In coach Tony Smith?s final season at the club, Leeds pulled out all the stops to win a second Grand Final in three years.

The signings of New Zealand international Brent Webb and Samoa international prop Kylie Leuluai were the only imports to the club, which chose squad stability over development. Leuluai packed a lot of punch to the forwards whilst Webb looked at his most dangerous attacking the line. It would be a young Leeds team that played in the pre-season, winning three out of four matches in the lead up to the season. This included Keith Senior?s testimonial match.

Round one pushed Leeds over the Pennines and into Manchester to play Salford City Reds. It was a typical ?first game back? scenario, with the Rhinos edging past the City Reds 30-26. Webb opened his scoring account with two first half tries, with Danny McGuire, Rob Burrow and Jordan Tansey also helping Leeds off to a winning start.

The Rhinos also gained revenge for last season?s 28-44 home defeat to Grand Finalists Hull FC in their round two clash. In muddy, wet conditions, Leeds prevailed with Lee Smith, Keith Senior and Ryan Bailey all on the scoresheet.

A 22-30 loss to Catalans Dragons in Perpignan was followed by a home win against Huddersfield Giants and then a two-point shock loss to Hull KR at Craven Park. Following the defeat on the east coast, Tony Smith was unveiled as the new Great Britain coach, taking the reins from Wigan?s Brian Noble.

The Rhinos followed the news with four straight wins, starting at Wakefield Wildcats. The Rhinos came out of the blocks like a shot, gaining a 24-6 lead at half time thanks to tries from Scott Donald, Keith Senior, Jordan Tansey and Danny McGuire. The Wildcats would fight back but Ryan Bailey ended their hopes, winning 32-26.

Back at Headingley, Leeds played back to back matches against Harlequins and Workington Town in the Challenge Cup. Harlequins, like Wakefield the week before, were disposed in the first half. Danny McGuire and Brent Webb helped Leeds out to 18-4 lead before Webb scored his fourth of the season.

The end of May signalled the start of the Rhinos? trip in the Carnegie Challenge Cup. They faced National Division two side Workington Town and the difference between the two teams was clear. Thirteen tries by the Rhinos secured a fifth-round spot as men were split from boys. Scott Donald?s try scoring tally was offered a real boost with the winger crossing four times before the half time whistle. Rob Burrow?s hat trick and Jordan Tansey?s brace contributed to a growing score line that wouldn?t have looked out of place on the Yorkshire Cricket scoreboard next door.

April saw Leeds only lose one match to move up to the top of the table. Starting at Oldsal, the Rhinos continued their winning run against the Bulls with a last gasp win. Both clubs along with St Helens were all on 12 points but should Leeds win, they would move top. Scott Donald?s try was doubled by Bradford?s Marcus St Hilaire and Lesley Vainikolo. With Bradford out at a 14-6 lead, the Rhinos needed a response and got one through Gareth Ellis who brought the Rhinos within two points. It would be the Rhinos who had the nerve to win the game, Donald jumping in the corner to win the game for Leeds with minutes to spare.

Despite losing to Wigan 18-20 at home five days later, Leeds were back on the boil with a trip to Warrington. A second half blitzing from Leeds was required to ensure the Wolves weren?t in line to sneak a win, with Burrow?s double the highlight of a 10-52 thrashing.

Still in a three-horse race for the top spot, a round 11 matchup against St Helens at Headingley would provide fireworks as the two sides clashed. The away side looked to be causing an upset when Scott Donald and Danny McGuire?s tries weren?t enough to withstand a 19-14 half time score in favour of the Saints. A big second half from the Rhinos saw them seal a 38-19 win, joint at the top with Bradford. Clinton Toopi, Jamie Peacock, Brent Webb and Rob Burrow all scored tries for the Rhinos to get a much-needed win over St Helens.

Webb got his first hat trick a week later against Catalans Dragons in a 54-8 demolishing, giving Leeds the perfect momentum going into Millennium Magic. Being draw against Bradford Bulls in Cardiff, the two sides created one of the most dramatic games in Super League history. The two sides, once again, matched each other in the opening minutes. Jamie Jones-Buchanan and Brent Webb?s tries were cancelled out by Michael Platt?s double. Ian Henderson and Lesley Vainikolo extended the Bull?s lead out to 26 whilst the Keith Senior kept Leeds in there at half time. Quick out of the blocks in the second half saw the Rhinos bring the scores within two points. Webb got his second of the match off a Donald break before Ben Harris and Rob Burrow exchanged scores to make the score 32-30. With Webb in the sin bin, Andy Lynch made breathing space for Bradford. In the last ten minutes, Webb completed his hat trick to put the Rhinos chasing at 38-36. Fitting with the Millennium Magic theme, Leeds produced their own piece of magic to win the game. After Bradford had two tries denied, a 40-metre penalty goal was elected by Sinfield to tie the game. The kick struck the post and bounced back into the arms of Jordan Tansey, who touched down on the siren to win the game for Leeds, creating history for Leeds and Super League.

Off the high of a win in Cardiff, Leeds would lose their next two games. It had been eight years since Leeds met Wigan in the Challenge Cup; the last meeting coming when the Rhinos won the cup in 1999. Two tries from either side had the scores level at 12-12 at half time, with Clinton Toopi and Brent Webb on the board for Leeds. Two penalty goals by Pat Richards and a try from former Rhino Mark Calderwood sealed the win for Wigan in the second half, running out 18-22 winners despite a second try by Webb.

Hull FC awaited Leeds in round 14 and in a game dominated by defence, Leeds would be denied another win. Matt Sing and Jamie Jones-Buchanan, who scored his fourth try of the season, were on the scoreboard early and Shaun Briscoe gave the home side a 14-6 lead. Another penalty goal by Danny Tickle put Hull up ten points before Brent Webb scored on the 67^th minute to close the scoring at 16-12.

Leeds would stay east for their next game against Hull KR at Craven Park. Despite the weather conditions, the Rhinos prevailed to go level on points with St Helens. Danny McGuire was the only try scorer in the first half, but Clinton Toopi and Jordan Tansey made the score 18-10 to win the match.

With four players named in coach Tony Smith?s Great Britain?s side, the Rhinos put 42 points past Warrington at Headingley. It was the first time the two sides had met at Headingley since last season?s last gap victory that sent the Wolves through to the playoff semi-finals. Leeds left no prisoners with a Henry Fa?afili hat trick not enough to disable the rampant Rhinos. Two tries for both Senior and Webb helped Leeds to a seven-score victory and kept them level on points with St Helens.

Leeds would leave it late to beat Huddersfield a week later. With the game locked up at 12-12, thanks to a Danny McGuire double, Kevin Sinfield slotted a drop goal to give his side a marginal lead before Jordan Tansey and Scott Donald touched down in the last two minutes to win the game for Leeds.

As Great Britain prepared for the upcoming test series against New Zealand, Headingley Carnegie hosted its first test match since 1993 when Great Britain played France in a warm up match. Rob Burrow, Danny McGuire, Kevin Sinfield and Gareth Ellis were all included in the squad that ran out 42-14 winners.

Back in action a week later, the Bulls visited Headingley in what would by Lesley ?The Volcano? Vainikolo?s final game before he joined Gloucester rugby union. With Vainikolo in the corner after ten minutes, it was clear the stars had aligned in Bradford?s favour as a thorough second half performance overlooked Brent Webb?s eighteenth try in as many matches.

Rob Burrow inspired the Rhinos back into action, earning the praises of Tony Smith as Leeds produced a clinical performance at Knowsley. Youngster Ryan Hall had been drafted in to fill for Lee Smith and the academy winger didn?t disappoint scoring on debut to help Leeds to a 22-10 win.

The announcement of New Zealand coach Brian McClennan before the game excited Rhinos fans but despite the club rising back up to second in the table, Leeds missed the chance to go top as they were toppled 2-18 by Wigan. A week later, Wakefield pulled off a season shock by defeating the Rhinos 16-23 at Headingley.

Unbeaten in August, Leeds continued to push for the top spot. A second half thrashing saw the Rhinos run in 48 points to seal a 54-20 win. Back at Headingley, Ryan Hall continued his scoring run, opening the scores against Salford in round 23. Jamie Thackray produced a man of the match performance with his double whilst Kylie Leuluai also scored his first for the club as Leeds posted a 52-14 win.

Now in second, Leeds made light work of Hull KR with over 17,000 attending. A double from Scott Donald, plus another from Hall, helped Leeds to a 34-18 win to keep St Helens in close range. Travelling to Grattan Park, both sides needed a win if they were to top the table. Despite going 8-0 down, Leeds fought back to take the lead thanks to tries from Matt Diskin and two from Scott Donald. But James Evans scored with three minutes left to send both sides away with a point, the game being drawn at 16-16.

Headingley would close the season out with Hull FC and Wakefield the visitors. Only Carl Ablett posted points as Leeds went down 6-17 to the ?black and whites? but the Rhinos bounced back in the final round against the local Wildcats. Doubles from McGuire and Burrow plus scores from Sinfield, Toopi, Webb and Smith ended the regular season with the Rhinos blowing Wakefield away 46-4.

Finishing second behind the Challenge Cup winning St Helens, the two sides met in the first qualifying final of the playoffs. Jamie Peacock, Rob Burrow, Gareth Ellis and Scott Donald were all named in that years Dream Team, which the Rhinos dominated, but it would be St Helens that gained the upper hand, defeating Leeds by two points. First half tries from Leon Pryce and Lee Smith locked the scores up, but it would be the kickers that decided this contest. Matty Smith slotted all of his three goals but Sinfield?s eleventh minute attempt struck the post. This proved vital as the Rhinos would now face Wigan in the playoff eliminator.

Back on home turf, the Rhinos were wary of Wigan?s threat. The visitors were making their third trip into Yorkshire after successfully dismantling Bradford and Hull to get to this stage. The Rhinos were on song, with star signing Brent Webb scoring a double along with Rob Burrow as Leeds beat Wigan 36-6. Seven goals from Kevin Sinfield and two drop goals rubbed salt in the wound with the Rhinos going back to Old Trafford.

With Grand Final glory beckoning, Leeds would meet familiar foe in St Helens. The two sides had been battling it out all season with Saints finishing top by a point. St Helens won the trophy last season, beating Hull FC but a fight out with Leeds got most rugby followers excited.

As he did all season, Brent Webb opened the scoring after taking an inside pass from Donald to touch down. James Roby would hit back but a Sinfield penalty gave Leeds a two-point lead at half time. With nothing to pick between the two sides, nobody expected the onslaught of the second half as the Rhinos stepped up a gear. First, Ali Lauitiiti fended off ?would-be? tacklers to go in the corner to send the fans into hysterics before Scott Donald was released down the left edge to sprint 60 metres and score. Lee Smith dived in the corner to push Leeds? lead out further before Jamie Jones-Buchanan benefitted from the efforts of Clinton Toopi to seal a 33-6 win, the largest winning margin since 2001.

For the post season Gillette Fusion test series between Great Britain and New Zealand, Tony Smith selected seven of his Grand Final winners for the Great Britain squad. Rob Burrow, Gareth Ellis, Jamie Jones-Buchanan, Danny McGuire, Jamie Peacock, Keith Senior and Kevin Sinfield all started at Old Trafford and were selected by their head coach. Clinton Toopi was selected for the opposition New Zealand, who were defeated 3-0 by Great Britain. Lebanon also took on Samoa in a World Cup Qualifying final, with Ali Lauitiiti part of the winning Samoa side. Three Rhinos players were also in the Centenary International match between the Northern Union and the All Golds. Danny McGuire was the only representative for the Northern Union, whilst Ali Lauitiiti and Clinton Toopi started for the All Golds.