2008

New year, same expectations. That was in the minds of fans visiting Headingley in 2008 with the arrival of Brian McLennan and the Super League trophy. Leeds had the chance to do what no Leeds team had done for 113 years and defend their title. Was it possible?

A trip to the USA started Leeds? preseason as they took on Russell Crowe?s South Sydney Rabbitohs. McLennan got his team off to winning ways with a 26-24 win over the Rabbitohs in Jacksonville ahead of their season opener against Hull KR. The squad that won the Grand Final stuck together, with youngsters being bred into the squad throughout the season. The only announcement was that Gareth Ellis would move on from the club in 2009 to sign with NRL side West Tigers. Eric Anselme was also signed mid-season from French outfit RC Albi.

The season?s opener was round four for the Rhinos due to their World Club Challenge matchup with Melbourne Storm. Back at Headingley, Scott Donald opened the season?s scoring against Hull KR, after crossing the whitewash twenty times last season. Jake Webster made Leeds? job harder when his quick double either side of half time resulted in the champions being 12-4 down. Cue Lee Smith as his double put Leeds back in the driving seat. Danny McGuire capped off the win with his effort from close range finishing the scoring at 20-12.

The official opening round was equally as successful against local rivals Huddersfield at the Galpharm. A clinical first half performance saw a Brent Webb double and Jamie Jones-Buchanan?s first of the campaign as Leeds took a commanding role in front of a 15,000 crowd. Ryan Hall, who had been selected instead of Lee Smith, opened his scoring tally as he got a try either side of half time to end the game at 30-10.

The Rhinos continued their winning start with a 44-8 away win at Wakefield and a 34-6 win against Catalans before they met Melbourne in the World Club Challenge.

Held once again at Elland Road, a crowd of over 33,000 gathered to witness Leeds make history once more. Ryan Hoffman opened the scoring for Melbourne following a Sinfield penalty goal before Leeds took control when Scott Donald took a wide pass from Webb to score in the corner. Now 10-4 up, Leeds had to withstand pressure from the NRL premiers and succeeded when on the 67^th minute, Sinfield dropped the goal, meaning that the visitors would have to score twice to win. Holding on in the dying moments, Leeds gained their second World Club crown.

A loss at the hands of Castleford Tigers on Luke Burgess? debut ended the Rhinos? winning start to the season, even though Scott Donald scored a hat trick. Leeds returned to Headingley for the first time since becoming World Club champions with two confident displays against Harlequins and Bradford. Eight different try scorers ran through the Harlequins defence, including a debut try for academy graduate Ben Kaye and a 100^th try from Rob Burrow as Leeds finished the game 48-0.

Six first team players weren?t fit for selection against Bradford, but the Rhinos still recorded the biggest win over the Bulls in history. Keeping their opponents scoreless once more, Brent Webb continued his scoring habits with his hat trick the highlight of the game. Hull FC in round eight provided nothing to weather the Rhinos storm, only posting four points to Leeds? thirty.

St Helens provided Leeds? fourth consecutive win. Tries from Ali Lauitiiti and Luke Burgess was enough to edge the Saints 14-10 in the sides? first meeting since the Grand Final.

Wigan would prove a stern test at home in round ten. Being four points ahead of second place, the Rhinos were defeated by the boot of Pat Richards, who moved into the top three goal kickers in the competition with 88 goals to Sinfield?s 82 goals. All the games points would be in the first half; Donald and Richards exchanging points before Kylie and cousin Thomas Leuluai both got on the board for their sides as Wigan won 10-14.

With two points separating Leeds from Wigan in the table, McLennan?s side went on a nine-match winning run to secure their place at the top. Warrington, like many teams visiting Headingley, left with their tails between their legs, losing 32-12.

The Challenge Cup matchup against Celtic Crusaders saw Leeds give debut appearances to Ben Jones-Bishop, Kallum Watkins and Danny Allan as they swept the National League One side beside 38-16. Seven tries went through including a debut score for Watkins as Leeds progressed through to the next round.

The momentum of the cup kept Leeds? winning streak going as they walked over Hull KR still with six first team players missing. A double by Rob Burrow and further scores from Webb, Leuluai, Senior and Diskin ensured a 36-22 win.

Millennium Magic wasn?t as close as 2007 but Leeds continued to dominate the competition with a 40-26 win over Bradford. Eric Anselme marked his debut with a try and was part of a six try blitzing in the second half. The Challenge Cup continued a week later with a trip to the Stoop to face Harlequins. With no Brent Webb, who was representing New Zealand in the centenary match against Australia, Ben Jones-Bishop stepped in to open the scoring. A McGuire hat trick with scores from Donald and Peacock edged Leeds through with a 36-26 win.

Round 14 and 15 saw Wakefield and Bradford swept aside before Leeds took on Wigan in the Challenge Cup quarter finals. A nail biter for the crowd of 10,000, tries from Burrow, Diskin and Webb had Leeds leading by 2 points as ex Rhino Mark Calderwood and Thomas Leuluai replied for Wigan. A late Donald try and drop goal from Sinfield was enough though to see Leeds through to the semi-finals, winning 23-16.

The Rhinos continued to rule at the top with Hull FC unable to compete with doubles from Donald, Burrow and Ellis. The winning run came to an end in round 17, this time against Harlequins. Visiting the Stoop once more, Leeds weren?t good enough on the day with late tries from Burrow and Donald only conciliations.

A second loss to St Helens at home shook the Rhinos? points tally at the top, especially as they would meet Daniel Anderson?s side in the Challenge Cup. More points lost, and the gap was closing to two points.

Lee Smith, Brent Webb and Matt Diskin were all on the scoreboard in the 18-12 win over Castleford despite fourteen players missing from the starting line-up. Seven players had been part of the England side that beat France 48-16 earlier in the week.

The club was finally toppled from the top of the table with a point separating them and Wigan at the JJB Stadium. The Rhinos bounced back from defeat to win their next two matches in the run up to their Challenge Cup semi-final. A double from McGuire and Hall helped Leeds to a 46-8 win over Huddersfield before both players did the same again out in Perpignan in the 37-24 victory.

After last season?s fifth round exit, a semi final had Leeds fans dreaming of Wembley. But as St Helens had taken the top spot, they would also take the glory to Wembley. Held at Huddersfield, Saints dominated the first half; a Sinfield conversion the only points of the half. Ali Lauitiiti and Scott Donald put Leeds back in it, but Bryn Hargreaves secured the Lancashire sides? place in the final with a 16-26 win.

A second loss on the bounce away at Warrington the week was resolved with a short winning streak leading up to the playoffs. Bradford (28-12) and Castleford (54-12) were both defeated at Headingley with Leeds gaining revenge over Wigan with a dominant 52-16 display.

On the final day, Leeds travelled to Belle Vue to close the season against Wakefield. Jordan Tansey, Scott Donald, Kevin Sinfield and a double from Ali Lauitiiti ended the season as Leeds entered the playoffs with a 30-12 win.

Yet again, Leeds met St Helens in the qualifying playoff away from home and once more St Helens proved too good. Danny McGuire?s only try in the first half allowed St Helens to get a grip of the game and Gareth Ellis would end the game with his try making it 38-10.

Had the stars aligned again? It?s tough to disagree when the Rhinos were on the edge of the Grand Final once more. Unlike their rampant display last year, the elimination final against Wigan was closer. Richard Mathers and Mark Calderwood faced their former club but were kept quiet as Leeds made another Grand Final. A double from Lee Smith and a try from Keith Senior sealed the win for Leeds who would face St Helens in the final.

Leeds came into the game as underdogs, despite their form in the season. The heavy defeat to St Helens two weeks before plus the injury to Brent Webb weren?t good signs for Leeds but doubters needed to watch the full eighty-minute performance. Despite going down 6-0 early on, Lee Smith, who was drafted in to replace Webb, opened levelled for Leeds. Ryan Hall added to Leeds? score, marking his Grand Final debut with a try. A double then from Danny McGuire ended hope of a fightback; Leeds were back to back champions.

The 2008 World Cup in Australia saw eleven players earn international call ups. Eight players were in the England team with Rob Burrow, Gareth Ellis, Jamie Jones-Buchanan, Danny McGuire, Jamie Peacock, Keith Senior, Kevin Sinfield and Lee Smith all included in Tony Smith?s side. Ali Lauitiiti and Kylie Leuluai were all in for Samoa whilst Eric Anselme was selected for France. Jordan Tansey joined Sydney Roosters on loan and Nick Scruton announced he would be joining Bradford. Luke Burgess became the first winner of the Albert Goldthorpe Rookie of the year and five Rhinos players were selected for the Dream Team. Peacock, Ellis, Burrow and Donald all retained last season?s places with Kevin Sinfield making his third appearance since 2005.