2009

?Good things come to good people?. That?s what Brian McClennan said after Leeds Rhinos had won their third consecutive Grand Final. After another season battling against St Helens for the top prize in English rugby league, Leeds etched their names in history by winning ?three in a row?. Isn?t history made to be broken anyway!

Again, Leeds looked to keep together the previous Grand Final winning with the small edition of NRL star hooker Danny Buderus. After spending the majority of his career at Newcastle (ten years), Buderus had won the Premiership in 2001, represented New South Wales from 2002 to 2008 and played for the Kangaroos in the 2001 and 2003 Ashes series against Great Britain, 2004 and 2005 Tri Nations and Anzac Tests against New Zealand. Pre-season didn?t go as planned for the Rhinos, losing to Wakefield in the Festive Challenge and Hull FC in Jamie Jones-Buchanan?s testimonial match. The Rhinos were however victorious out in Jacksonville beating Salford City Reds at the University of North Florida.

The season started early with a home matchup against Celtic Crusaders. As Leeds would be facing NRL premiers Manly Sea Eagles in the World Club Challenge, the match was rearranged from round three. 500 tonnes of snow was removed from the pitch prior to kick off but the Rhinos gave the newly promoted side a lesson in Super League rugby. A double by Lee Smith as well as Scott Donald, Ryan Hall and Carl Ablett helped Leeds to a convincing 28-06 win on opening night.

Wakefield were beaten 18-04 a week later and Leeds made it three wins from three against Hull KR the week after. It was the perfect momentum leading up to the World Club Challenge and Leeds looked to have a big job on their hands, facing a Sea Eagles side that beat Melbourne 40-0 in the Grand Final. Despite Rob Burrow coming back from injury, the hooker was taken from the field after being knocked out in the opening fifteen minutes. Brett Stewart and Anthony Watmough put Manly in the lead before Jamie Jones-Buchanan got the home side on the scoreboard before the half time whistle. Three tries at the start of the second half saw Manly run away with the game. Stewart and Watmough got their second tries of the game before Steve Matai took the NRL premiers to 4-26. The Rhinos would show fight, bringing the score back to 20-28 before the full-time whistle. Keith Senior, Ryan Hall and Danny McGuire got on the scoreboard, but it was too little too late as Manly were crowned World Champions for the first time.

Leeds came back from defeat to win their next two matches against Warrington and Wigan to retain top of the league. The current Super League champions were proving popular, with over 17,000 attending the clash against Wigan and consistently high crowd numbers throughout the season.

The clubs first defeat would come in the Grand Final re match against St Helens at the GPW stadium. Despite Keith Senior?s early score, St Helens took a 18-6 lead over the champions. Wing partner Ryan Hall and Senior were in again after half time, but it wouldn?t stop the Saints who marched to a 18-26 win.

Back on home turf, Hall got two more tries for the season as Leeds ran riot against Catalans, winning 42-12. St Helens would be the opponents again a week later; this time in the Challenge Cup fourth round. Yet again, the three-time holders restricted Leeds to 18 points as they moved through to the next round 18-22.

Leeds lost their next two games to drop to fourth in the table. Jamie Jones-Buchanan, who had scored in the last two matches, was on the board again in vain as Leeds were downed by Bradford 6-10 and Salford 20-30.

Round ten saw Leeds come good against local rivals Huddersfield. A double by Brent Webb was the highlight as the Rhinos claimed a 34-6 win over the Giants. Burrow would be the only scorer though against Harlequins at the end of April as Leeds fell to a 4-21 loss at Headingley.

Rugby League was back on the road at the start of May as all fourteen teams headed for Murrayfield Magic. Leeds would come away victorious against a Catalans side that was struggling in the league. Ryan Hall opened the scoring before Danny Buderus sent Rob Burrow free to score under the posts. Jamie Peacock, Brent Webb and a second for Hall ensured Leeds led 0-30 at half time. The Dragons got back to back tries early in the second half, but Scott Donald sealed a 18-36 win.

A Kevin Sinfield penalty goal saved Leeds in the dying seconds against Castleford as the Rhinos gained a 24-22 win to stay third in the league. Hull FC proved easier opposition as Leeds walked 46 points past the season?s strugglers. Two tries for Lee Smith and Keith Senior showed the dominance of Leeds? back line, which was the best in Super League.

Catalans spooked Leeds in round 15, claiming a narrow 30-32 win but Leeds, as they have shown throughout history, bounced back with a six-match winning run. Huddersfield were disposed of 20-12 at Headingley, Harlequins were humiliated 48-14 at the Stoop, Bradford, Hull, Wakefield and Hull KR also couldn?t stop Leeds as they climbed to second in the table.

Wigan broke Leeds? stride at the JJB Stadium, beating the romping Rhinos 10-28. The last five games of the season saw Leeds charge for the top of the table. Warrington were edged 24-22 before Castleford Tigers were the visitors in back to back games at Headingley.

Top try scorer Ryan Hall was making a name for himself in 2009 but the matchup against Castleford saw the winger earn his first England call up for the upcoming four nations. It would be fellow winger Scott Donald that would score first for Leeds before Hall got on the scoreboard. Webb and Hall, who was in for his second, added to Leeds? score before half time. If Castleford fans were sweating, the next forty minutes would be embarrassing. Lee Smith and Kylie Leuluai got on the board early in the half before Ryan Hall got his hat trick try, running 80 metres to score. Webb got his second, Burrow and Peacock scored under the posts, Hall got a fourth and Michael Ratu, making his first appearance since 2007, scored in the corner. Hall got a fifth before Lauitiiti rounded off the scoring at 76-12. The game would be one of the highest scoring matches to be played at Headingley, ranking fourth in Rhinos history.

Leeds produced a near identical display a week later when they faced Crusaders. This match would rank fifth in the clubs highest away scores with another record 13 tries being scored in the 68-00 win. Jamie Peacock scored a first hat trick in his career along with Brent Webb, who made it four hat tricks since his arrival in 2007.

The Rhinos didn?t find victory so easy against St Helens, but another win gave Leeds a two-point gap at the top of the table. Carl Ablett opened the scoring for Leeds, but it would be Ryan Hall again who took over the highlight reels with his two tries to extend his tally to 29 tries for the season.

A win was needed over Salford to ensure Leeds claimed the League Leaders shield. Two early tries by the home side looked to upset Leeds? party but Kallum Watkins and Jay Pitts got Leeds back in it. It would be a night for the young guns as Luke Burgess crashed his way over before Webb and Ablett closed the scoring at 24-30. St Helens lost to Catalans, meaning Leeds claimed the top of the league by four clear points.

Now in the play-offs, Hull KR would look to stop the champions in the qualifying round, but Leeds proved too good, running 44 points up the east coast side. Lee Smith put Leeds on the board early, but Hull bounced back to take a 4-8 lead. Brent Webb put Leeds ahead at half time 10-8 before Ali Lauitiiti got a quick double ten minutes into the second half. Peacock got his ninth of the season before Hall got his name on the scoresheet again. Smith would score a second before Leeds close the scoring in the final minute with Keith Senior sealing the win.

Catalans Dragons stood in the way of Leeds and a third consecutive Grand Final. Beating Wakefield and Huddersfield, the Dragons had made it a second consecutive year in the elimination playoffs, losing to Wigan in 2008. First half doubles from Danny McGuire and Ryan Hall put Leeds up 22-4 at half time before Scott Donald put Leeds through despite a late fightback to win 27-20 and return to Old Trafford.

Facing St Helens yet again, Leeds Rhinos defied the odds to win a three consecutive Super League against the same opposition. Old Trafford was like a third home to the Rhinos as they had got so used to winning on English rugby league?s grandest stage. Matt Diskin opened the scoring, burrowing through defenders to plant the ball down. An error by Francis Meli let Leeds in again; Lee Smith touching down. It was another McGuire kick that caught St Helens out and let Smith in for his second. A grubber in behind the defence bounced into the arms of the winger, who planted the ball down to seal another win in Manchester.

Off the pitch, the club learned in September of the passing of historical winger John Holmes, who lost his battle with cancer. Holmes made an unbeatable 625 appearances for the club and was part of the side that won the 1977 and 1978 Challenge Cups and the 1972 Championship final. There was also a debut for Ryan Hall in Super League?s Dream Team. He joined Keith Senior, Kevin Sinfield and Jamie Peacock in the league top thirteen. The four of them were joined by Lee Smith in former coach Tony Smith?s Four Nations England side that reached the final against Australia. Luke Ambler was selected for Ireland, Kylie Leuluai played for Samoa and Michael Ratu played in the Pacific Tests for Fiji. Hall also received the award for top try scorer, touching down 32 times during the season.