2013

After winning their sixth Grand Final, Leeds would come back down to earth in 2013 failing to claim silverware in any competition.

Joel Moon?s arrival from Salford was the major signing of the off season. The centre had plenty of NRL experience, playing for Brisbane and New Zealand Warriors before joining Salford in 2012. He was joined by forward Mitch Achurch, who arrived from Penrith Panthers, and winger Joe Vickery from Gold Coast Titans. Kevin Sinfield also claimed his own piece of history winning the Golden Boot.

The season started with a home tie against Hull FC in round one. A debut try for Joel Moon helped Leeds start the way they finished 2012, winning 36-06. Starting strong would be key, as the Rhinos would be looking to retain the World Club Challenge against Melbourne Storm.

A 12-14 loss to Castleford Tigers was swiftly followed by a 42-14 thumping of Salford at Headingley. Two more tries for Moon and a double from Paul McShane sent Salford back to the bottom. Kevin Sinfield, Kallum Watkins and Stevie Ward were also on the scoresheet, setting Leeds up for their World Club Challenge clash.

Looking to be the first club to win back to back World Club Challenges, Melbourne would prove a tougher test for Leeds with 2012?s NRL premiers overcoming minor premiers Canterbury Bulldogs 4-14 in the Grand Final. Going two points down early on, Melbourne wowed the Headingley crowd when Billy Slater took a Ryan Hoffman pass to open the scoring. Like in last season competition, Ryan Hall ensured he was on the scoresheet again as Leeds levelled the scores 8-8 at half time. Jesse Bromwich and Tohu Harris looked to have won the game for Leeds, now up 8-18 but a late score from Jamie Jones-Buchanan closed the scoring at 14-18.

The Rhinos would be back to their winning best by gaining an away win against St Helens at Langtree Park. Two tries from Ryan Hall and a rare score for Kylie Leuluai sealed a much needed 20-12 win.

Three home games brought three points the way of the Rhinos starting with a loss to Huddersfield. Only Paul McShane scored in an 8-32 drubbing with Wigan the next game up for the Rhinos

A lack lustre Wigan side provided very little to stop the Rhinos, despite a close 18-14 score line. Ryan Hall scored inside of ten minutes before Liam Farrell got one back from a video referee decision. 6-8 down after half time, Leeds bounced ahead through Joel Moon and had soon sealed the win through Jamie Jones-Buchanan.

Local rivals Bradford came to Headingley a point and a place above Leeds, who sat 7^th in the league. In a classic tie, it would be Leeds that opened the scoring inside of 30 seconds when Kallum Watkins sliced open the defence to score. Two Bradford tries gave the Bulls a shock lead with ten minutes left in the half but good hands from the Leeds players put recruit Mitch Achurch over for his first career try with Leeds. Ex Bulls captain Jamie Peacock scored to put Leeds ahead, but the Bulls fought back to draw the game 18-18.

Sensing the need for league points, the Rhinos went on a six-match winning run, lifting the club to fourth in the league. Starting out in the south of France, Leeds were 27-12 winners at the Gilbert Brutus. Moon, McShane and Jones-Buchanan were on the scoresheet as Leeds outclassed the French outfit.

Three more Headingley games followed with Warrington suffering a 28-22 defeat at Headingley in round 11. A devastating performance from Ryan Hall saw the England winger get two tries along with Danny McGuire, Kallum Watkins and Paul McShane all contributing to the Rhinos win.

A 30-06 win over London was perfect momentum going into their first Challenge Cup match against Castleford Tigers, again at Headingley. Kallum Watkins and Rangi Chase exchanged score before Leeds took the reins in the second half. Two tries from Danny McGuire plus scores from Chris Clarkson and Rob Burrow put Leeds into the next round of the cup to face Huddersfield.

Round thirteen and fourteen were convincing to say the least as the Rhinos travelled to Hull KR and Bradford Bulls. Mitch Achurch scored tries in both games, contributing to a 15 tries scored for both matches, as the Rhinos waltzed passed Hull KR 44-10 and Bradford 42-22.

The Challenge Cup ended Leeds? winning run as Brian McDermott?s side were totally outclassed at the John Smith?s Stadium. Four tries were run past the Rhinos in a display that put Leeds out of the cup.

Where success breeds success, Leeds came off the back of the defeat with three losses. Starting at home to St Helens, tries from Ryan Bailey, Rob Burrow, Kallum Watkins and Joel Moon wasn?t enough as the away side nicked a 22-30 win.

The Magic Weekend continued its run at the Etihad Stadium in Manchester but a shuffle in the fixtures saw Leeds come up against Wigan. It would be the first time in the history of the Magic Weekend that Leeds would lose since the competition started in 2007, with Bradford, Wakefield and Catalan all unable to topple the Rhinos on tour. Kevin Sinfield put Leeds 8-6 ahead, but Wigan fought back to lead again 8-14. Kallum Watkins and Josh Charnley exchanged scores before half time to end the scoring at 12-20. The only score of the second half would be to Joe Vickery, who would leave the Rhinos in August with only one try.

A 06-18 loss to Hull FC followed; the Rhinos falling to sixth place. But a great end to their season saw Leeds win nearly 70% of their remaining fixtures. Starting at home to Castleford, Leeds pulled out all the stops to win 42-24. Academy graduate Thomas Minns opened the scoring early on before Keinhorst and Zak Hardaker got on the scoreboard. Keinhorst completed his hat trick in the second half with Joel Moon and Ian Kirke also getting on the scoreboard.

Ten days later, Widnes were on the end of a 38-28 beating at Headingley before a visit to Huddersfield ended once more in defeat.

A trip over to Lancashire for rounds 20 and 21 put Leeds up to fourth, despite a point loss to Warrington. Back to back games against Wakefield saw Leeds come away with all four points. Two tries from Ben Jones-Bishop and the blossoming combination of Joel Moon and Ryan Hall put Leeds to a 20-18 win. In the replay of round eight, the sides met once more at the Rapid Solicitors stadium. Jones-Bishop was on the board once more, this time with youngster James Duckworth, Ablett, Burrow and Moon all helping seal a 31-24 win.

Two days after the win at Wakefield, the club announced the death of Graham Murray, who coached Leeds to a Challenge Cup win in 1999. The Rhinos followed this up with two more wins at the start of August; London and Salford City Reds all being swept aside.

Hull KR caught Leeds napping with a 12-16 win as they looked to keep their playoff hopes alive, but the Rhinos closed out the regular season with a 20-12 home win over Catalans and a rare 20-6 win over Wigan in a Superman inspired match at the DW Stadium.

With Jamie Peacock included in the dream team and later being shortlisted for the Man of Steel, Leeds? second half collapse against Warrington in the first round of play offs saw Leeds drop to a 20-40 defeat.

Headingley was a picture for the Rhinos? last chance to get into the semi-finals and possibly reach another Grand Final. St Helens were the opponents and Leeds would once again dispatch the Lancashire club. Kallum Watkins got the only score of the first half and Joel Moon later added to the Rhinos score to make it 10-0. St Helens bounced back through a Willie Manu double. With the scores locked at 10-10, Danny McGuire sealed the win with a thirty metre drop goal to win.

The season ended for Leeds against Wigan with the fourth encounter between the two clubs ending with the eventual champions winning 12-22. Iain Thornley put Wigan up 6-0 before Leeds bounced back when Joel Moon scored his seventeenth try of the season. But the home side would prevail scoring three tries to seal their place at Old Trafford, despite a late Liam Sutcliffe effort.

The announcement of England?s World Cup squad saw six Rhinos players selected. Carl Ablett, Rob Burrow, Ryan Hall, Zak Hardaker, Kevin Sinfield and Kallum Watkins were all selected and played during the competition, which England got to the semi-finals. Brad Singleton and Ben Jones-Bishop were also selected for the England Knights squad. Youngsters Jordan Baldwinson, James Duckworth, Alex Foster and Thomas Minns were all loaned out at the end of the season with Paul McShane departing for Wakefield.