2016

After the success of 2015, claiming all the major trophies to create the perfect send off for three retiring club legends, it would be the turn of a new age of Rhinos players that would lead the line but 2016 didn?t go as planned.

With club stalwarts Kevin Sinfield, Jamie Peacock and Kylie Leuluai all departing, Leeds would look different with new player in the eight, ten and thirteen shirts. Stevie Ward and Adam Cuthbertson were commended for their 2015 season by receiving ten and thirteen whilst new signing Keith Galloway would wear eight. Galloway had made the move from West Tigers in the NRL after playing twelve years in the competition. He also had State of Origin and representative appearances for Australia to add to his name. Beau Falloon arrived from Gold Coast Titans to replace Paul Aiton, who made the move to Catalans Dragons. Anthony Mullally and Brett Ferres would add to the forward pack, signing from Huddersfield Giants.

Leeds opened the season against Warrington Wolves and the rust would show in a 10-12 win. Chris Sandow put Warrington in before half time, but Leeds would come back through Brad Singleton and Ryan Hall sending Leeds to a 10-6 lead. But Leeds hearts would be broken by Kevin Penny who put the Wolves ahead again. Zak Hardaker missed a late penalty goal and Leeds suffered an early defeat.

With the World Club Challenge looming against North Queensland, a large 56-12 defeat to Widnes didn?t provide the right momentum for Leeds, who had only managed to post two tries in both their opening matches.

North Queensland brought the brains and the brawn to Headingley at the end of February with Johnathan Thurston and Matt Scott leading the NRL premiers to victory. Leeds were dominated, unlike in previous Club Challenge matches. Michael Morgan and Rob Burrow exchanged scores as Leeds drew level with minutes left in the first half. But the Cowboys provided 34 unanswered points courtesy of Kane Linnett, Kyle Feldt, Lachlan Coote, Thurston and two tries from Justin O?Neill.

After coming away from Perpignan with no points, March would Leeds rise from the bottom of the table, starting with a home win over Huddersfield Giants. Joel Moon?s early try was doubled by Huddersfield to give the visitors a 6-12 lead. Liam Sutcliffe and Michael Lawrence exchanged tries before Jimmy Keinhorst scored a possible try of the season as he touched the ball down with his fingertips. Now 18-16 up, a final penalty goal by Jordan Lilley sealed a first win of the season.

An away trip to Wigan bared no fruit as the Rhinos were defeated 06-38 (Zak Hardaker getting the only try). Back at home, Leeds disposed of St Helens with a confident display. With Beau Falloon making his home debut, the Rhinos led the game 16-0 inside of ten minutes. Jamie Jones-Buchanan scored the opening try on his 300^th appearance before Adam Cuthbertson and Liam Sutcliffe extended Leeds? scoreline. Ex Rhino Kyle Amor and Luke Walsh and Louie McCarthy-Scarsbrook looked to have given Saints the lead at half time before Carl Ablett scored late on to put the homes side 22-18 up at the break. Ash Handley sealed the win for Leeds, winning 30-18 and boosting the club up to ninth.

Easter matchups with Castleford and Wakefield provided no points as the Rhinos suffered a late Jake Webster try to lose 18-14 at the Jungle and a 16-20 defeat on home soil to the Wildcats.

Hull KR and Salford, who both ended up in the Qualifiers that season, extended Leeds to another four-match winless run, despite the return of captain Danny McGuire. Hull FC, who were flying third in the league, would end this winless run as Leeds edged the black and whites 20-18. Jimmy Keinhorst was on the board early for Leeds, but it was a Lilley penalty that separated the two sides 8-6 after 40 minutes. Lilley was on the scoresheet after Hull had taken the lead, restoring Leeds? advantage before Jamie Jones-Buchanan clinched the win with his 71^st career try.

Leeds would slip to the bottom of the table as they went on the second largest losing run in the club?s history. Seven consecutive matches spanned two months as the Rhinos dropped towards the Qualifiers. Starting away at St Helens, Leeds then lost back to back matchups against Huddersfield in the league and the Challenge Cup, were drubbed by Castleford 12-52 at home, suffered another Magic Weekend defeat against Wigan in Newcastle and finally away at Warrington and Catalans.

It would be the visit of Salford in round eighteen that kicked Leeds into life. Luke Briscoe was the only scorer in an 8-0 against the struggling Red Devils. A week later, the Rhinos kept Wakefield to one score as they won 6-32. Mitch Achurch and Ben Jones-Bishop exchanged scores before Leeds burst into life scoring 26 unanswered points. A Brad Singleton double as well as a try by Liam Sutcliffe, who ended the game with a personal points tally of 20, helped Leeds to their fifth win of the campaign.

With the announcement that the Rhinos were swapping Man of Steel Zak Hardaker for Papua New Guinean hooker James Segeyaro, following a 22-23 defeat to Widnes at home, Beau Falloon?s contract was terminated.

Hull FC were the rivals for Segeyaro?s debut and ?Chicko? didn?t disappoint. After Liam Sutcliffe scored within two minutes, like at Headingley, Hull bounced back to lead 13-4 at the KC Stadium. Joel Moon closed the gap to 15-8, after Sneyd kicked a penalty goal, but it would be Kallum Watkins that sealed the Leeds win. The England centre collected a kick through by Mitch Achurch to score his first and new boy Segeyaro turned provider to send Watkins over again as Leeds won 15-20.

The club produced another big win back at Headingley against the league leaders Wigan in round 22. Going into the game as underdogs, the Rhinos showed fighting spirit to claim a much needed two points. Kallum Watkins and Josh Charnley were on the scoresheet in the first half before Adam Cuthbertson and Brett Ferres put the Rhinos? lead out to 18-06. Despite a late fightback, Leeds held out, winning 18-16.

Leeds would end the season on the east coast against Hull KR. Confined to the Qualifier, Jimmy Keinhorst, Rob Burrow, James Segeyaro and Ryan Hall sealed a 24-20 win at the Lightstream Stadium.

A first qualifiers campaign for the Rhinos would be successful as the club won six out of the seven matches to retain Super League status. Starting against Championship opposition Featherstone Rovers, the Rhinos held nothing back charging to a 62-6 win. Kallum Watkins scored four in the summer sunshine, with Sutcliffe and Moon getting doubles. Mitch Achurch, Carl Ablett and Tom Briscoe were also on the scoresheet to put the Rhinos in first place.

James Segeyaro scored a double at Headingley as Leeds edged Hull KR 22-18 before the Rhinos travelled to London to face the Broncos. Despite conceding early to Rhys Williams, Leeds were back in control at Ealing Trailfinders. A Tom Briscoe hat trick was the highlight as Leeds continued to win with a 28-42 result over the Championship side.

The death of club president Harry Jepson OBE on the 29^th August gave the Rhinos extra motivation as they secured Super League status against Salford. After the 8-0 win back in June, Leeds produced more points against Salford, who were again struggling in the Qualifiers. Jones-Buchanan got his fourth try of the season with Watkins, Segeyaro, Ablett and Cuthbertson also getting on the board.

On the day that Jamie Peacock announced he would be coming out of retirement to play for Hull KR, Batley would be nilled at Headingley as Leeds picked up their fourth win of the qualifiers. James Segeyaro was also announced as signing a two-year deal after impressing during his stint at the Rhinos. Huddersfield proved too good to defeat the Rhinos 22-14 before a win over Leigh Centurions would end the season on a high. Ferres opened the scoring after 14 minutes before Keinhorst got a double inside of four minutes. Segeyaro sprinted 90 metres before Leigh crashed over to get a score back before half time. Youngster Ashton Golding and a Joel Moon pushed Leeds? lead to 30 after half time and Tom Briscoe rounded off the scoring and the season with a final try.

The Four Nations were back in England and Leeds had two players in Wayne Bennett?s new England side. Kallum Watkins and Ryan Hall played all three matches as England failed to reach the final. Brett Ferres was included in the squad but withdrew with a calf problem. He was replaced by Stevie Ward, who didn?t appear throughout the competition. Zak Hardaker returned from his loan at Penrith and signed for Castleford on loan whilst James Segeyaro didn?t return to the club, instead signing a two year deal with NRL side Cronulla Sharks.