2018

Grand Final glory was once again followed by a tough campaign, seeing Brian McDermott?s side once again competing for their Super League status in the Qualifiers.

A fruitful off season saw the arrival of Richie Myler from Catalans Dragons and Brad Dwyer from Warrington Wolves in replacement of Rob Burrow and Danny McGuire. Nathaniel Peteru was also signed from NRL side Gold Coast Titans to bolster the Leeds pack. Kallum Watkins was named as captain in the new year, with the Rhinos playing preseason matches against Wakefield in the Wetherby Whaler Festive Challenge and Castleford Tigers prior to round one. The club also unveiled it?s first Women?s team that would compete in the Women?s Super League in 2018.

Warrington Wolves provided the opening challenge for the Rhinos with a clash at the Halliwell Jones. The Wolves had won their last seven encounters with the Rhinos on home soil but that would be unravelled. With all the new faces on display for the first time, it would be Myler, on his return to Warrington, that provided Jamie Jones-Buchanan with a well measured kick for the forward to touch down. Myler would again play into the hands of Ryan Hall, who took a high ball to touch down. New Wolves signing Bryson Goodwin got one back for Warrington before Ryan Hall sprinted 80 metres to touchdown. Tom Lineham scored late on for the home side, but Leeds had started where last season they left off, winning 16-12.

With stadium redevelopments continuing, Elland Road would host two matches during the season and Leeds would make it two from two with a win over Hull KR. Facing off against Danny McGuire, the Rhinos would be 20-11 victors. Ryan Shaw and Adam Quinlan looked to have upset the party early on but Leeds would recover through Adam Cuthbertson and a hat trick by Jimmy Keinhorst sealing the win.

The Rhinos would jet off for the World Club Challenge following their second victory of the season. Their opponents Melbourne Storm had dominated the NRL competition in 2017 and it showed as the Rhinos were comfortably beaten 38-4 at AAMI Stadium. Ryan Hall crossed for the Rhinos inside of ten minutes, but it was all Storm for the remainder of the match, running seven tries past the Rhinos.

A 23-6 loss to Widnes on the Rhinos? return from Australia was recovered with two wins over Hull FC back at Headingley and the seasons form side St Helens at the Totally Wicked Stadium. Leeds grabbed an early try through Anthony Mullally and continued to build especially after conceding twice. A double from Ash Handley and scores from Ash Handley and Matt Parcell sealed the win for Leeds keeping them in fourth spot.

Elland Road would host a Grand Final replay in round six with Castleford Tigers visiting for the clash. Only a point would separate the two sides this time around, Castleford gaining redemption. Castleford looked to be at their best in front of a 23,000 crowd, leaving the Rhinos 24 points down in the first 30 minutes. The Rhinos would surface with two tries from Kallum Watkins and Ash Handley put Leeds within five points and a late Ryan Hall try looked to have secured a late win for Leeds. The conversion missed resulting in a third loss of the season.

As the road to the Easter weekend loomed, a draw against Huddersfield and a 20-0 win over Salford put Leeds into fourth place. A tight 28-26 win over Wakefield followed, with Handley staring once more, before Leeds faced Wigan at home.

Sitting in second place, Wigan were looking to topple St Helens and a late comeback saw the Warriors claim an 8-9 win over the Rhinos. Tom Briscoe scored for Leeds and a penalty put the lead up to 8-0. But an Oliver Gildart try and penalty goal by Sam Tomkins levelled the score up. Tomkins would break Leeds hearts though, slotting a 35-metre field goal to win the game.

A point would separate Leeds? next match against Hull FC as Jamie Jones-Buchanan celebrated his 400^th game. The spoils would go to Hull; Marc Sneyd slotting a drop goal to sink Leeds. Staying on the east coast, the Rhinos faced Hull KR, with Leeds escaping with a two-point victory courtesy of a Kallum Watkins penalty goal.

Before they entered the Challenge Cup, Warrington were back at Headingley looking to avenge their 40-0 drubbing last year. A hat trick by Harvey Livett was the standout performer at Headingley as Leeds were sunk again 22-33, despite leading the game 22-11 thank to tries from Ashton Golding, Ryan Hall, Joel Moon and Carl Ablett.

A trip back to Widnes for round six of the Challenge Cup started Leeds? journey to Wembley. Despite tries from Tom Briscoe, Ashton Golding, Richie Myler and Stevie Ward, it would be Myler?s drop goal that gave Leeds a quarter final spot.

The Dacia Magic Weekend in Newcastle was again forgetful for Leeds as they were beaten by Castleford 38-10. An away trip to Catalan also ended in a 33-20 defeat pushing Leeds down to sixth.

When they needed some winning momentum, the Challenge Cup quarter final against Leigh Centurions was a perfect opportunity, as Leeds ran nine tries past the Championship side. With continued stadium developments, Leeds took their third game on the road, this time to Featherstone?s LD Nutrition Stadium where the Rhinos pulled out a 52-22 win. A double by Tom Briscoe, plus tries by Jack Walker, Jimmy Keinhorst, Ash Handley, Richie Myler, Adam Cuthbertson, Cameron Smith and Ashton Golding sealing a semi-final match against Warrington Wolves.

Following their rampant win, the Rhinos lost their next seven games. Three home games against St Helens, Catalans and Wakefield and a final 46-8 loss away to Wigan saw coach Brian McDermott leave the club and  Kevin Sinfield introduced as the director of rugby. With the loss away to Castleford the week after, Leeds had gone on an eight-game losing run, only the second longest in the club?s history.

A 20-20 draw with Wakefield ended the clubs losing streak and Sinfield?s first win would come a week later against strugglers Widnes. With the loan signing of Dom Crosby from Warrington announced earlier that week, Leeds carried out a 34-0 drubbing of the side that sat bottom of the league. Brad Dwyer?s impressive opening try was followed up by a Luke Briscoe break away effort. Richie Myler, Matt Parcell and Joel Moon increased Leeds? lead to 26-0 before Tom Briscoe and Jack Walker finished a 34-0 win.

Condoned to the Qualifiers for the second time in three seasons, Leeds ended the league campaign with a 38-22 defeat to Salford Red Devils. A Challenge Cup semi-final against a high-flying Warrington possibly wasn?t what the club wanted, especially when Ryan Hall and Adam Cuthbertson were the only try scorers in a 48-12 defeat to the Wire.

Prior to the semi final loss to Warrington, Leeds Rhinos Women claimed their first piece of domestic silverware, winning the Women?s Challenge Cup with a 20-14 win over Castleford Tigers Women at the Halliwell Jones Stadium. In a tight clash, Suze Hill scored Leeds? only try of the first half as Castleford ran out 14-6 leaders at the break. Caitlin Beevers and Aimee Staveley would spearhead a fightback to get Leeds in front by two points before captain Lois Forsell darted out of dummy half to touchdown and seal the trophy.

Following the Women?s cup success, the men started the Qualifiers at home against Toulouse, with the Rhinso running out 48-22 winners. Two tries by both Brad Dwyer and Joel Moon, who announced his intentions to return to Australia at the end of the season, and scores from Cuthbertson, Golding, Hall, Myler and Ablett helped defeat the French Championship side.

A week later, the Rhinos scored another 48 points in the capital as they beat London Broncos 32-48. Moon again was a try scoring machine, adding three more to his seasons try tally as Leeds took a 16-0 lead. Luke Briscoe scored a break away and Brett Ferres crashed over on half time to make the score 6-28. Despite a Rhys Williams try, Leeds continued to score with Carl Ablett and a double by Ash Golding rounding off a confident win.

A home match against Hull KR followed, with the Rhinos being edged 36-38. Then the club sealed its place in Super League with three straight victories. Firstly, the Rhinos travelled to Widnes where Richie Myler scored late to secure a 16-6 win. Against the in-form Salford Red Devils, the Rhinos broke their 100% record with a two point win. Tom Briscoe put Leeds ahead but Niall Evalds drew the away side level at 4-4. Jimmy Keinhorst sprinted 80 metres to put Leeds back in front and Tom Briscoe scored his second to take Leeds to a 16-10 lead. It would be the boot of Liam Sutcliffe that would save Leeds late on as his penalty goal gave the Rhinos a 18-16 win.

A final 6-34 win over Halifax would be the last of 2018 as the Rhinos ended the campaign with a point loss to Toronto Wolfpack at home.

All eyes moved to the Women?s competition as Adam Cuthbertson?s side claimed the League Leaders? Shield with a 50-6 win over York City Knights Ladies; their second silverware of the season. The third and final piece was still up for grabs in the Women?s Super League Grand Final. Defeating Castleford at Weetwood Sports Park in the semi final, the Rhinos headed to Manchester to face Wigan Warriors, who had beaten St Helens in their semi. Despite scoring early through Rhiannion Marshall, Leeds were soon chasing the game at 16-4. Needing a spark in the second half, young full back Caitlin Beevers sprinted the length of the field to bring Leeds back into the game. Soon enough, Suze Hill was in the corner to level the game; Courtney Hill missing the decisive conversion as the scores remained 16 all. A late penalty decided the match as Charlotte Foley stepped up to kick the winning conversion; Leeds missing out on a debut season treble.

At the end of the campaign, Richie Myler was the only Leeds player to appear in the New Zealand test series, starting in the final match at Elland Road. Four players were selected for the England Knights tour of Papua New Guinea. Jack Walker, Mikolaj Oledzki, Ash Handley and Liam Sutcliffe were all called up for the series, which ended in a draw. Handley and Sutcliffe were also introduced into the England squad that faced France prior to playing New Zealand with Sutcliffe making Wayne Bennett?s bench.

Winger Ryan Hall departed the club after eleven years at the club. Hall is the fifth highest scoring player in the clubs history and left to join the 2018 NRL premiers Sydney Roosters. Joel Moon also departed the club whilst Brett Delaney, one of Super Leagues most successful overseas players, announced his retirement. Jimmy Keinhorst and Mitch Garbutt moved to Hull KR whilst Jack Ormondroyd and Josh Walters made the move to Featherstone Rovers.