2021

From drop goal dramas, fans flocking back to Headingley and an extreme challenge undertaken by club legend Kevin Sinfield, there has been plenty of action associated with the Rhinos in 2021.

January has previously seen pre season matches take place. Not in 2021 though as Richard Agar?s side continued their pre season preparations on the training pitches amid the ongoing Covid pandemic.

Following the announcement that he had signed with Leeds on Christmas Day, Zane Tetevano was cleared to travel to the UK from Australia, plus the Rhinos also unveiled forward King Vuniyayawa from New Zealand Warriors on a one-year-deal.

The club also said goodbye to captain Stevie Ward, who hung up his boots at the age of 27. Ward made his Leeds debut as a teenager back in 2012 and was part of the Leeds team that won the Grand Final that year. He won the Challenge Cup in 2015, adding League Leaders Shield honours later that year. Unfortunately, a knee injury suffered in that game side lined him for a year and prevented him playing in the Treble winning Grand Final at Old Trafford. However, he added a second Grand Final winners ring in 2017 with a heroic performance. In total, he made 136 appearances for the club, scoring 23 tries. 

Although the Super League season usually starts in February, every team had an extra month to prepare for the upcoming campaign.

Leeds started the month by signing Liam Sutcliffe, who had previously handed in a transfer request in 2020, and young talent Jack Broadbent on new deals. Youngster Morgan Gannon was also impressing in his first full pre season, after Richard Agar and the Leeds coaching staff called the forward up to first team in 2020.

The club also unveiled it?s new look legends shirt in honour of club legend Rob Burrow MBE.

In March, the Rhinos prepared for their first games of the new year.

A 22-16 defeat to Huddersfield in Leeds? one and only pre season game gave both sides a chance to show off their new signings and young talent; Jack Broadbent, Liam Sutcliffe and Luke Briscoe scoring the tries for the Rhinos.

The club also signed Kyle Eastmond, who switched codes from rugby union to try his hand at league ahead of the season.

Round one began in style as Leeds beat local rivals Wakefield Trinity 28-22. Held behind closed doors, the Rhinos were rusty but got the job done as Broadbent, Richie Myler, Brad Dwyer, Luke Briscoe and Alex Sutcliffe crossed the try line. Tetevano also impressed on his club debut as the loose forward finish among the top tacklers in the match.

April was a tough month for the Rhinos as they couldn?t build on their result against Wakefield and also bowed out of the Challenge Cup.

Castleford edged out Leeds 18-10 at the Totally Wicked Stadium before the Rhinos then returned to the stadium a week later to face St Helens in the third round of the Challenge Cup. A spirited performance, especially following Tetevano?s red card, saw the reigning Cup holders come within two points of drawing with the Saints but a late Tommy Makinson try sealed the win for Kristian Woolf?s side.

Leeds? poor form coincided with injuries to key players such as Rob Lui, Luke Gale, Jack Walker, Harry Newman and more. Their absence was telling as Wigan ran out 19-6 winners at Headingley in round three, spoiling Kyle Eastmond?s debut for Leeds, and then a week later when Brad Dwyer scored the Rhinos? only try in a humiliating 26-6 defeat to Hull KR.

On a positive note Leeds Rhinos Women were back in action for the first time in over a year as Lois Forsell?s side looked to retain their Challenge Cup and Grand Final titles from 2019. They kicked the season off with a resounding 68-16 win over York City Knights Ladies, with tries being scored by Courtney Winfield-Hill, Ellie Oldroyd, Chloe Kerrigan, Hanna Butcher, Adaoha Akwiwu, Elle Frain, Sophie Robinson, Ella Johnson, Aimee Staveley and Tara Moxon.

Leeds? fortunes started to turn in May as players returned to bolster Richard Agar?s ranks.

A spicy affair against Huddersfield Giants had to be decided in the dying moments by a Lee Gaskell drop goal but back at Headingley, the Rhinos came out as the late winners against Wakefield, thanks to a late penalty goal from Rhyse Martin.

Hull FC?s visit on the 23rd May finally saw fans return to the Headingley terraces for the first time in over 400 days, although the Rhinos couldn?t rise to the occasion as they lost 18-12. Still the reinforcements kept returning for Leeds and against Castleford at the Mend-A-Hose Jungle, the Rhinos produced one of their best performances of the season.

An eleven try mauling of the Tigers saw Jack Broadbent, Luke Gale, Tom Briscoe (2), Morgan Gannon, Brad Dwyer, Kruise Leeming (2), Luke Briscoe and Richie Myler all get their names on the scoresheet, although the game will be remembered for Konrad Hurrell?s incredible solo effort.

Leeds Rhinos? Under-19s, Under-17s and Under-16s all returned to action for the first time in May too. Leeds Rhinos Women also continued their winning start to the league with big scorelines against Featherstone and Wakefield but Lois Forsell?s side were knocked out of the Challenge Cup by St Helens, who won 20-12 at York?s LNER Stadium.

As summer approached, Covid outbreaks meant that the Rhinos played only one game throughout June. That came at the end of the month against Salford, where two tries apiece for Tom Briscoe and Jack Broadbent helped the Rhinos win 38-12, despite three sin binnings and two red cards being handed out during the game.

Leeds players from both the men?s and women?s teams were in international action too as England men faced the Combined Nations All Stars and England?s Women took on Wales. Mikolaj Oledzki and Ash Handley came from the bench for England, while Matt Prior and Kruise Leeming helped the All Stars to a 24-22 win. Caitlin Beevers and Fran Goldthorp were both try scorers in England?s 60-0 win over Wales.

Elsewhere, Leeds Rhinos Women toppled derby rivals Bradford Bulls, thanks to braces for Ellena Powell and Caitlin Beevers, plus there were wins for the Rhinos? Under-19s vs Newcastle and Under-17s vs Wigan.

Despite having a relatively quiet June, July saw the Rhinos thrown back into the action with six fixtures.

Jack Broadbent stole the limelight as he recorded four tries in a 48-18 win over the struggling Leigh Centurions at home before Leeds beat Warrington in a nail biting thriller at the Halliwell Jones Stadium (even though Rob Lui and Liam Sutcliffe were both sin binned in the final ten minutes).

Back to back matches against the league leaders Catalans Dragons should have seen Leeds take points from Steve McNamara?s side, but two second half fightbacks saw the Dragons continue to hold onto the top of the table.

Harry Newman made his return to action, following a double leg break, in the second meeting with Catalans and the centre didn?t have to wait long to get his name back on the scoresheet either as he opened the scoring in a 38-16 win over the Red Devils. A trip to the east coast also ended in victory for Leeds as well, after a tremendous second half performance saw the Rhinos walk out 22-12 winners at the MKM Stadium.

Leeds Rhinos Women ended the month on a winning note too as Lois Forsell?s side won their remaining three league fixtures. Tara Moxon?s four tries against Warrington was a standout before Wigan were defeated 28-6 at Victoria Park. Their game against Huddersfield was forfeited by the Giants so the Rhinos sat atop the league table.

Seven of Leeds? academy players were also selected for Yorkshire?s Academy Origin match against Lancashire.

August was another busy month for Leeds as the season began to build towards its climax.

A late George Williams drop goal saw Warrington take their revenge for the Rhinos? win in June, and then a week later, Castleford too avenged their heavy defeat to beat the home side 32-18 at Headingley. Leigh were comfortably beaten 46-10 winners at Leigh Sports Village in round 19 though.

Leeds? return to Headingley to take on Huddersfield was a special occasion as Rob Burrow made his return to the stadium. Burrow was promoting his new book ?Too Many Reasons to Live? and the Leeds legend watched on as the Rhinos beat the Giants 18-12.

Leeds finished the month on the road with games against Wigan and Wakefield. The Warriors couldn?t find the finishing flourishes as the Rhinos walked away 14-0 winners, thanks to tries from Brad Dwyer and Richie Myler, but Wakefield proved to be a bump in the road for the Rhinos.

Willie Poching?s men proved superior in a 20-13 win, despite Rob Lui?s drop goal in the final minutes, meaning Leeds would have to beat both Hull FC and Hull KR to ensure the Rhinos could compete in the play offs.

Leeds Rhinos Women were also in a play off fight and began strongly with a 28-6 win over Castleford and 14-4 result against York. After a two month break due to Covid, Chev Walker?s Under-19s came back into action to beat Castleford, Wakefield and draw with Hull KR in an academy classic.

Leeds Rhinos Wheelchair also won the first silverware of the season as they defeated The Argonauts 60-28 in the Challenge Cup Final.

September was a month full of elation for Leeds as they secured a play off spot and a first win at the Dacia Magic Weekend for the first time since 2019.

Facing Hull FC at Newcastle?s St James? Park, the Rhinos had trailed 24-14 midway through the second half but fought back to level the game and send it into Golden Point. Kruise Leeming proved to be the man of the moment and stepped up to kick the decisive drop goal.

A tough evening in St Helens followed as the reigning champions ran riot with a 40-6 win at the Totally Wicked Stadium, but Leeds wouldn?t finish the regular season on a low note. Against Hull KR though, the Rhinos secured fifth place with a 36-12 result and sent the departing Konrad Hurrell, Alex Sutcliffe, King Vuniyayawa and Rob Lui out on a high in their final game at Headingley.

Celebrations were short though as a play off matchup with Wigan loomed. The game was low scoring but it was a classic play off game for the ages as neither side were willing to back down defensively. In the end, a sole try from Ash Handley proved the difference, as well as two goals from Rhyse Martin.

Following the win over Wigan, the Rhinos had already gone further than they had in 2020. A semi final clash against St Helens though proved to be a step too far as a disappointing evening saw tries from Richie Myler and Luke Briscoe only dent Saints' 36-8 score.

The chance for silverware wasn?t over though for Leeds as the Rhinos Women?s team had booked their place in the Grand Final. Facing off against St Helens, who were looking to complete the treble, it was a tough afternoon as the Saints ran out 28-0 victors in a one sided game. Leeds Rhinos Wheelchair on the other hand made history as they beat Leyland Warriors to secure the treble.

Off the field, recruitment continued for 2022 as the club announced the signing of New Zealand Warriors winger David Fusitu?a in a major coup. Richard Hunwicks also returned as the Rhinos? new Performance Director after his success with Catalans Dragons.

Recruitment continued elsewhere in the club too as the Women?s team announced the capture of former Woman of Steel and England international Georgia Roche. Seven Rhinos stars (Riley Lumb, Jack Johnson, Max Simpson, Will Gatus, Jack Smith, Kai Morgan and Jack Sinfield) also signed their first academy contracts.

November was dominated by Kevin Sinfield?s extraordinary Extra Mile challenge which saw the Rhinos? former director of rugby run from Leicester rugby union, where he is a part of the defence coaching team, to Headingley Stadium in 24 hours.

Sinfield had raised over ?2 million pounds for MND in 2020 with his seven marathons in seven days challenge but was determined to challenge himself again to raise ?100,000, which would be equally split between the MND Association and the appeal to build The Rob Burrow Centre for Motor Neurone Disease in Leeds. By the time he finished at Headingley, he had once again crossed the ?2 million mark.

November also saw former Rhinos captain Luke Gale announce his departure to Hull FC. The half back was a part of a series of transfers, after Marc Sneyd announced his return to Salford Red Devils. With an extra half back space alongside Josh Reynold, and after Leeds had signed both Blake Austin and Aidan Sezer, Gale made the move on to join Brett Hodgson?s side.

The Rhinos also revealed the new crop of young players that will play for the scholarship in 2022. 19 players from community clubs around Yorkshire and Lancashire were represented as the club continued to invest in it?s future.

As the end of the year approached, it continued to be a busy time at the Rhinos.

Four players announced that they had signed new deals, including Richie Myler, Tom Holroyd, Mikolaj Oledzki and Harry Newman.

Tom Briscoe also received a three month testimonial from the RFL as the outside back approaches his 15th Super League season. Along with his successful Christmas Dinner held at the stadium, it was announced that the Rhinos would take on Hull FC in a special pre season match to show their gratitude for Briscoe?s efforts on and off the field.

The annual Wetherby Whaler Festive Challenge rounded off the year in style too as the Rhinos defeated Wakefield Trinity 34-6, with the help of new signings Blake Austin, Aidan Sezer, James Bentley and academy star Jack Sinfield.