2009 Leeds Rhinos season

2009 Leeds Rhinos season
Super League XIV champions
Super League XIV Rank1st
Play-off resultWon Grand Final
(St Helens R.F.C., 18–10)
Challenge CupLost fourth round
(St Helens RLFC, 18–22)
World Club ChallengeLost Final
(Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles, 20–28)
2009 recordWins: 21; draws: 0; losses: 8
Points scoredFor: 805; against: 435
Team information
ChairmanPaul Caddick
Head coachBrian McClennan
Captains
StadiumHeadingley Stadium
Avg. attendance15,312
High attendance19,997
(St Helens RLFC, 4 September)
Top scorers
TriesRyan Hall (31)
GoalsKevin Sinfield (116)
PointsKevin Sinfield (225)
← 2008 List of seasons 2010 →

This article details the Leeds Rhinos 2009 Super League XIV season.

Notable moments

February

  • February 6 – The Rhinos kick off their Super League season against the Crusaders, winning 28 – 6 at home.
  • February 14 – It was announced that new signing Greg Eastwood had been denied a work visa to play for the Rhinos.[1]

March

  • March 1 – Leeds lose the World Club Challenge 20–28 to Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles, at Elland Road.
  • March 8 – Leeds beat Warrington Wolves 20–14 to maintain their place at the top of the Super League
  • March 13 – Leeds beat Wigan Warriors 34–10 with an impressive performance to open up a two-point gap at the top the Super League.
  • March 20 – Leeds lose their first league game of the season, to St Helens

April

  • April 4 – Leeds are knocked out of the Challenge Cup in the fourth round by St Helens.
  • April 10 – Bradford beat Leeds in the traditional Easter fixture.
  • April 13 – Leeds' poor form continues, losing their third Super League fixture in four games, this time to Salford.
  • April 18 – Leeds return to winning ways, beating Huddersfield away from home.
  • April 24 – Leeds lose to Harlequins, almost being "nilled" for the first time in 11 years, narrowly avoiding this by scoring their only points with the last move of the game.

May

  • May 3 – Leeds' Magic Weekend fixture ends in a 16–36 win against Catalans
  • May 15 – Leeds beat Castleford with the last kick of the match, a penalty conceded on 79:57 and converted after the hooter sounded.
  • May 26 – Keith Senior scores twice in his 300th match for the Leeds Rhinos, who comfortably beat Hull FC at Headingley.

June

  • June 6 – Leeds suffer only their second defeat at the hands of Catalans, going down 32–30 in Perpignan to a try awarded by the video referee after the full 80 minutes had elapsed.
  • June 14 – Leeds regain second place in the table after beating Huddersfield.

July

  • July 4 – Keith Senior plays and scores in his 500th professional match, away at Hull FC.
  • July 17 – Leeds come from behind against Hull KR to end the weekend level on points at the top of the table with St Helens.

August

  • August 14 – Leeds become the first team to score 70 or more points in Super League XIV, beating Castleford 76 – 12.

September

  • September 4 – Rhinos beat St Helens 18–10 to go two points clear at the top of the table.
  • September 11 – Leeds beat Salford 30–24 to win the League Leaders' Shield for the first time since 2004.

October

  • October 2 – Leeds Rhinos defeat Catalans Dragons 27–20 to progress to the Grand Final for the third year in a row.
  • October 10 – Leeds make history, being the first team to win three consecutive Super League Grand Finals, beating Saint Helens 18–10

2009 Squad

As of 7 April 2009

Nat No Player Position App Tries Goals DG Points
1 Brent Webb Full-Back 1 0 0 0 0
2 Scott Donald Wing 0 0 0 0 0
3 Lee Smith Centre 0 0 0 0 0
4 Keith Senior Centre 0 0 0 0 0
5 Ryan Hall Wing 0 0 0 0 0
6 Danny McGuire Stand-off 0 0 0 0 0
7 Rob Burrow Scrum-Half 0 0 0 0 0
8 Kylie Leuluai Prop 0 0 0 0 0
9 Danny Buderus Hooker 0 0 0 0 0
10 Jamie Peacock Prop 0 0 0 0 0
11 Jamie Jones-Buchanan Second-Row 0 0 0 0 0
12 Ali Lauitiiti Second-Row 0 0 0 0 0
13 Kevin Sinfield (C) Loose-Forward 0 0 0 0 0
14 Matt Diskin Hooker 0 0 0 0 0
15 Michael Ratu Centre 0 0 0 0 0
16 Ryan Bailey Prop 0 0 0 0 0
17 Ian Kirke Second-Row 0 0 0 0 0
18 Carl Ablett Second-Row 0 0 0 0 0
19 Luke Burgess Prop 0 0 0 0 0
20 Ashley Gibson Centre 0 0 0 0 0
21 Simon Worrall Second Row 0 0 0 0 0
22 Danny Allan Loose forward 0 0 0 0 0
23 Kallum Watkins Centre 0 0 0 0 0
24 Ben Jones-Bishop Full back 0 0 0 0 0
26 Paul McShane Hooker 0 0 0 0 0
27 Luke Ambler Prop 0 0 0 0 0

2009 Player Signings/Transfers

Gains

Player Previous club Years signed Until the end of
Danny Buderus Newcastle Knights 2 years
Luke Ambler Salford City Reds 3 Years

Losses

Player Future Club Years signed Until the end of
Nick Scruton Bradford Bulls 3 Years
Clinton Toopi Bay of Plenty Steamers (Rugby Union) Released
Ben Kaye Harlequins RL 3 years
Jordan Tansey Sydney Roosters 2 Year Loan
Danny Williams Newcastle Falcons Rugby Union 2 years
Michael Haley Doncaster Dragons 1 year
Jordan Tansey Hull F.C.

Coaching Set-Up

Nationality Staff Name Position
Brian McClennan Head coach
Francis Cummins Assistant Coach
Willie Poching Assistant Coach
Barrie McDermott Head of Youth Development
Aleks Gross Match Analyst
Billy Watts Time-Keeper
Jason Davidson Head Conditioner
Meirion Jones Head Physiotherapist
Rob Wilson Masseur

2009 Results

Date Competition Round Home Score Away Result Venue Referee Attendance Notes
26/12/2008 Friendly N/A Leeds Rhinos 16–22 Wakefield Trinity Wildcats L Headingley Matthew Thomason 8,143 2008 Boxing Day friendly
19/01/2009 Friendly N/A Leeds Rhinos 12–10 Salford City Reds W Hodges Stadium Ben Thaler Friendly held in Jacksonville, Florida.
26/01/2009 Friendly N/A Leeds Rhinos 16–20 Hull FC L Headingley Gareth Hewer 5,329 Jamie Jones-Buchanan's testimonial game
06/02/2009 Super League XIV 3 Leeds Rhinos 28–6 Crusaders W Headingley Ben Thaler 14,827 Round 3 played before round 1 to accommodate World Club Challenge fixture on Round 3 weekend
13/02/2009 Super League XIV 1 Leeds Rhinos 18–4 Wakefield Trinity Wildcats W Headingley Steve Ganson 15,643
20/02/2009 Super League XIV 2 Hull Kingston Rovers 10–19 Leeds Rhinos W Craven Park Phil Bentham 8,623
01/03/2009 2009 World Club Challenge N/A Leeds Rhinos 20–28 Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles L Elland Road Jason Robinson 32,569
08/03/2009 Super League XIV 4 Warrington Wolves 14–20 Leeds Rhinos W Halliwell Jones Stadium Steve Ganson 9,863
13/03/2009 Super League XIV 5 Leeds Rhinos 34–10 Wigan Warriors W Headingley Ian Smith 17,677
20/03/2009 Super League XIV 6 St Helens R.F.C. 26–18 Leeds Rhinos L GPW Recruitment Stadium Phil Bentham 13,966
27/03/2009 Super League XIV 7 Leeds Rhinos 42–14 Catalans Dragons W Headingley Ben Thaler 13,425
05/04/2009 2009 Challenge Cup 4 Leeds Rhinos 18–22 St Helens RLFC L Headingley Phil Bentham 17,689
10/04/2009 Super League XIV 8 Bradford Bulls 10–6 Leeds Rhinos L Grattan Stadium Ian Smith 14,554
13/04/2009 Super League XIV 9 Leeds Rhinos 20–30 Salford City Reds L Headingley James Child 14,381
18/04/2009 Super League XIV 10 Huddersfield Giants 4–34 Leeds Rhinos W Galpharm Stadium Richard Silverwood 11,593
24/04/2009 Super League XIV 11 Leeds Rhinos 4–21 Harlequins RL L Headingley Steve Ganson 13,912
03/05/2009 Super League XIV 12 Catalans Dragons 16–36 Leeds Rhinos W Murrayfield Stadium Thierry Alibert 30,122* Magic Weekend fixture
15/05/2009 Super League XIV 13 Castleford Tigers 22–24 Leeds Rhinos W The Jungle Ian Smith 8,082
26/05/2009 Super League XIV 14 Leeds Rhinos 46–16 Hull FC W Headingley Thierry Alibert 15,929
06/06/2009 Super League XIV 15 Catalans Dragons 32–30 Leeds Rhinos L Stade Gilbert Brutus Steve Ganson 7,913
14/06/2009 Super League XIV 16 Leeds Rhinos 20–12 Huddersfield Giants W Headingley Thierry Alibert 14,934
20/06/2009 Super League XIV 17 Harlequins RL 14–48 Leeds Rhinos W Twickenham Stoop Ian Smith 4,378
26/06/2009 Super League XIV 18 Leeds Rhinos 33–20 Bradford Bulls W Headingley Phil Bentham 17,824
04/07/2009 Super League XIV 19 Hull FC 30–43 Leeds Rhinos W KC Stadium Ian Smith 11,780
10/07/2009 Super League XIV 20 Wakefield Trinity Wildcats 30–32 Leeds Rhinos W Belle Vue Steve Ganson 6,425
17/07/2009 Super League XIV 21 Leeds Rhinos 24–12 Hull Kingston Rovers W Headingley Ben Thaler 16,192
24/07/2009 Super League XIV 22 Wigan Warriors 28–10 Leeds Rhinos L JJB Stadium Phil Bentham 20,295
01/08/2009 Super League XIV 23 Leeds Rhinos 24–22 Warrington Wolves W Headingley Ian Smith 13,386
14/08/2009 Super League XIV 24 Leeds Rhinos 76–12 Castleford Tigers W Headingley Ben Thaler 16,931
22/08/2009 Super League XIV 25 Celtic Crusaders 0–68 Leeds Rhinos W Brewery Field Thierry Alibert 5,597
04/09/2009 Super League XIV 26 Leeds Rhinos 18–10 St Helens RLFC W Headingley Phil Bentham 19,997
11/09/2009 Super League XIV 27 Salford City Reds 24–30 Leeds Rhinos W The Willows Thierry Alibert 6,101
18/09/2009 Super League XIV QPO1 Leeds Rhinos 44–8 Hull Kingston Rovers W Headingley Steve Ganson 11,220
02/10/2009 Super League XIV QSF1 Leeds Rhinos 27–20 Catalans Dragons W Headingley Richard Silverwood 13,409

* Aggregate attendance for second day of Magic Weekend.

League table

Pos Team Pld W D L PF PA PD Pts Qualification
1 Leeds Rhinos (L, C) 27 21 0 6 805 453 +352 42 Play-offs
2 St Helens 27 19 0 8 733 466 +267 38
3 Huddersfield Giants 27 18 0 9 690 416 +274 36
4 Hull Kingston Rovers 27 17 1 9 650 516 +134 35
5 Wakefield Trinity Wildcats 27 16 0 11 685 609 +76 32
6 Wigan Warriors 27 15 0 12 659 551 +108 30
7 Castleford Tigers 27 14 0 13 645 702 −57 28
8 Catalans Dragons 27 13 0 14 613 660 −47 26
9 Bradford Bulls 27 12 1 14 653 668 −15 25
10 Warrington Wolves 27 12 0 15 649 705 −56 24
11 Harlequins 27 11 0 16 591 691 −100 22
12 Hull F.C. 27 10 0 17 502 623 −121 20
13 Salford City Reds 27 7 0 20 456 754 −298 14
14 Celtic Crusaders 27 3 0 24 357 874 −517 6
Source: Rugby League Project
Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Points difference; 3) Number of points scored;
(C) Champions; (L) League Leaders' Shield Winners

References

  1. ^ "Leeds star Eastwood denied visa". BBC News. 18 March 2009. Archived from the original on 19 February 2009. Retrieved 25 February 2009.