Hall will be 37 by the time he pulls on a Rhinos jersey next season, seven years after his previous appearance for the club. Despite his status as the fifth-highest try scorer in Leeds’ history, eyebrows were raised when Hall was signed for the final year of his playing career. However, Smith insisted the current Hull KR winger is being brought back because of what he can offer on and off the field. “We’ve been looking for experienced players to complement the youth that are coming through,”...
Smith was unveiled as Rhinos’ 10th full-time head-coach of the summer era on April 20, 2022 and his first game was a defeat at Salford Red Devils on May 15. They were fifth in Betfred Super League and beaten Grand Finalists at the end of his debut season, but finished eighth last year, missing out on the play-offs. His record so far is 29 victories and 26 losses from 55 games, a winning percentage of 52.7. Rhinos have lost both their Challenge Cup ties under Smith and four wins from seven league...
Two of the panel are now calling for coach Rohan Smith to go, with another two feeling it could be curtains if Rhinos lose Sunday’s game at Hull FC and the other is undecided. All agree last weekend’s 30-24 loss to Huddersfield Giants was a self-inflicted disaster which should not have happened. Here’s their latest thoughts on Rhinos’ recent poor form. GAVIN MILLER A good team doesn’t lose that game on Friday night and I’m afraid to say Leeds are not a good team. Incidentally, neither are the...
A run of four successive home defeats has left Rhinos out of the Betfred Challenge Cup and eighth in Betfred Super League with almost a third of the regular season completed. There were boos from the stands after last Friday’s 30-24 defeat to Huddersfield Giants at AMT Headingley and some fans have called for a change of coach. But speaking ahead of Sunday’s game at second-bottom Hull FC, Smith, who took charge two years ago and masterminded a turnaround which led Rhinos to the 2022 Grand Final,...
Rhinos today (Monday) confirmed Hall will rejoin them in 2025 on a one-season deal, seven years after he last played for the club where he scored 231 tries in 330 games from 2007-2018. Hall, who turns 37 in November, will combine playing duties next season with a role on Rhinos’ commercial staff, before hanging up his boots at the end of the campaign. Though Hall’s quality is undoubted – and he is still playing well for Hull KR this season, in the final months of his deal there – his age makes...
Rhinos have won four of their seven Betfred Super League matches so far and boast a 50 per cent record in all competitions going into Friday’s visit of Frawley’s former club Huddersfield Giants. “In terms of the start of the year, it probably has been a mixed bag,” the 29-year-old pivot reflected. “We’ve got a group of players and a coaching staff who really care and want results straight away and want to be hitting the ground running, which is really important. But in reality there’s been a lot...
A couple of teams tipped to fall short this season are giving the leaders a run for their money, while several others - including one of 2023’s trophy winners - have yet to click into gear. There’s still a lot of rugby to be played and, for most sides, the campaign could yet go either way, but - taking into account last year’s performance and pre-season expectations - here’s how the YEP thinks the 12 clubs rate over the opening seven rounds, plus the Betfred Challenge Cup.
Rhinos, who beat Wigan Warriors 21-8 in last year’s final at Salford Stadium, will need to top their group at Warrington’s Victoria Park on Sunday, May 4, to qualify automatically for finals day. That will be held on Saturday, July 27, at a venue yet to be decided. Next month’s festival includes all eight Betfred Women’s Super League sides, plus teams from the regional Championships, with the four group winners and two best runners-up going through. Midlands Women’s Championship sides Telford...
Before that, negativity surrounding the team may not have accurately reflected what has happened this year, but a horrible defeat - during which Rhinos twice squandered a 12-point lead in spectacular fashion - has heaped pressure on coach Rohan Smith. Since then, Rhinos have announced Leeds legend Ryan Hall will be back at the club next year for one final playing season, at the age of 37. Here’s five talking points. In it for the long Hall Commenting on Ryan Hall’s impending return, Smith said...
Rhinos have lost their last three home games in all competitions - including a 34-8 drubbing by Warrington Wolves last time out - and are Betfred Super League’s joint-fourth lowest scorers, with just 116 points from seven matches. Giants, in contrast, are on the back of a stunning 34-6 win at Super League leaders Catalans Dragons in the Challenge Cup last weekend. That was their fourth successive victory and they have scored at least 50 points in three of their last six games. They are sixth in...
Sky will provide the only live coverage of Friday’s clash between Rhinos and Huddersfield Giants at AMT Headingley, as well as Leigh Leopards’ trip to Warrington Wolves the following afternoon. The weekend’s four other Super League matches will be broadcast live on SuperLeague+ - the competition’s own streaming service - as well as Sky Sports. Here’s where to find all this weekend’s live Betfred Super League action, with kick-off times and when coverage begins. Friday, April 19: Leeds Rhinos v...
There’s a feeling Rhinos have good enough players to be higher on the Betfred Super League ladder going into Friday’s visit of Huddersfield Giants, so our panel have questioned the team’s style of play and coach Rohan Smith’s future. DAVID MUHL We are seven games into the 2024 Super League season and sitting just four points off the leaders so I don’t think that’s too bad a start considering we have recruited a new spine which always takes time to gel. It has been an up and down start with good...