Leeds Rhinos vs Wigan Warriors

DOWN THE DECADES... 2013
A fallow year in the midst
of the accumulation of
silverware, the Rhinos
missed out on the World
Club Challenge, Wembley
and Old Trafford in 2013.
Leeds received a boost
before hosting the WCC
with Kevin Sinfield awarded
the Golden Boot as the
best player in the world.
Over 20,000 crammed into
Headingley for the clash
with Melbourne Storm,
who were looking to avenge
their defeat in 2008 while
the Rhinos attempted to
hold on to the trophy they’d
won the year before, and
they witnessed a thriller.
Cameron Smith, Cooper
Cronk and Billy Slater were
the difference against a side
that had Kallum Watkins at
full back for broken thumb
victim Zak Hardaker, initial
trialist Joe Vickery on the
wing and Carl Ablett in the
centres. After going into
the break on level terms,
Tohu Harris’ defining score
at the start of the second
half helped Storm hang
on for a 18-14 win, despite
a try from Leeds’ Jamie
Jones-Buchanan and Jamie
Peacock being held out.
Victory at St Helens a
week after, with Ryan Hall
crossing twice, was followed
by a heavy home defeat
against Huddersfield, who
were to go on and claim the
League Leaders’ Shield for
the first time in the Super
League era. During spring,
the Rhinos went eight
games unbeaten, including a
rip-roaring home draw with
Bradford, until encountering
the Giants again.
New signing Joel Moon was
in great form during the run
along with Watkins, who
was to end the year with 20
tries. His two touchdowns
at the John Smith’s Stadium
were not enough to prevent
the Rhinos crashing out of
the Challenge Cup in the
fifth round, which was the
first of four consecutive
defeats, including a first at
Magic Weekend to Wigan.
Jimmy Keinhorst scored a
hat trick as Castleford were
beaten but Kevin Sinfield
broke a thumb playing
for England against the
Exiles which ruled him out
for a month. Huddersfield
claimed a third successive
win despite two tries from
Liam Sutcliffe who had just
signed a new four year deal,
while it was announced
that Jordan Baldwinson
and Mason Tonks would
join New Zealand Warriors
the following season.
The Rhinos lost only once,
at home to Hull KR, in their
final seven regular season
games. James Duckworth
got a try at Wakefield and
another new signing for
the season, Mitch Achurch
crossed against Catalans
at Headingley. A win at
Wigan saw third place
clinched, a season high,
with Peacock named in the
Dream Team and on the
Man of Steel shortlist.
Ryan Bailey made his
300th career appearance
in the qualifying play off
at Warrington, the Wolves
winning easily 40-20, but a
late McGuire field goal saw
off St Helens 11-10 at home
in the preliminary semi final.
The season came to an end
the following week back at
the DW Stadium in a fourth
clash of the campaign
with Wigan, tries by Moon
and Sutcliffe not enough
to prevent a 22-12 loss to
the eventual competition
winners. Six Rhinos – Carl
Ablett, Rob Burrow, Hall,
Hardaker, Sinfield and
Watkins – were named in
the England World Cup
squad that heartbreakingly
lost in the semi final against
New Zealand at Wembley.Y
41 | RHINOS VS WIGAN WARRIORS