A-Z of Leeds Rhinos - 'K' is for...Kickers

Statistically, Kevin Sinfield is the greatest marksman of the full-time era, holding Leeds club records from most goals in a career (1,831) and season (173).
Kevin Sinfield's late penalty senrt Rhinos to Old Trafford in 2011. Picture by PA.Kevin Sinfield's late penalty senrt Rhinos to Old Trafford in 2011. Picture by PA.
Kevin Sinfield's late penalty senrt Rhinos to Old Trafford in 2011. Picture by PA.

Third in the sport’s all-time list of goal kickers, he holds Leeds club records from most goals in a career (1,831) and season (173).

Sinfield’s last-second touchline goal in 2003 sent Rhinos’ Challenge Cup semi-final against St Helens into extra-time and his boot won a host of matches for the club, including Challenge Cup and league semi-finals in 2011 and a final qualifier the following year.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Sinfield did not miss during Leeds’ play-offs campaign eight years ago.

Kylie Leuluai in the middle of training at Kirkstall ahead of the 2015 Grand Final. Picture by Tony Johnson.Kylie Leuluai in the middle of training at Kirkstall ahead of the 2015 Grand Final. Picture by Tony Johnson.
Kylie Leuluai in the middle of training at Kirkstall ahead of the 2015 Grand Final. Picture by Tony Johnson.

Fittingly, his final goal for the club was a conversion which won the 2015 Grand Final and sealed the treble.

Iestyn Harris might have got near Sinfield’s tally if he had spent more time at Leeds. He holds the club record for most goals in a game - 17 against Swinton in a 2001 Cup tie - and is fifth on the career list with 594, behind Sinfield, Lewis Jones (1,244), Joe Thompson (862) and Bev Risman (611).

Next is Berk Cook, a New Zealander who landed 556 goals from 1947-53.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

He booted one of the most famous kicks in Leeds’ history, a penalty from half-way in a mudbath at Central Park, to defeat Wigan in a 1947 Challenge Cup tie.

Kiwi Ali Lauitiiti made a guest appearance for Rhinos against New Zealand in 2015. Picture by Steve Riding.Kiwi Ali Lauitiiti made a guest appearance for Rhinos against New Zealand in 2015. Picture by Steve Riding.
Kiwi Ali Lauitiiti made a guest appearance for Rhinos against New Zealand in 2015. Picture by Steve Riding.

‘K’ is also for...Kirkstall.

Headingley and Leeds Rugby Union both played at Clarence Fields in Kirkstall, as - briefly - did Bramley Rugby League Club, before the site became Rhinos’ training base.

Rhinos’ poor performance in 2016 was blamed partly on flooding at Kirkstall, which took six months to repair.

The nearby river Aire burst its banks again earlier this year, but flood protection measures limited the damage.

‘K’ is also for...Kiwis.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Nineteen New Zealand Test players have featured for Leeds,the first two being Joseph Lavery and Harold Rowe who featured on the pioneering All Golds tour to England in 1907, which included an 8-2 win over the Loiners at Headingley.

The most successful was Ali Lauitiiti who played in five Grand Final wins.

Leeds have faced Kiwi touring sides 12 times, winning just once - 11-6 in 1972.

A message from the Editor:

Thank you for reading this story on our website. These are challenging times but the team at the Yorkshire Evening Post need your support more than ever in the weeks ahead.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

While I have your attention, I also have an important request to make of you. In order for us to continue to provide high quality and trusted local news on this free-to-read site, I am asking you - wherever possible and providing it is safe for you to do so - to also please purchase a copy of our newspaper.

Inevitably falling advertising revenues will start to have an impact on local newspapers and the way we continue to work during this period of uncertainty. So the support of our readers has never been more important as we try to make sure that we keep you connected with the city you live in during this time. But being your eyes and ears comes at a price. We need your support more than ever to buy our newspapers during this crisis.

Our team of trusted reporters are working incredibly hard behind the scenes- from kitchen tables and spare bedrooms - to look at how we can do this and your continued support to the YEP will help to protect its viability in the days and weeks ahead.

For more details on our subscription offers please visit www.localsubsplus.co.uk/YEP, email [email protected] or call us on 0330 4033004

Thank you

Laura Collins

Editor

READ MORE: https://www.yorkshireeveningpost.co.uk/news/opinion/were-therewithyou-now-your-yep-needs-your-support-too-laura-collins-yep-editor-2521777

Comment Guidelines

National World encourages reader discussion on our stories. User feedback, insights and back-and-forth exchanges add a rich layer of context to reporting. Please review our Community Guidelines before commenting.