A-Z of Leeds Rhinos - ‘Q’ is for...Quest for silverware

Their 1961 victory over Warrington was the first of three wins in Championship finals, followed by eight Super League titles.

They were runners-up five times before their maiden Championship victory and twice after it and have also been beaten in two Grand Finals.

Other major trophies won by Leeds are: Yorkshire Cup (17 times, beaten finalists four times), Yorkshire League (14 times), Challenge Cup (13 wins, 12 losing finals), League leaders’ shield (nine times), World Club Challenge (three wins, runners-up five times), Premiership (two wins, beaten finalists once), RL Trophy (two wins, three times runners-up), BBC Floodlit Trophy (one win).

‘Q’ is also for...Queen’s honours. Rugby league often gets overlooked, but Leeds have twice had two honours recipients in their squad.

Ellery Hanley was awarded an MBE - becoming a Member of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire - in January, 1990, when he was a Wigan player.

His Leeds teammate Garry Schofield was made an Officer of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire (OBE) three years later.

Rhinos had two MBEs in their squad during the 2014 and 2015 seasons.

Jamie Peacock received his award in the 2012 new year’s list and Kevin Sinfield’s came in the 2014 Queen’s birthday honours.

Harry Jepson, who was president of Rhinos when he died in 2016, received an OBE in the 1996 birthday list.

Bev Risman, the dual-code international full-back who played for Leeds from 1966-70, was made an OBE in the 2012 new year’s honours.

Leeds’ chairman from 1923-1955 was Sir Edwin Airey, a Leeds businessman and Lord Mayor who was knighted in 1922.

Glynn Hamilton ‘GH’ West, who played for Leeds from 1897-99, was knighted in King George V’s 1916 birthday honours for his work as deputy director general of munitions supply.

‘Q’ is also for...quagmire. Possibly the worst conditions Rhinos have faced in the summer era were at Leigh’s old Hilton Park in 2006, where Leeds won a mud-splattered Challenge Cup tie 38-12.

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