A-Z of Leeds Rhinos - ‘T’ is for...Treble.

That evening, Rhinos pipped Wigan Warriors 22-20 at Old Trafford to complete the domestic treble of Challenge Cup, league leaders’ shield and Super League title. They were only the third team to achieve that feat, after Bradford Bulls in 2003 and St Helens three years later.

Leeds 50-0 Wembley victory over Hull KR was the biggest winning margin in a Challenge Cup final and man of the match Tom Briscoe’s five tries was also a record.

Having been four points clear at the top of the table at the end of August, Leeds were within seconds of being denied the league leaders’ shield before Ryan Hall’s try as the hooter sounded sealed a 20-16 win at Huddersfield Giants and first place.

Then, in the final, Rhinos looked out on their feet when they trailed 20-16, but Josh Walters’ touchdown levelled the scores and Kevin Sinfield’s conversion won it.

It was the ideal farewell for Sinfield, Jamie Peacock and Kylie Leuluai and the treble was completed by a patched up side missing a host of first-choice players.

‘T’ is also for...Three-peat. An earlier treble was completed in 2009 when Rhinos won their third successive Grand Final, beating St Helens on each occasion.

Rhinos finished second to Saints in 2007 and 2008, but outclassed the league leaders 33-6 and 24-16 at Old Trafford. In 2009, Leeds went in as top dogs and secured an 18-10 victory.

‘T’ is also for tragedy. On April 24, 1977, Leeds were leading Salford 5-2 at the Willows in their final league game of the season when 23-year-old scrum-half Chris Sanderson collapsed in a tackle.

He was taken to hospital, but pronounced dead and the match was abandoned, never being replayed. Leeds’ Wembley win over Widnes two weeks later was dedicated to Sanderson and five days after Wembley a testimonial game against Great Britain at Headingley raised £11,000 for his family. Leeds’ academy player of the year now receives the Chris Sanderson Memorial Award in his honour.

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