Ex-Leeds Rhinos ace Dunemann still thrilled by world title win over Canterbury Bulldogs

Andrew Dunemann takes on Iestyn Harris during the 2005 Super League Grand Final. Picture by Steve Riding.

The Australian was hooker in Rhinos’ 39-32 defeat of NRL champions Canterbury Bulldogs in front of a passionate 37,028 crowd at Elland Road in February, 2005.

Looking back at his spell with Leeds, Dunemann described taking part in a world championship win as “unbelievable”.

He recalled: “It was probably the best experience of my life.

Andrew Dunemann, left, was runner-up to Kevin Sinfield, centre, as Rhinos' player of the year in 2005. Gareth Ellis, right, was third. Picture by Steve Riding.

“The first hit-up, one of their young guys carries the ball forward, Barrie [McDermott] comes out of the line and whacks him and the whole crowd is finger pointing, going ‘Barrie’s going to get you’.

“You could see the look in that young guy’s eyes. They still had a good team out, including Sonny Bill [Williams], but just from that moment, it took them half a game to get over that.

“The crowd that night, they were all going for the same team, it was unbelievable - just a great experience to be part of.”

Dunemann played 93 games for Rhinos from 2003-2005, scoring 11 tries and two drop goals, two weeks apart, to clinch one-point wins over Castleford Tigers and Wakefield Trinity.

Signed from Halifax, he featured in Rhinos’ 2003 and 2005 Challenge Cup final defeats and the 2005 Grand Final loss, but was not selected in 2004 when Leeds won the title at Old Trafford.

Dunemann made 26 appearances that year and was a key member of the side which finished nine points clear at the top of Super League. He was 18th man in the Grand Final and acted as message carrier.

“It was great to be part of,” he said. “I got injured in the first semi’ and the team came out and played exceptionally well in the second and there was no spot for me in the Grand Final.

“I ended up running the water and that was just as good.

“You want to play, but a team is bigger than one person - and I got to play in the World Club Challenge, which was my reward.”

Dunemann, 43, had a spell as interim-coach of Canberra Raiders in 2013, after his former Leeds teammate Dave Furner was sacked.

He now works in horse racing in Australia and has no involvement in rugby league.

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