“He had a fantastic skill set and superb ball-handling for a man of his frame” - Our YEP Jury pick their favourite Leeds Rhinos second rowers

CHRISTINE KIDD

Ali Lauitiiti played 200 games for Leeds Rhinos and was part of five Grand Final-winning teams. He was an excellent and very skilful second-rower.

Great athletic skill and unpredictability were his trademarks.

It was very difficult for opposition forwards to stop him offloading at will. His hand skills were sublime.

Gareth Ellis and Carl Ablett are also worth a mention. Ablett was often the unsung hero of Leeds Rhinos during the ‘Golden Decade’, putting in a lot of hard graft. Ellis was an excellent addition to the Rhinos squad and it was unfortunate that he did not remain a Leeds player for longer.

Jamie Jones-Buchanan played over 400 games for the Rhinos during his 20-year career.

He is a Leeds lad who put everything into every game that he played for Leeds.

He scored the final try in Rhinos’ 2007 Grand Final win over St Helens. His love for the Rhinos shone out in every game he played. JJB never gave anything less than 100 per cent every time he pulled on that blue and amber shirt.

IAN SHARP

Carl Ablett, Ali Lauitiiti, Jamie Jones-Buchanan, Brett Delaney and Stevie Ward are just some of the stars that have played in the second-row.

We also have had a few that just didn’t seem to make it, Mitch Achurch, Chris Clarkson and the infamous Josh Walters, whose try sealed the treble in 2015.

And then the debacle of bringing back David Furner as coach in 2019, and then giving him the boot after 14 games.

It’s hard to narrow it down to just two, but if I have to pick, the two I’d have in the trenches with me it would have to be Brett Delaney and JJB.

One half of the ‘Bash Brothers’, Delaney is a tough no-nonsense rugby league player who started in the centres for Leeds in his early days, but made his name in the second-row.

He had a never-say-never attitude and is very much an honorary Yorkshireman.

Not much to say about JJB that’s not been said before, but to be a stalwart of the side for two decades is incredible.

One of the nicest guys you could ever wish to meet, a true legend and gentleman.

GRAHAM POULTER

Our team is very nearing its completion and this week it’s our top two second-rowers.

My personal favourite is a superstar who had a fantastic skill set and superb ball-handling for a man of his frame, it is of course Ali Lauitiiti.

He won his first of five Super League titles in 2004 and was part of the team that won three consecutive Grand Finals between 2007 and 2009.

He won his fifth title in 2011.

He also appeared in two Super League dream teams, firstly in 2004 and then in 2005.

In June of the same year he scored five tries in one game at Wakefield and he had his best season in scoring 14 tries.

My second favourite second-rower is Gareth Ellis. He was very reliable and was known as one of the hardest tacklers in the game.

He was selected in four Dream Teams within the space of six years, including three consecutive Dream Teams between 2006 and 2008.

He won back-to-back Super League titles in 2007 and 2008. He then left us and signed for West Tigers in the NRL where he was a favourite, winning their player of the year on numerous occasions.

He gained the respect of his peers and the players of the NRL.

DIANNE HALL

In my opinion, one of the best second-rowers that we ever had was Carl Ablett, a wind-up merchant who could play and score crucial tries.

When the going got tough Ablett got going, he always gave 100 per cent and was part of the ‘Golden Generation’.

Sadly, after 16 seasons with us, he didn’t play in his final season and get the send-off he deserved.

However, my favourite second-rower was only with the Rhinos for five years but he made an impression on the world stage when he left.

He is the one and only Adrian Morley.

With a good turn of pace and a mean streak like no other player on the field, off the field there wasn’t a nicer bloke to be found!

Just like Carl Ablett he always gave his all, even when he was battered black and blue. I remember 1998 at Wigan when he took Robbie McCormack out from the kick off.

The Wigan pack went looking for him and eventually one of their elbows connected. Though, to his eternal credit Morley came back on in the later stages, seeking retribution.

ADAM ANDERSON

This week we look at our favourite second-rowers to have played for Leeds.

This is a very tricky one as we’ve had so many that are in this category, Gareth Ellis, Brett Delaney and Matt Adamson to name a few.

But the two that stick out for me are Carl Ablett and Jamie Jones-Buchanan.

Carl Ablett was pretty much known as the most underrated player in Super League. He did a lot of the grinding work and could play anywhere asked of him.

Carl spent 16 years at Leeds Rhinos making a total of 324 appearances.

Jamie Jones-Buchanan – we don’t have to say what kind of influence this man has at the club. There simply is nobody out there that is more Leeds than him.

Another one that would play anywhere on the field when asked, Jamie spent 20 years at the club, with 411 appearances, although during his last year he didn’t get much game time.

He’s now in the coaching set up and having a huge influence on our team still in his new role.

MATT FOWLER

Choosing my two favourite second-rowers is a difficult one, partly due to the evolution of the players and the game over the last 25 years.

The forwards of the modern game can often rotate around the pack playing prop, second-row and loose-forward.

One of my favourites played second-row for Leeds but finished his career very much a prop. Adrian Morley was starting out on a tremendous career when he played for Leeds.

A real athlete who ran the ball in with real pace and power. He also loved the big hits.

He scared the opposition and I will always remember the cheap shot he received from Mick Cassidy away at Wigan.

A coward’s way out but Morley still managed to come back on the field for a famous win.

My other favourite second-rower is Ali Lauitiiti. Brought in mid-way through the 2004 season he was box office.

Hands like shovels he could off-load and pass out of the tackle like no-one else.

A guy with a strong faith, he had a profound effect on many of his team-mates both on and off the field. He was outstanding for Leeds and earns his place as one of the best ever overseas signings.