Leeds Rhinos' Challenge Cup final wins ranked

Only Wigan Warriors - who have 19 wins, including eight in succession from 1988-1995 - have a better record in the competition.

Last weekend's dramatic 17-16 victory over Salford Red Devils was the second time Leeds have claimed the trophy by a single point and was in stark contrast to the record 50-0 success over Hull KR on their previous visit to Wembley.

But which of Leeds' wins was the most memorable? Here's our assessment.

14: 1941 - Leeds 19, Halifax 2 (at Odsal, Bradford). After leading by only three points at the interval, Leeds dominated the second half of a bad-tempered wartime final.

13: 1923 - Leeds 28, Hull 3 (At Belle Vue, Wakefield). Leeds won the Cup for the second time, running in five tries during a dominant performance which produced 17 points in the final 20 minutes.

12: 1932 - Leeds 11, Swinton 8 (at Central Park, Wigan). Wembley was unavailable so the final was held in the north. Leeds’ record try scorer Eric Harris grabbed the game’s only touchdown.

11: 1942 - Leeds 15, Halifax 10 (at Odsal, Bradford). Leeds retained the trophy for the first time. Guest player Alan Edwards scored two tries and fellow Salford man Gus Risman booted three goals.

10: 1957 :Leeds 9, Barrow 7 (at Wembley). Scrum-half Jeff Stevenson became Leeds’ maiden Lance Todd winner - and the first Cup final man of the match to receive an actual trophy. Leeds led 9-2, but endured a tense final 16 minutes after Barrow replied with a converted try.

9: 2015 - Leeds 50, Hull KR 0 (at Wembley). A record winning margin and Tom Briscoe became the first player to score five tries in a Cup final. A totally one-sided tie, but the first part of the treble was completed.

8: 1936 - Leeds 18, Warrington 2 (at Wembley). The Loiners’ first visit to Wembley extended their 100 per cent record in finals to four, equalling Huddersfield’s record for most wins. The crowd of 51,250 was at the time the biggest to attend a rugby league game in this country.

7: 2020 - Leeds Rhinos 17, Salford Red Devils 16 (at Wembley). Captain Luke Gale’s 76th minute drop goal won a thrilling decider - played behind closed doors - and restored Rhinos’ pride after two hugely disappointing seasons.

6: 1977 - Leeds 16, Widnes 7 (at Wembley). An emotional win for Leeds, whose scrum-half Chris Sanderson had died during a league game at Salford just two weeks earlier. Prop Steve Pitchford and scrum-half Kevin Dick stole the show.

5: 1999 - Leeds Rhinos 52, London Broncos 16 (at Wembley). After a 21-year wait, Leeds hit back from 10-0 down to win the Cup by a record score in the last final at the old Wembley. Leroy Rivett also set a record with his four tries.

4: 1910 - Leeds 26, Hull 12 (in a replay after 7-7 draw, both at Fartown, Huddersfield). Leeds’ first Challenge Cup win and by a then-record score. The referee ended the game slightly early after he and a touch judge were attacked by a spectator, Leeds player Harry Topham came to their rescue and more fans and then police got involved.

3: 2014. Leeds Rhinos 23, Castleford Tigers 10 (at Wembley). At last, after six defeats, Leeds finally got their hands back on the trophy and the golden generation’s medal collection was complete.

2: 1978 - Leeds 14, St Helens 12 (at Wembley). Leeds produced what the Yorkshire Evening Post described as a “miracle” comeback, from 10-0 down after 12 minutes in a classic final with the result in the balance until the final seconds.

1: 1968 - Leeds 11, Wakefield Trinity 10 (at Wembley). Not the best spectacle or Leeds performance, but the Watersplash final was probably the most famous game in rugby league’s history. The Cup returned to Headingley after Trinity's Lance Todd winner Don Fox missed a conversion attempt from in front of the posts, with the last kick of the 80 minutes.

A message from the Editor:

Leeds has a fantastic story to tell - and the Yorkshire Evening Post has been rooted firmly at the heart of telling the stories of our city since 1890. We believe in ourselves and hope you believe in us too. We need your support to help ensure we can continue to be at the heart of life in Leeds. https://www.yorkshireeveningpost.co.uk/news/why-yorkshire-evening-post-needs-your-support-laura-collins-yep-editor-2913382

Subscribe to our website and enjoy unlimited access to local news and information online and on our app. With a digital subscription, you can read more than 5 articles, see fewer ads, enjoy faster load times, and get access to exclusive newsletters and content. Click here to subscribe. For more details on our newspaper subscription offers click here.

Thank you

Laura Collins