Leeds Rhinos memories: spot the future stars in 2002 academy Grand Final-winning side
Some very familiar faces were on duty when Leeds Rhinos were crowned academy champions for the seventh successive season, 22 years ago.
In front of a crowd of 3,180 at Headingley, Leeds’ youngsters battled to a 12-7 win over Bradford Bulls in the under-19 Grand Final on October 13, 2002. The side included Richard Mathers at full-back, stand-off Danny McGuire, Ryan Bailey in the second-row and Rob Burrow among the substitutes, all of whom went on to play in Rhinos’ maiden Super League title victory, also against Bradford, two years and three days later. Another substitute, Nick Scruton, featured when Leeds won the senior Grand Final in 2007 and 2008.
As well as the Grand Finalists, centre Andy Kirk, scrum-half Jon Hepworth, prop Ewan Dowes and second-row Jason Netherton all went on to play for Rhinos in Super League. Wingers Austin Buchanan (Wakefield Trinity and London Broncos) and Matt Gardner (Castleford Tigers, Huddersfield Giants, Harlequins), centre Dwayne Barker (Hull, London/Harlequins), prop Tommy Gallagher (London, Widnes Vikings, Hull KR), loose-forward Peter Lupton (London, Hull, Castleford, Celtic Crusaders) and substitute Damien Kennedy (London) featured in the competition for other clubs.
The 2002 academy decider saw Rhinos trail 1-0 at half-time, to a 40th minute drop goal by Chris Bridge. Lupton booted the hosts ahead with a penalty early in the second period and Kennedy crossed to make it 6-3.
Bridge cut the gap with a penalty, but McGuire zipped over with four minutes left and Lupton added the extras. Stuart Reardon pulled a try back almost immediately, but Rhinos held on in a tense finale.
Leeds’ team that afternoon was: Richard Mathers, Austin Buchanan, Andy Kirk, Dwayne Barker, Matt Gardner, Danny McGuire, Jon Hepworth, Ewan Dowes, Jon Wainhouse, Tommy Gallagher, Jason Netherton, Ryan Bailey, Peter Lupton. Subs Rob Burrow, Craig Stanley, Nick Scruton, Damien Kennedy.