Leeds Rhinos Nostalgia: How the Loiners became kings of the cups of old

Since the winter era ended in 1995-96, the Regal Trophy has fallen by the wayside and the Premiership was scrapped after just two summer seasons.

They are just two of a host of competitions which have come and gone over the years, all the long-established ones having been won by Leeds at least once.

The Loiners dominated the Yorkshire Cup, which was played for from 1905 to 1992, though it took them until 1919, when they were crushed 24-5 by Huddersfield, to reach their first final.

Their 11-3 success against Dewsbury two years later was the first of a record 17 Yorkshire Cup victories by Leeds, five more than nearest rivals Huddersfield.

Leeds were also runners-up five times.

The Headingley club won the Yorkshire League trophy, awarded to the highest placed team from the white rose county, a record 14 times before it was scrapped after the 1969-70 season, when Leeds were the holders.

The Garry Schofield-inspired 1988 Yorkshire Cup success against Castleford, watched by 22,968 fans at Elland Road, was Leeds’ last major silverware for 11 years.

Leeds won a trophy every season from 1966-67 until 1980-81, but then the success dried up with only that county cup and a single John Player Trophy triumph achieved before the 1999 Challenge Cup victory over London Broncos.

Leeds’ 18-10 defeat of Widnes in the 1984 JP Trophy final, when Mark Laurie was man of the match, was their second win in the competition in its various guises.

Captained by Alan Hardisty and with Keith Hepworth being named man of the match, they lifted the prize for the first time in 1972-73, beating Salford 12-7 in a dour final.

Technically, the Championship is a defunct competition, having been replaced by Super League. Leeds won that trophy three times, in 1961, 1969 and 1972 and were beaten in seven finals.

The Championship play-offs were axed after the 1973-74 season, with the title going to the team finishing top of the table – something Leeds never achieved.

In 1974-75 the Premiership was introduced, for the top 12 clubs in Division One and the second tier’s leading four.

Leeds won the inaugural final, beating St Helens 26-11 and regained the trophy in 1979, crushing Bradford Northern 24-2, when it was a top-eight play-off.

Despite having only to finish in the top-eight and win two ties to reach the decider, Leeds featured in only one more final, an embarrassing 69-12 defeat by Wigan at Old Trafford in 1995.

The BBC 2 Floodlit Trophy was competed for from 1965 to 1979 and Leeds reached only one final, beating St Helens 9-5 at Headingley in December, 1970.

The Captain Morgan Trophy was a knockout competition for the 16 first round county cup winners. It lasted just one season, 1973-74 and Leeds reached the semi-finals, losing 20-13 at home to eventual winners Warrington after victories over Bradford Northern and Swinton.

Another one-season wonder was the World Club Championship, involving every team from Super League and the NRL.

Leeds managed just one win, against Adelaide Rams at Headingley when Paul Sterling scored a stunning long-range try. They lost home and away to North Queensland Cowboys and at Adelaide.

From 1985 to 1995, the champions and Challenge Cup winners faced off in an annual pre-season game – though Wigan often won both so replacements had to be drafted in. Leeds, as league runners-up, faced double-winners Wigan in the final Charity Shield match, in Dublin and were beaten 45-20.

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