Leeds Rhinos Nostalgia: ‘Stevo’ stars as Dewsbury stun Leeds

Five of Rhinos’ eight Super League championships have been won from below top spot in the table, including back-to-back titles after finishing fifth, in 2011 and 2012.

Rhinos are the only team from outside a regular season’s top-four to lift the Super League trophy, but sides from even further down the ladder have been crowned champions – and Leeds were victims of one of those shocks 47 years ago tomorrow.

Leeds ended the 1972-73 season in third spot, three points behind Warrington and one adrift of Featherstone Rovers. Though Warrington were the most consistent team, it wasn’t their year. The top 16 clubs, out of the 30-strong single division, went into the play-offs and, after wins over Wigan, who finished 16th and Rochdale Hornets, the Wire were stunned 12-7 at home by Dewsbury at the semi-final stage.

Leeds, the defending champions, saw off Bramley – who had finished two places above Wigan – and Castleford, before defeating St Helens to reach the final.

All their ties had been at home, but after facing Oldham at Crown Flatt, Dewsbury had to travel to the top two on the ladder.

Even so, Leeds went into the final, at Bradford Northern’s Odsal Stadium, as hot favourites.

Dewsbury were eighth in the league, seven points behind the Loiners who had beaten them 36-9 in the Yorkshire Cup final seven months earlier.

That was the teams’ only previous meeting that season, but Leeds were aiming for a third piece of silverware, having also won the Player’s Trophy in March.

Leeds had the big-game experience and star names in their side, but – coached by Tommy Smales – Dewsbury outplayed them on the day, winning 22-13 to be crowned champions for the first time in their 98-year history.

Man of the match – winning the Harry Sunderland trophy – was Dewsbury’s hooker Mike Stephenson. Reviewing the final in the following season’s Rugby League Yearbook, Jack Winstanley paid tribute to Stephenson’s “remarkable fitness and infectious enthusiasm”.

Stephenson left Dewsbury after their Championship triumph to join Australian side Penrith. He later became more famous as ‘Stevo’, the most opinionated presenter of Sky Sports’ rugby league coverage. Stephenson scored two tries in the final, taking his tally for the season to 20.

Also playing a starring role was namesake – and centre – Nigel, who added a try, four goals and a drop goal.

Allan Agar, Dewsbury’s stand-off and father of present Rhinos coach Richard Agar, was the victors’ other try scorer and forwards Harry Beverley, Jeff Grayshon and John Bates dominated Leeds’ pack.

Winstanley described Leeds as “clearly not the great side they were,” feeling “too many top men are reaching the veteran stage together”.

Their captain, Alan Hardisty, was sent-off – for the first time in his 15-year career – after 25 minutes for a high tackle on Bates and they trailed 17-4 early in the second half before two tries in three minutes, from Graham Eccles and Phil Cookson, threatened a comeback. But Nigel Stephenson’s converted touchdown on 58 minutes left them too much to do and Lew Dyl’s late score was little consolation. Leeds’ other points came from a Terry Clawson penalty and Syd Hynes drop goal.

Rhinos’ wins from below top spot were often condemned for allegedly devaluing the competition. Of Dewsbury’s triumph, Winstanley wrote: “It was all for the good of the game. It showed where there’s will, spirit and dedication, high finance is secondary in the building of a winning team.”

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