Leeds Rhinos Nostalgia: Tonie Carroll stars as Rhinos exact revenge on St Helens

ONE OF Leeds Rhinos’ heaviest Super League defeats came on this day in 1999 and was emphatically avenged in near-identical circumstances exactly two years later.

Twenty one years ago Leeds were suffering a Challenge Cup final hangover when they travelled to St Helens just three days after thrashing London Broncos 52-16 in the last final at the old Wembley.

The situation was reversed in 2001 when Saints were the team coming off the back of a Challenge Cup triumph. They visited Headingley six days later and were taken to the cleaners 74-16.

According to Graham Murray, Rhinos’ coach in 1999, being told to play on the Tuesday after Cup final Saturday was “a disgrace which devalues the game” and “robbed” fans of what might have been a thrilling encounter between two form teams.

Saints, the league leaders, ran in 12 tries to win 62-18, which is still their highest Super League score against Rhinos.

Darren Fleary, Francis Cummins and Andy Hay, who had all played in the final, crossed for Leeds.

However, the game had one lasting legacy for the Headingley club.

Youngster Kevin Sinfield came into the side and – with skipper Iestyn Harris rested – took the kicking duties.

His three goals were the first of what was to become a record total for the club.

Anthony Sullivan, Anthony Stewart and Sean Long all bagged a brace for Saints, whose other try scorers were Paul Newlove, Chris Joynt, Paul Sculthorpe, Paul Atcheson, Sonny Nickle and Chris Smith.

Long kicked seven goals for a personal haul of 22 points.

Two years later Saints beat Bradford Bulls 13-6 in a dull Cup final at Twickenham.

They were without only three players from that line-up when they travelled to Leeds, but the Rhinos produced a sensational attacking performance, led by Tonie Carroll, to leave visiting boss Ian Millward shell-shocked.

Born in New Zealand, but raised in Australia, Carroll – known as Tunza – was a Kiwi Test player when he joined Leeds ahead of that season from Brisbane Broncos.

He finished his debut campaign as the club’s top scorer with 23 tries, four of them coming in that demolition of Saints.

Carroll, voted into the 2001 Super League Dream Team, spent two seasons at Rhinos, touching down 31 times in 50 appearances before returning to Brisbane.

He later went on to play for Australia.

Also in red hot form that night were full-back Cummins – who ran in a hat-trick – and two-try Keith Senior.

Leeds’ other try scorers were Karl Pratt, Hay, Harris and Chev Walker.

It was a significant occasion for Harris as he added 11 goals for a 26-point haul.

His second successful kick took the former Warrington man past 2,000 career points.

The win not only avenged Saints’ big victory two years earlier, but it also helped banish the memory of a 27-22 loss to the same team in a 2001 Challenge Cup semi-final.

It was Leeds’ highest score against Saints, who were beaten 70-0 at Headingley three years later.

Saints rested Lance Todd Trophy winner Tommy Martyn, Newlove and Paul Wellens, but started well and went ahead through a sixth-minute try by Sullivan. Leeds, though, led 32-10 at the break, with Carroll scoring a hat-trick in the final 21 minutes of the half.

Former Leeds man Kevin Iro grabbed Saints’ second try after half an hour and Steve Hall crossed 15 minutes into the second period. Long kicked two goals.

Delighted Rhinos coach Daryl Powell hailed a “top-quality effort”. He said. “We were sensational, I couldn’t ask for more. I don’t think it mattered who we were playing, we would have beaten anyone.”

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