Why 2005 World Club Challenge win is Leeds Rhinos chief Gary Hetherington's favourite match

On the afternoon Paul Caddick and Gary Hetherington took over Leeds Rugby League Club, in November, 1996, a picture was taken of them reading the back page of that day’s Yorkshire Evening Post.
Gary Hetherington made a prediction when he and Paul Caddick, right, took over Leeds RL in 1996. Picture by Mark Bickerdike.Gary Hetherington made a prediction when he and Paul Caddick, right, took over Leeds RL in 1996. Picture by Mark Bickerdike.
Gary Hetherington made a prediction when he and Paul Caddick, right, took over Leeds RL in 1996. Picture by Mark Bickerdike.

The story was a prediction from Hetherington and the headline read “Leeds RL can be best in world”.

Considering the Loiners had been in a relegation battle that year, it seemed far fetched.

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But on February 4, 2005, another picture of Caddick and Hetherington was taken.

This time they were posing alongside captain Kevin Sinfield and the World Club Challenge trophy which Leeds Rhinos had just won by defeating Canterbury Bulldogs 39-32 in front of a record crowd at Elland Road.

So, while he had plenty to choose from, it is no surprise Hetherington selected that first world title victory as his favourite match.

Looking back 15 years, the Rhinos chief executive said: “I thought that 2005 side was probably the best we’ve had in that era.

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“It was a pretty special team, which had won the title for the first time the year before.”

Caddick and Hetherington flank captain Kevin Sinfield and the World Club Challenge trophjy at Elland Road in 2005. Picture by Steve Riding.Caddick and Hetherington flank captain Kevin Sinfield and the World Club Challenge trophjy at Elland Road in 2005. Picture by Steve Riding.
Caddick and Hetherington flank captain Kevin Sinfield and the World Club Challenge trophjy at Elland Road in 2005. Picture by Steve Riding.

Of why he rates that victory so highly, Hetherington insisted: “You can only win something for the first time once and to be hailed as the world champions was very significant for the club.

“Wigan, St Helens and Bradford had done it before us, but certainly from a Leeds Rhinos point of view, to be lifting the world title for the first time was significant, particularly in front of a 37,000 crowd, at Elland Road, in the city.”

Leeds - who gave a debut to Gareth Ellis, their off-season signing from Wakefield Trinity - were 38-12 ahead after 54 minutes.

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Chev Walker and Mark Calderwood crossed before Hazem El Masri replied with a try which he also converted.

Leeds Rhinos' world title celebrations begin after the 2005 win over Canterbury Bulldogs. Picture by Tony Johnson.Leeds Rhinos' world title celebrations begin after the 2005 win over Canterbury Bulldogs. Picture by Tony Johnson.
Leeds Rhinos' world title celebrations begin after the 2005 win over Canterbury Bulldogs. Picture by Tony Johnson.

From then on, the first half belonged to Rhinos as Danny McGuire scored a sensational touchdown, Willie Poching went over and Rob Burrow finished a stunning move to open a 20-point gap at the break.

Luke Patten pulled a try back, but two tries in four minutes from Richie Mathers and Jamie Jones-Buchanan seemed to have made the game safe.

Remarkably, the Australian champions then scored four unanswered tries through El Masri, Jamahl Lolesi, Tony Grimaldi and Lolesi again to leave Rhinos hanging on with eight minutes left. But two minutes from time Kevin Sinfield booted a drop goal - to go with his five two-pointers - and Leeds’ celebrations could begin.

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Hetherington reckons that epic evening was as important to Leeds as the club’s first Championship final win, in 1961.

He said: “When older fans talk about 1961, that was the Holy Grail for the club.

“They had been in business 60-odd years, but never won it and they did that year.

“That was very significant for the club and I think 2005 was as well.

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“It was great to have won the Challenge Cup in 1999 and the Grand Final, but the world title was such a big occasion for the club and great for the sport.”

Reminded of his prediction in 1996, he said: “I vaguely remember saying Leeds had the potential to win the World Club Challenge and why not?

“Nine years later we had achieved it, which was terrific.

“Beating Manly at Headingley [in 2012] is up there as well, but because 2005 was first I would go with that.”

Hetherington was founder and coach of Sheffield Eagles before moving to Leeds and picked the Division Two Premiership win over Swinton at Old Trafford in 1989 - the year the South Yorkshire club were promoted to Division One for the first time - as another favourite.

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And in his role on the Great Britain backroom staff, the first Test against Australia in 1994 - when Jonathan Davies’ try secured an epic win after Shaun Edwards had been sent-off - is also a fond memory.

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