Leeds Rhinos 2024 season review
Overview
Inconsistency was the biggest hindrance for the Rhinos as they finished eighth for a second-straight year. Their topsy turvy campaign can be best summed up in one statistic – at only one stage of the campaign did they win or lose more than two matches in a row.
That stop-start stat proved to be Rohan Smith’s downfall as the coach was sacked after an 18-10 defeat to Hull in round 14 – one of only three wins the Black and Whites recorded in 2024.
Brad Arthur arrived as Smith’s replacement, and there were plenty of positives, including a 30-4 win over Wigan and a 68-6 revenge demolition of Hull.
Ultimately, the team’s inconsistency cost them dearly though, and despite putting themselves within touching distance of the play-offs, losses in their final two games of the year meant they finished two points shy of the top six.
Highs
The 30-4 mauling of Wigan in August was the Rhinos at their best, with new full-back, Lachlan Miller, in particularly fine form that day.
There was the 68-6 hammering of Hull as well, which kept their play-off hopes alive, and the Rhinos started the year strongly with three wins from their opening four games.
An 18-10 win over Leigh in late June was also one of the year’s high points, not just for the result, but for the fitting tribute that took place to Rob Burrow on an emotional night at Headingley.
And despite Leeds falling short as a team in 2024, there were some standout individuals during the campaign. Lachlan Miller led the league for tackle busts and no one made more tackles than skipper Cameron Smith, who finished 70 challenges clear of the next best.
Lows
After putting themselves in the frame for a top six finish, Leeds’ last two games were a big disappointment, especially the 38-0 loss at Wigan. That was one of two nillings over the season – the other one coming in a 26-point defeat at Catalans.
The departure of Rohan Smith was a low point as well, although there was an air of inevitability about it. The man who led them to the 2022 Grand Final was under pressure from the off after the Rhinos missed the play-offs in 2023, and their inconsistent form led to his demise.
The biggest low of all though, without a shadow of a doubt, was the passing of Leeds legend Rob Burrow, who died from Motor Neurone disease at the age of just 41. Fittingly, the man of the match award in the Grand Final was renamed in his honour, and his legacy will continue forever.
Reasons to be positive in 2025
After initially joining on a temporary basis, Brad Arthur has signed a contract for 2025 as well. Arthur led Parramatta Eels to an NRL Grand Final as recently as 2022, and it’s rumoured that Fijian winger Maika Sivo will be following his former coach to Yorkshire.
Whether that turns out to be true or not we’ll see, but Arthur will definitely have some pulling power when it comes to overseas arrivals.
Throw in some of the youngsters who started to make a name for themselves this year like Tom Nicholson-Watton, Alfie Edgell and Riley Lumb, and the Rhinos should be pushing for the top six again in 2025.
My 2024 prediction – 8th
Final 2024 position – 8th
Another first-class prediction if I do say so myself. As expected, the Rhinos impressed in patches but didn’t quite have enough about them to make the play-offs. They’ll be hovering around the top six again next year though, and I wouldn’t be surprised to see them squeeze in there.
