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20 years of SL
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Author:  Biff Tannen [ Tue Apr 05, 2016 2:07 pm ]
Post subject:  20 years of SL
Its been 20 years since SL and with all the depressing threads at the moment i thought i would start a more positive one :D

It's easy to forget Leeds started the SL era on its aris TBH, up to its eyes in debt and a playing roster that could barely get us above the bottom reaches of the table. In came GH and Caddick to take over the club though, and starting with the fine appointment of Australian coach Graham Murray some of the finest years in the History of the club began. After Graham left for big things in Australia, taking our talismanic enforcer with him, we had a bit of lull and i guess we all thought that the brief period of success was coming to an end again in typical Leeds style.Not to worry, because waiting in the wings was one of the greatest batches of youth products ever to break out from a club in this country at any one time. Briefly, under the guidance of Daryl Powell (who, i was tempted to include in the poll) the young talent was brought into the side and when Tony Smith was appointed for the 2004 season a decade of trophy after trophy was about to be bestowed on the club, success to such an extent i don't think anybody who watched the Leeds pre SL would have even dared to dream of.

So, what was your favourite period over the near 20 years of good times we have had?

*Note - William, i know it has been one long party for you so no need to vote :wink: :lol:
Author:  William Eve [ Tue Apr 05, 2016 3:31 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: 20 years of SL
Hope you don't mind Biffer but I've just cast my vote 8)

There were several opportunities which presented themselves to GH and the club in the aftermath of the Super League War down under.

GH took advantage of the unemployed Graham Murray who lost his coaching job when Hunter Mariners were wound up. He didn't even have to pay Murray very much (if anything) as his salary was covered by Murdoch's News Ltd.

Never a man to miss an opportunity, GH also took advantage of a cheap and available Dean Lance who lost his coaching job when Adelaide Rams were wound up, but whose salary was also covered by Murdoch's News Ltd.

Unfortunately, that particular relationship didn't work out quite so well.

Returning to the topic of Graham Murray, he originally left Leeds to take up the post of North Sydney coach but they merged (LOL) with Manly to become the Northern Eagles. Manly (ARL, CEO Ken Arthurson and Kerry Packer loyalists) had no intention of allowing Murray to coach the merged entity as he batted for Murdoch's Super League side.

He was unemployed again but got the gig at the Roosters a year later which is where Morley ended up.

So here we are celebrating 20 years of Super League a mere 18 years after those damn Aussies consigned that News Ltd concept of theirs to the dustbin of history where it belongs ;-)

Summer Rugby... YAY! :DANCE:
Author:  Ferdy [ Tue Apr 05, 2016 3:48 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: 20 years of SL
I enjoyed last year mainly it was a great way for the 3 of them players to go out. But I had the most fun with the Murray resurrection team
Author:  Biff Tannen [ Tue Apr 05, 2016 4:02 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: 20 years of SL
William Eve wrote:Hope you don't mind Biffer but I've just cast my vote 8)

There were several opportunities which presented themselves to GH and the club in the aftermath of the Super League War down under.

GH took advantage of the unemployed Graham Murray who lost his coaching job when Hunter Mariners were wound up. He didn't even have to pay Murray very much (if anything) as his salary was covered by Murdoch's News Ltd.

Never a man to miss an opportunity, GH also took advantage of a cheap and available Dean Lance who lost his coaching job when Adelaide Rams were wound up, but whose salary was also covered by Murdoch's News Ltd.

Unfortunately, that particular relationship didn't work out quite so well.

Returning to the topic of Graham Murray, he originally left Leeds to take up the post of North Sydney coach but they merged (LOL) with Manly to become the Northern Eagles. Manly (ARL, CEO Ken Arthurson and Kerry Packer loyalists) had no intention of allowing Murray to coach the merged entity as he batted for Murdoch's Super League side.

He was unemployed again but got the gig at the Roosters a year later which is where Morley ended up.

So here we are celebrating 20 years of Super League a mere 18 years after those damn Aussies consigned that News Ltd concept of theirs to the dustbin of history where it belongs ;-)

Summer Rugby... YAY! :DANCE:


Of course i don't mind, :)

Yes, the Murray situation i didn't fully recall how it went down as i was out of the country for long periods around that time and wasn't following the rugby as closely as i would have liked.Thanks for the reminder.

Dean Lance...hmmm yes one era that made feel glad to be away from the Rugby during that period...we won't mention him, it never happened!!
Author:  rollin thunder [ Tue Apr 05, 2016 4:02 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: 20 years of SL
Ferdy wrote:I enjoyed last year mainly it was a great way for the 3 of them players to go out. But I had the most fun with the Murray resurrection team

Never missed a game home or away in all comes when Murray was in charge, great days wish we had him for a couple more seasons. London away in 98 Peter Gill and Marc Glanville binned after some biff, Richie Blackmore running backwards to score think we were 16 points down with with 20 to go.
Author:  Biff Tannen [ Tue Apr 05, 2016 4:06 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: 20 years of SL
Ferdy wrote:I enjoyed last year mainly it was a great way for the 3 of them players to go out. But I had the most fun with the Murray resurrection team


I enjoyed the rugby at the start with Smith up until about mid 2005 when we fell away, and then obviously how it ended in the 2007 play off series.

I went for last year too, but when you think back down the years some great memories, we were spoilt.
Author:  rollin thunder [ Tue Apr 05, 2016 4:07 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: 20 years of SL
The hat trick of grand finals for me, first up when we stuffed saints in 07 when we were meant to be just fodder, then to back it up in 08, when saints were not to have taken us lightly like the year before, then 09 league leaders and grand final again just to rub it in.
Think that was the peak of the golden generation, and maybe right in thinking we only used 20 players in 3 consecutive grand finals.
Author:  Ferdy [ Tue Apr 05, 2016 4:29 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: 20 years of SL
My actual favourite memories of going to Leeds were pre SL around 92 to 94 when Craig Innes was playing for Leeds. Stood on the eastern terrace with dad and grandad just be before he passed. Granted probably for non rugby issues. The game in SL that stands out to me was the semi in the playoffs against saints which was a brutal game
Author:  ThePrinter [ Tue Apr 05, 2016 5:01 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: 20 years of SL
rollin thunder wrote:The hat trick of grand finals for me, first up when we stuffed saints in 07 when we were meant to be just fodder, then to back it up in 08, when saints were not to have taken us lightly like the year before, then 09 league leaders and grand final again just to rub it in.
Think that was the peak of the golden generation, and maybe right in thinking we only used 20 players in 3 consecutive grand finals.


Yeah 20 players
Webb
Smith - Toopi - Senior - Donald
McGuire - Burrow
Leuluai - Diskin - Peacock
Ellis - JJB
Sinfield
Kirke - Ali - Ablett - Bailey

Hall and Scruton came in in 2008 for Toopi and Webb and Luke Burgess took Scruton's place in 2009.

As a single season I think 2015 has to be the best but that period of 07-09 was remarkable especially because before the 2007 GF Saints just didn't lose finals and we did them 3 years running and they've never really been the same since even with their 2014 win. I remember going to the 2009 GF thinking Saints are surely due one against us but we did them yet again. I think if anybody would've said on here before the 2007 GF that we would face Saints in 4 of the next 5 finals and win every single one of them they would've been laughed off the board and recommended for a straight jacket.

The 2011 & 2012 wins were great months but not great seasons. The two semi final performances though vs the LLS winners in those years were as memorable as any of our GF wins. I don't think many gave us a chance against Wire at their place in 2011 and the effort to hold on against Wigan in 2012 was outstanding.
Author:  FlexWheeler [ Tue Apr 05, 2016 5:03 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: 20 years of SL
You know you're on your way out when you get these nostalgia threads reminiscing about past success.
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