# 2009 Leeds Rhinos season

This article details the Leeds Rhinos 2009 Super League XIV season.

## Notable moments
### February

* February 6 – The Rhinos kick off their Super League season against the Crusaders, winning 28 – 6 at home.
* February 14 – It was announced that new signing Greg Eastwood had been denied a work visa to play for the Rhinos.

### March

* March 1 – Leeds lose the World Club Challenge 20–28 to Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles, at Elland Road.
* March 8 – Leeds beat Warrington Wolves 20–14 to maintain their place at the top of the Super League
* March 13 – Leeds beat Wigan Warriors 34–10 with an impressive performance to open up a two-point gap at the top the Super League.
* March 20 – Leeds lose their first league game of the season, to St Helens

### April

* April 4 – Leeds are knocked out of the Challenge Cup in the fourth round by St Helens.
* April 10 – Bradford beat Leeds in the traditional Easter fixture.
* April 13 – Leeds' poor form continues, losing their third Super League fixture in four games, this time to Salford.
* April 18 – Leeds return to winning ways, beating Huddersfield away from home.
* April 24 – Leeds lose to Harlequins, almost being "nilled" for the first time in 11 years, narrowly avoiding this by scoring their only points with the last move of the game.

### May

* May 3 – Leeds' Magic Weekend fixture ends in a 16–36 win against Catalans
* May 15 – Leeds beat Castleford with the last kick of the match, a penalty conceded on 79:57 and converted after the hooter sounded.
* May 26 – Keith Senior scores twice in his 300th match for the Leeds Rhinos, who comfortably beat Hull FC at Headingley.

### June

* June 6 – Leeds suffer only their second defeat at the hands of Catalans, going down 32–30 in Perpignan to a try awarded by the video referee after the full 80 minutes had elapsed.
* June 14 – Leeds regain second place in the table after beating Huddersfield.

### July

* July 4 – Keith Senior plays and scores in his 500th professional match, away at Hull FC.
* July 17 – Leeds come from behind against Hull KR to end the weekend level on points at the top of the table with St Helens.

### August

* August 14 – Leeds become the first team to score 70 or more points in Super League XIV, beating Castleford 76 – 12.

### September

* September 4 – Rhinos beat St Helens 18–10 to go two points clear at the top of the table.
* September 11 – Leeds beat Salford 30–24 to win the League Leaders' Shield for the first time since 2004.

### October

* October 2 – Leeds Rhinos defeat Catalans Dragons 27–20 to progress to the Grand Final for the third year in a row.
* October 10 – Leeds make history, being the first team to win three consecutive Super League Grand Finals, beating Saint Helens 18–10

## 2009 Squad

As of 7 April 2009
| No | Player | Position | App | Tries | Goals | DG | Points |
| 1 | Brent Webb | Full-Back | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2 | Scott Donald | Wing | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 3 | Lee Smith | Centre | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 4 | Keith Senior | Centre | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 5 | Ryan Hall | Wing | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 6 | Danny McGuire | Stand-off | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 7 | Rob Burrow | Scrum-Half | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 8 | Kylie Leuluai | Prop | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 9 | Danny Buderus | Hooker | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 10 | Jamie Peacock | Prop | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 11 | Jamie Jones-Buchanan | Second-Row | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 12 | Ali Lauitiiti | Second-Row | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 13 | Kevin Sinfield (C) | Loose-Forward | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 14 | Matt Diskin | Hooker | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 15 | Michael Ratu | Centre | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 16 | Ryan Bailey | Prop | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 17 | Ian Kirke | Second-Row | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 18 | Carl Ablett | Second-Row | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 19 | Luke Burgess | Prop | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 20 | Ashley Gibson | Centre | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 21 | Simon Worrall | Second Row | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 22 | Danny Allan | Loose forward | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 23 | Kallum Watkins | Centre | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 24 | Ben Jones-Bishop | Full back | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 26 | Paul McShane | Hooker | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 27 | Luke Ambler | Prop | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |

## 2009 Player Signings/Transfers

Gains
| Player | Previous Club | Years Signed | Until the End of |
| Danny Buderus | Newcastle Knights | 2 years | |
| Luke Ambler | Salford City Reds | 3 Years | |
Losses
| Player | Future Club | Years Signed |
| Nick Scruton | Bradford Bulls | 3 Years |
| Clinton Toopi | Bay of Plenty Steamers (Rugby Union) | Released |
| Ben Kaye | Harlequins RL | 3 years |
| Jordan Tansey | Sydney Roosters | 2 Year Loan |
| Danny Williams | Newcastle Falcons Rugby Union | 2 years |
| Michael Haley | Doncaster Dragons | 1 year |
| Jordan Tansey | Hull F.C. | |

## Coaching Set-Up

| Staff Name | Position |
| Brian McClennan | Head coach |
| Francis Cummins | Assistant Coach |
| Willie Poching | Assistant Coach |
| Barrie McDermott | Head of Youth Development |
| Aleks Gross | Match Analyst |
| Billy Watts | Time-Keeper |
| Jason Davidson | Head Conditioner |
| Meirion Jones | Head Physiotherapist |
| Rob Wilson | Masseur |

## 2009 Results

| Date | Competition | Round | Home | Score | Away | Result | Venue | Referee | Attendance | Notes |
| 26/12/2008 | Friendly | N/A | Leeds Rhinos | 16–22 | Wakefield Trinity Wildcats | L | Headingley | Matthew Thomason | 8,143 | 2008 Boxing Day friendly |
| 19/01/2009 | Friendly | N/A | Leeds Rhinos | 12–10 | Salford City Reds | W | Hodges Stadium | Ben Thaler | | Friendly held in Jacksonville, Florida. |
| 26/01/2009 | Friendly | N/A | Leeds Rhinos | 16–20 | Hull FC | L | Headingley | Gareth Hewer | 5,329 | Jamie Jones-Buchanan's testimonial game |
| 06/02/2009 | Super League XIV | 3 | Leeds Rhinos | 28–6 | Crusaders | W | Headingley | Ben Thaler | 14,827 | Round 3 played before round 1 to accommodate World Club Challenge fixture on Round 3 weekend |
| 13/02/2009 | Super League XIV | 1 | Leeds Rhinos | 18–4 | Wakefield Trinity Wildcats | W | Headingley | Steve Ganson | 15,643 | |
| 20/02/2009 | Super League XIV | 2 | Hull Kingston Rovers | 10–19 | Leeds Rhinos | W | Craven Park | Phil Bentham | 8,623 | |
| 01/03/2009 | 2009 World Club Challenge | N/A | Leeds Rhinos | 20–28 | Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles | L | Elland Road | Jason Robinson | 32,569 | |
| 08/03/2009 | Super League XIV | 4 | Warrington Wolves | 14–20 | Leeds Rhinos | W | Halliwell Jones Stadium | Steve Ganson | 9,863 | |
| 13/03/2009 | Super League XIV | 5 | Leeds Rhinos | 34–10 | Wigan Warriors | W | Headingley | Ian Smith | 17,677 | |
| 20/03/2009 | Super League XIV | 6 | St Helens R.F.C. | 26–18 | Leeds Rhinos | L | GPW Recruitment Stadium | Phil Bentham | 13,966 | |
| 27/03/2009 | Super League XIV | 7 | Leeds Rhinos | 42–14 | Catalans Dragons | W | Headingley | Ben Thaler | 13,425 | |
| 05/04/2009 | 2009 Challenge Cup | 4 | Leeds Rhinos | 18–22 | St Helens RLFC | L | Headingley | Phil Bentham | 17,689 | |
| 10/04/2009 | Super League XIV | 8 | Bradford Bulls | 10–6 | Leeds Rhinos | L | Grattan Stadium | Ian Smith | 14,554 | |
| 13/04/2009 | Super League XIV | 9 | Leeds Rhinos | 20–30 | Salford City Reds | L | Headingley | James Child | 14,381 | |
| 18/04/2009 | Super League XIV | 10 | Huddersfield Giants | 4–34 | Leeds Rhinos | W | Galpharm Stadium | Richard Silverwood | 11,593 | |
| 24/04/2009 | Super League XIV | 11 | Leeds Rhinos | 4–21 | Harlequins RL | L | Headingley | Steve Ganson | 13,912 | |
| 03/05/2009 | Super League XIV | 12 | Catalans Dragons | 16–36 | Leeds Rhinos | W | Murrayfield Stadium | Thierry Alibert | 30,122* | Magic Weekend fixture |
| 15/05/2009 | Super League XIV | 13 | Castleford Tigers | 22–24 | Leeds Rhinos | W | The Jungle | Ian Smith | 8,082 | |
| 26/05/2009 | Super League XIV | 14 | Leeds Rhinos | 46–16 | Hull FC | W | Headingley | Thierry Alibert | 15,929 | |
| 06/06/2009 | Super League XIV | 15 | Catalans Dragons | 32–30 | Leeds Rhinos | L | Stade Gilbert Brutus | Steve Ganson | 7,913 | |
| 14/06/2009 | Super League XIV | 16 | Leeds Rhinos | 20–12 | Huddersfield Giants | W | Headingley | Thierry Alibert | 14,934 | |
| 20/06/2009 | Super League XIV | 17 | Harlequins RL | 14–48 | Leeds Rhinos | W | Twickenham Stoop | Ian Smith | 4,378 | |
| 26/06/2009 | Super League XIV | 18 | Leeds Rhinos | 33–20 | Bradford Bulls | W | Headingley | Phil Bentham | 17,824 | |
| 04/07/2009 | Super League XIV | 19 | Hull FC | 30–43 | Leeds Rhinos | W | KC Stadium | Ian Smith | 11,780 | |
| 10/07/2009 | Super League XIV | 20 | Wakefield Trinity Wildcats | 30–32 | Leeds Rhinos | W | Belle Vue | Steve Ganson | 6,425 | |
| 17/07/2009 | Super League XIV | 21 | Leeds Rhinos | 24–12 | Hull Kingston Rovers | W | Headingley | Ben Thaler | 16,192 | |
| 24/07/2009 | Super League XIV | 22 | Wigan Warriors | 28–10 | Leeds Rhinos | L | JJB Stadium | Phil Bentham | 20,295 | |
| 01/08/2009 | Super League XIV | 23 | Leeds Rhinos | 24–22 | Warrington Wolves | W | Headingley | Ian Smith | 13,386 | |
| 14/08/2009 | Super League XIV | 24 | Leeds Rhinos | 76–12 | Castleford Tigers | W | Headingley | Ben Thaler | 16,931 | |
| 22/08/2009 | Super League XIV | 25 | Celtic Crusaders | 0–68 | Leeds Rhinos | W | Brewery Field | Thierry Alibert | 5,597 | |
| 04/09/2009 | Super League XIV | 26 | Leeds Rhinos | 18–10 | St Helens RLFC | W | Headingley | Phil Bentham | 19,997 | |
| 11/09/2009 | Super League XIV | 27 | Salford City Reds | 24–30 | Leeds Rhinos | W | The Willows | Thierry Alibert | 6,101 | |
| 18/09/2009 | Super League XIV | QPO1 | Leeds Rhinos | 44–8 | Hull Kingston Rovers | W | Headingley | Steve Ganson | 11,220 | |
| 02/10/2009 | Super League XIV | QSF1 | Leeds Rhinos | 27–20 | Catalans Dragons | W | Headingley | Richard Silverwood | 13,409 | |
* Aggregate attendance for second day of Magic Weekend.

## League table

| Pos | Teamvte | Pld | W | D | L | PF | PA | PD | Pts | Qualification |
| 1 | Leeds Rhinos (L, C) | 27 | 21 | 0 | 6 | 805 | 453 | +352 | 42 | Play-offs |
| 2 | St Helens | 27 | 19 | 0 | 8 | 733 | 466 | +267 | 38 | Play-offs |
| 3 | Huddersfield Giants | 27 | 18 | 0 | 9 | 690 | 416 | +274 | 36 | Play-offs |
| 4 | Hull Kingston Rovers | 27 | 17 | 1 | 9 | 650 | 516 | +134 | 35 | Play-offs |
| 5 | Wakefield Trinity Wildcats | 27 | 16 | 0 | 11 | 685 | 609 | +76 | 32 | Play-offs |
| 6 | Wigan Warriors | 27 | 15 | 0 | 12 | 659 | 551 | +108 | 30 | Play-offs |
| 7 | Castleford Tigers | 27 | 14 | 0 | 13 | 645 | 702 | −57 | 28 | Play-offs |
| 8 | Catalans Dragons | 27 | 13 | 0 | 14 | 613 | 660 | −47 | 26 | Play-offs |
| 9 | Bradford Bulls | 27 | 12 | 1 | 14 | 653 | 668 | −15 | 25 | |
| 10 | Warrington Wolves | 27 | 12 | 0 | 15 | 649 | 705 | −56 | 24 | |
| 11 | Harlequins | 27 | 11 | 0 | 16 | 591 | 691 | −100 | 22 | |
| 12 | Hull F.C. | 27 | 10 | 0 | 17 | 502 | 623 | −121 | 20 | |
| 13 | Salford City Reds | 27 | 7 | 0 | 20 | 456 | 754 | −298 | 14 | |
| 14 | Celtic Crusaders | 27 | 3 | 0 | 24 | 357 | 874 | −517 | 6 | |