Leeds Rhinos: The great, the good, the bad and the ugly from 2021

IT’S been another season to remember for good and bad reasons for Leeds Rhinos, their charge to Old Trafford being halted by St Helens last Friday.

Our man Peter Smith hands out a series of unofficial awards as well as some best and the worst from the 2021 campaign

Player of the year – Third place, Brad Dwyer: Ever-present, the hooker was Rhinos’ second top try scorer and devastatingly effective off the bench.

Second place - Mikolaj Oledezki: Despite a late-season injury layoff, Oledzki visibly grew in confidence over the course of the season and is now one of Super League’s top props, at just 22.

GOOD YEAR: Leeds Rhinos head coach Richard Agar
Picture: Jonathan Gawthorpe — GOOD YEAR: Leeds Rhinos head coach Richard Agar Picture: Jonathan Gawthorpe

First place - Kruise Leeming: Deservedly named at hooker in the Super League Dream Team, he also impressed as emergency half-back and emerged as one of the team’s on-field leaders.

Best win: The surprise 22-16 victory at Warrington Wolves in July showed what Rhinos are capable of when they get their game together.

Worst performance: Rhinos were clobbered 26-6 at Hull KR in April, when they looked disinterested from the start and were comprehensively outplayed.

Memorable moment: Kruise Leeming’s career-first drop goal which won a golden point thriller against Hull at Magic Weekend and effectively secured Rhinos’ top-six finish.

TRY ME: Leeds Rhinos' Konrad Hurrell celebrates scoring a try at Castleford. Picture by Ed Sykes/SWpix.com

Try of the season: Not technically the best, but Konrad Hurrell’s run, chip, chase and collect away to Castleford Tigers was a crowd-pleasing effort.

Biggest disappointment: Anyone remember Kyle Eastmond playing for Rhinos? Thought not.

Unluckiest player: