I have vivid memories of being sat on the Headingley terraces watching Leeds - minus the Rhinos name - take on the New Zealand tourists.
It was always a highlight of the calendar for me as a child. I used to love seeing international touring teams take on some of the better club sides and it’s a rich part of rugby league's tradition.
I remember those great Kiwi sides - guys with big moustaches and wild hair - running around! It happens again tonight when Leeds face New Zealand - led out by Tommy Leuluai in his last-ever game - at Headingley. Rhinos brought this sort of fixture back for the first time in decades in 2015 and seven years later it’s happening again.
It’d be great to see more of it. When two international sides face each other in the build-up to the World Cup, I think it takes away a little from the tournament itself. So, it’d be good to see more Super League sides taking on international teams like this for their World Cup prep.
It’s difficult as obviously the domestic seasons have ended but for those clubs who have gone deep into the play-offs - like Rhinos - there’s a way of stretching it out.
One of the problems in rugby league is you just see the same teams over and over again and this would help that. Scarcity creates demand. That’s why it’s great seeing the Rhinos take on the Kiwis once more.
And Leuluai’s career has just been incredible. He’s held in such esteem by everyone and that’s shown by the fact the Wigan star’s getting this one last game for the Kiwis. My early memories of playing against Tommy are of when I was a back-rower and thinking it’d be easy running over this little half-back. And then wondering where most of my teeth had gone!
He was such a hard tackler. He’s just like his cousin Kylie who, of course, had so many great years with us at Leeds. He’s a real good competitor, a good guy and deserves everything he gets on this special send-off.
BETFRED - PASSIONATE ABOUT SUPER LEAGUE
