It’s been eighteen years since Leeds Rhinos’ first Grand Final win. Tony Smith’s then side beat local rivals Bradford Bulls 16-8 at Old Trafford.
Tries came from Matt Diskin and Danny McGuire, who scored an incredible 39 tries throughout the season. Here Rugby League Live looks at where and what the first Rhinos Grand Final winning side are up to now.
Full Back: Richard Mathers
The Leeds-born number one played for a few clubs after his five season spell at Headingley. Mathers retired from the game in 2016 and returned to Leeds at the start of the year in a specialist coaching role with young fullbacks.
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Wing: Mark Calderwood
The former Leeds, Wigan and Hull winger last played for West Leeds RUFC whilst working during the week as a builder.
Centre: Chev Walker
Switched codes to join Bath before finishing his career with spells back in rugby league at Hull KR and Bradford. Walker first returned to Leeds in 2017 as part of the Leeds Rhinos Foundation, between taking the Academy Head Coach role which he still does to this day.
Centre: Keith Senior
After retiring in 2011, Senior joined the Leeds Rhinos Foundation where he did plenty of community and charity work. He has also had a spell as Sheffield Eagles head coach.
Wing: Marcus Bai
The Papua New Guinea spent two years at the Rhinos after spells at Hull, Gold Coast Chargers and Melbourne Storm. He returned to his homeland after retiring from playing professional rugby league, where he has worked a number of jobs and roles.
Half Back: Kevin Sinfield
A better question would be what hasn’t Sinfield done since retiring. After a 500-game career for Leeds, he bowed out as a treble winner in 2015. Since then, Sinfield has been a director for the RFL, worked with the England national side, returned to Leeds as the clubs first ever Director of Rugby, stepped in as interim Leeds head coach, performed numerous incredible, logic-defying physical challenges, and received an MBE for his outstanding work. He now coaches at rugby union club Leicester Tigers.
Half Back: Danny McGuire
The Leeds legend finished his playing career with Hull KR in 2019, a club where he still resides. McGuire was interim coach after Tony Smith was sacked earlier this year, and is set to continue in East Hull as one of Willie Peters’ assistants.
Prop: Danny Ward
The former Leeds front rower almost kept London Broncos in Super League in 2019, before leaving the club in 2021. That was his only role as professional head coach in rugby league, with Ward since spending some time as head coach of London based rugby union side Rosslyn Park.
Hooker: Matt Diskin
After retiring in 2014, the former Leeds and Bradford hooker spent time coaching at Batley and then Oldham, who he parted company with in 2021.
Prop: Ryan Bailey
The big front rower retired from professional rugby league in 2019 following a stint at Toronto Wolfpack and has since been training to be a firefighter.
Back Row: Chris McKenna
The Australian finished playing at Doncaster in 2008 and currently resides in his homeland. He has Guayana heritage on his mothers side and spends his free time organising South American heritage themed rugby league matches.
Back Row: Ali Lauitiiti
The Kiwi last played for New Zealand Warriors in 2016. He spent eight seasons at the Rhinos where he was involved in six Grand Finals, winning five. He also won two World Club Challenges in 2005 and 2008.
Loose Forward: David Furner
The former Leeds forward returned to the club for the 2019 season as head coach but was sacked after just fifteen games. He has since been an assistant coach at Newcastle Knights and Canterbury Bulldogs in the NRL.
Interchange: Rob Burrow
The Leeds legend retired after the 2017 Grand Final win over Castleford. He is currently battling Motor Neurone Disease. He was diagnosed in December 2019 and has since been awarded an MBE for his fundraising efforts.
Interchange: Willie Poching
Willie Poching was removed from his position as head coach at Wakefield Trinity earlier this month. He took over midway through last year and coached 36 games, winning 17. The Kiwi spent six seasons with Leeds from 2002.
Interchange: Barrie McDermott
Playing almost 300 games for the Rhinos in a ten year spell. After retiring in 2006, McDermott was heavily involved with the youth departments at Leeds. He is currently employed by Sky Sports as a pundit.
Interchange: Jamie Jones-Buchanan
A one club man, Jones-Buchanan spent his full 20-year career with Leeds and made over 400 appearances for the club. A media personality who still does work with Sky Sports, he is now one of Rohan Smith’s assistants having spent time as interim head coach prior to the Australians arrival.
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