Leeds Rhinos are on the charge again. Ross Heppenstall was at Super League’s Magic Weekend to witness their latest victory.
Here’s one for you: Could Leeds Rhinos, the former serial Super League kings who have not been champions since 2017, be ready to reclaim their crown?
Inspired by true greats such as such as Kevin Sinfield, Rob Burrow and Danny McGuire, the men from Headingley swept all before them in the not-too-distant past.
The Rhinos’ transition since the so-called golden generation has not been easy, but help is at hand.
Brad Arthur’s men sit four points clear at the Super League summit after 17 rounds, encouraging hopes of a return to former glories for the eight-time Grand Final winners.
Head coach Arthur, an uncompromising, savvy and highly-experienced Australian, has fashioned the Rhinos into a well-organised, highly-motivated force with pace, power and skill in every department.
Master craftsman Jake Connor (the 2025 Super League’s Man of Steel) has grabbed most of the headlines again this year while hulking winger Maika Sivo has been scoring tries for fun.
But Leeds’ resurgence has been very much about the collective; a willingness to put your head in where it hurts for your team-mates.
At Everton’s magnificent Hill Dickinson Stadium on Sunday, Arthur’s title chasers faced old adversaries Bradford Bulls in a Super League Magic Weekend fixture.
The two-day jamboree sees all Super League sides play a game and is a chance for the sport to showcase itself on a big stage, with every match televised by broadcast partner Sky Sports.
It is a feast of rugby league and Leeds’ clash with neighbours Bradford was laced with intrigue.
This is the Bulls’ first season back in Super League since 2014, while the two West Yorkshire rivals had not played each other in a Magic Weekend fixture since 2012.
A long time between drinks. Leeds supporters, along with followers of every Super League club and lovers of rugby league in general, descended on Liverpool for the two-day jamboree in huge numbers.
Since the first Magic Weekend in Cardiff in 2008, the event has been staged at Murrayfield, the Etihad Stadium, Anfield, Elland Road and more often than not at St James’ Park in Newcastle.
But the decision was taken to hold it at Everton’s new ground this year and the event drew a record crowd.
A total of 77,442 fans attended across the six matches staged in Liverpool, while a further 5,483 watched the Magic fixture between Toulouse Olympique and Catalans Dragons in France.
Liverpool is a fantastic city, famous for the Beatles, two huge football clubs and its thriving nightlife.
Many Rhinos fans spent the weekend on Merseyside, taking in the action at Hill Dickinson on the banks of the River Mersey and filling their boots in the bars of Mathew Street.
On Saturday, there were wins for York Knights, Hull Kingston Rovers and Leigh Leopards, while the Sunday action began with a win for Wakefield Trinity over Castleford Tigers.
Then it was the turn of the Rhinos and Bradford to take centre stage, and it was Leeds who ran out emphatic 50-6 winners.
It was their 14th victory from 17 Super League games and featured a hat-trick from Ash Handley plus tries from Brodie Croft, Chris Hankinson, Jarrod O’Connor, James McDonnell, Jake Connor and Sivo – who scored for a 10th successive game and now has 28 for the season.
Leeds fans backed their team relentlessly from the stands with chants of ‘Marching on Together’ and ‘All Leeds aren’t we’ among the songlist.
In the 55th minute, there was a chant of ‘There’s only one Rob Burrow’, a tribute to the memory of the much-loved former scrum-half who died from Motor Neurone Disease in June 2024.
Following the success of this year’s event, Magic Weekend will return to Hill Dickinson Stadium next year – and how we should all raise a glass to that.
Right now, though, the focus for Leeds is on securing top spot at the end of the regular season before the play-offs get underway and the Super League trophy up for grabs.
Could they do it? On the evidence so far this season, you certainly wouldn’t rule it out.
