St Helens were the dominant force in the early years of the Super League. Indeed, they were the inaugural champions of the new competition in 1996 and claimed their fifth title in 2006. However, the next decade belonged to their cross-Pennine rivals, the Leeds Rhinos.
Leeds had claimed their first Super League crown in 2004, but from 2007 onwards they won three in a row. Wigan took glory in 2010 before the Rhinos added another two titles in 2011 and 2012, before adding another brace of Super Leagues in 2015 and 2017.
Since then, however, they have made it to just one Grand Final. They lost the 2022 decider 24-12 against St Helens. Since claiming their eighth title in 2017, they have rarely looked like contenders. Even in 2022, they finished fifth during the regular season but somehow staggered through the play-offs and made it to Old Trafford. At their best, the Rhinos sometimes did this, but back then it was a sign they were peaking at the right time, whereas 2022 felt more like an aberration.
Over the past almost-decade, they have even missed out on the play-offs several times. They finished ninth in 2018 and eighth in 2019, 2023 and 2024. However, there was improvement last term as they won 18 games, the most since their last title, and finished fourth. And things are looking even brighter in 2026.
Rhinos Show Title Credentials
The 2026 Super League season has been expanded to 14 teams and we look set for a fascinating battle at the top. There doesn’t seem to be all that much to separate the top six, with anyone capable of beating anyone else on their day. The fight for the League Leaders’ Shield and the title itself could well be incredibly close and predicting who will come out on top is far from easy.
However, at the start of June, the Rhinos beat rivals St Helens by 24-16 to really rubber-stamp their title credentials. They came into the clash at Headingley top of the table on points difference. Saints were third, one of three teams level on 18 points, so this was a huge fixture.
| Team | P | W | L | P. Diff | Points | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Leeds | 13 | 10 | 3 | +232 | 20 |
| 2 | Warrington | 11 | 9 | 2 | +180 | 18 |
| 3 | St Helens | 13 | 9 | 4 | +30 | 18 |
| 4 | Hull KR | 11 | 8 | 3 | +215 | 16 |
| 5 | Wakefield | 12 | 8 | 4 | +111 | 16 |
| 6 | Wigan | 12 | 7 | 5 | +44 | 14 |
Leeds were unchanged as the duo met for the first time since their enthralling clash in the play-offs last season (when Saints won an all-time classic with a brilliant post-hooter try). The Saints were 16-8 to the good at the break and it looked like they would get the better of the West Yorkshire side again.
However, Leeds fought back in the second period with tries from Harry Newman and, late on, Maika Sivo, with two penalties from Jake Connor in between. Leeds boss Brad Arthur said afterwards that his side hadn’t been great but that they “were good”, adding that they had “learned some lessons” and the win was “another step in the right direction for us with the growth of our team”.
Leeds just about deserved the win and the bookies reacted by making the Rhinos the favourites for both the League Leaders’ Shield and Super League 2026. That seems fair enough given the results they have produced and the clear progress they seem to be making. There is, of course, a long way to go, but there is a feeling among Rhinos fans that they may be on the verge of another golden era.
Promising Times
Warrington Wolves and Hull KR both have games in hand, and Leeds’ position at the top of Super League is far from secure. However, there are so many positives to take from results, performances and the togetherness within the squad this season.
Aussie coach Arthur has won over 60% of his games in charge of the Rhinos since his appointment in July 2024. Last season was their best in a fair while, and they seem certain to do even better this term. Their win over St. Helens was their 10th of the campaign, with just three losses. They boast the best points difference at the time of writing and look solid in both attack and defence.
Arthur is 52 years old now and has the right blend of experience and vigour. He did well with Parramatta in the NRL without ever getting them over the line in a Grand Final. There is every chance he can put that right with Leeds, quite possibly this season.
The try-scoring threat of Sivo – he is well clear at the top of the try-scoring standings – has been a big part of the Rhinos’ success. The Fijian winger came from the Parramatta Eels in October 2024 but tore his ACL just a few months later. He made his debut in the second round of fixtures in 2026 and has been magnificent ever since.
Brodie Croft is also essential to the success of the Rhinos. The Aussie stand-off joined Leeds from Salford in 2023, having won the Man of Steel award for the Red Devils in 2022. With fullback Lachie Miller, another Aussie, also in magnificent form and Connor in pole position to defend the Man of Steel award he claimed in 2025, Rhinos have several world-class performers around which Arthur is building a formidable team.