
It was one of last season’s most iconic moments, but Leeds Rhinos’ Ash Handley is fed up of hearing about his most famous try.
Handley got 2024 off to a flying start with a stunning length of the field touchdown against Salford Red Devils in round one, which was voted Super League’s try of the month.
That was one of 127 scored by Handley in 212 appearances since his debut in 2014, but asked – before his testimonial game at home to Wigan Warriors on Sunday – to pick the touchdown he enjoyed most, Rhinos’ co-captain came up with a surprising answer.
“I won’t say the Salford try last year, because that’s starting to do my head in – I’ve seen it everywhere,” Handley joked.
“I scored one in 2019 against Catalans, off a kick from Rob Lui. I just knew where he was going to put it, so I ran in off the wing, he grubbered it through towards the posts, no one thought I’d be there and it bounced up for me and I scored. That was a good one because I anticipated where he was going to put it and I ran in off the tryline and scored it.”
At 28 – he turns 29 the day after Rhinos’ Super League opener against Wakefield Trinity next month – Handley is young to be celebrating a testimonial, but another Oulton Raiders product, Ryan Hall, returned to Leeds ahead of the new campaign and is still going strong at 37, so Handley won’t put a time limit on his own career.
“I want to play as long as I can,” Handley – who will switch to centre this year, with Hall taking over in the number five role – said.
𝗟𝗲𝗲𝗱𝘀 𝗟𝗲𝗴𝗲𝗻𝗱 🙌
Ahead of his Testimonial game @Ahandley16‘s team mates paid tribute to him.
Don’t miss his game against @WiganWarriorsRL this Sunday at AMT Headingley!
— Leeds Rhinos (@leedsrhinos) January 24, 2025
“Hally’s unbelievable, he trains so hard and looks after himself so well, it’s no surprise he’s still playing at the highest level now.
“He is in terrific shape and he’s someone to look up to. For me, I just want to try to stay fit and play as long as I can.
“I don’t have a number on it, but as long as I am playing well and enjoying it, I’ll play as long as I can.”
Handley made his debut in an infamous defeat away to London Broncos – who lost every other game that season – in August, 2014.
After that inauspicious start, it took him four years to feel established in the team. He recalled: “I played pretty much all year in 2015, but I was playing because Tom [Briscoe] was injured. I was just filling a gap.
“The team was unreal at that time and I was so fortunate to be part of that squad. In 2016 we had loads of injuries so it was a rough year and I didn’t play much in 2017 either.
“Then I sort of forced my way into the squad in 2018 and played a bit of centre and nailed a position there.
“Then I thought ‘I am actually an important member of this squad now’ and I started to try to keep a shirt, rather than be happy with playing here and there and getting put in when somebody was injured.”
There may be a lot more to come, but reflecting on his decade at Leeds Rhinos, Handley is “really proud” of what he has achieved so far.
“I just enjoy it,” he said. “I enjoy playing rugby, I am passionate about it. I just want to keep getting better and playing more and just enjoying it, really.
“I want to keep playing to the best I can. I am proud and I want to make my family proud. That’s pretty much why you play. I am proud of where I’m at at the moment, but I want to keep getting better as well.”
