The decline of Leeds Rhinos in the years since their last Grand Final win has been almost as sharp as their ascendency to the top of the sport, triggered by the club’s Golden Generation in the early noughties. They’ve been winless at Old Trafford since 2017 and finished outside the playoffs last season which has led one Sky Sports pundit to declare that they are “no longer a big club”.
During that seven-year spell, they have lifted silverware with the Rhinos lifting the Challenge Cup at an empty Wembley Stadium in 2020, but since then success has evaded them. Their 2022 Grand Final run now looks more and more like a fairytale than the benchmark which has been set with their 2023 eighth-placed finish and current seventh-place ranking.
The defeat to Warrington Wolves last night cemented their status outside the top six and they could be cut four points adrift if Catalans Dragons beat Salford Red Devils tomorrow evening. Sky Sports’ pundit Jon Wilkin has assessed the club’s recent seasons, acknowledging that they are “no longer a big club” and instead one of mediocrity.
Sky Sports host, Brian Carney, put it to Jon Wilkin: “You don’t believe Leeds Rhinos are a top six side? In fact you have said you don’t even believe they are a big club? Explain…”
The ex-St Helens captain did not hold back in his assessment as he aimed both barrels at the Headingley club claiming that they had not fulfilled his hope that they could return to their status as a top four club.
“Drifting in the doldrums” – Wilkin explains why Leeds Rhinos are “no longer a big club”
Credit: Imago Images
After Carney teed him up, Wilkin gave his verdict on Leeds Rhinos, making it clear that they can no longer be defined as a big club, despite their ability to draw in established NRL coaches such as Brad Arthur.
He responded: “Well I think to be defined as a big club you have to compete in the biggest of games and you need to be consistent week in and week out.
“For four or five years now, Leeds have just been drifting in the doldrums in that six, seven, eighth spot in the league.
“Now you can project that you are a big club, but unless you competing in the big games, for me you are not a big club.”
He was even willing to accept that a ‘big club’ might have a couple of off seasons, but quickly claimed Leeds Rhinos’ lack of time within the top four ensured that this wasn’t just a phase, but a statement that they’re ‘no longer a big club’.
“You can spend a year or two drifting and not in that category, but you have seen the number of weeks in the last three seasons they have spent inside the top four,” Wilkin argued.
“Big clubs don’t spend that amount of time outside the top four. The club is, in scale, commercially, off the field, a big club, but there is a mismatch between the expectations of the fans and this current playing squad of where they have been at for some time.
“It’s doing my head in, on TV, criticising Leeds for underachieving. I don’t believe they are, I believe they are where they should be – fifth or sixth is a good result for them, seventh or eighth would be a bad result.”
Wilkin was quick to save himself though. He had predicted Leeds Rhinos would finish fourth this season given their new signings, however, he claimed that once a ball was kicked, all hope was gone.
“That is ultimately where this club is at. Ackers and Croft at the start of the year gave me hope.
“Someone is going to pull out that I predicted them to finish fourth, but that’s before a ball was kicked.
“Once the ball was kicked, my opinion changed. We have watched them week in and week out and I just don’t think they are where they need to be.”
