
Ryan Hall says resurgent Leeds looking to challenge at top of Super League
Hall's trademark dive into the corner in the dying seconds continued the Rhinos' recent upward trajectory and cemented their place in the top four ahead of Saturday's short trip to struggling Castleford.
It is no coincidence that Leeds' resurgence after two dismal seasons of missing out of the play-offs should come hand-in-hand with the return of Hall, a cult figure at Headingley who won six Grand Finals before departing his boyhood club in 2018.
Advancing years have not dimmed the hunger of 37-year-old Hall to add to his collection of silverware before he finally hangs up his boots.
'I can't write an essay which some people might find easy, but I can score tries in the corner,' said Hall, who continues to motor clear on the all-time list with 259 to his name after eclipsing the then record holder Danny McGuire – now Castleford boss – last year.
'I love what I do and it's moments like that which reinforce that. As soon as I lose my passion for rugby, that might be the time I give it up, but I haven't lost that yet. It keeps me smiling and I am loving it at the minute.'
"HALL HALL HALL!" 🤯
Ryan Hall in the last minute has pinched it back for @leedsrhinos 🦏#SuperLeague pic.twitter.com/62Ybhvjg1t
— Betfred Super League (@SuperLeague) May 16, 2025
After two turbulent years Leeds have settled under current head coach Brad Arthur, who has managed to mould an eclectic mix of experience, in the likes of Hall and Jake Connor, who has excelled in a makeshift half-back role, with emerging youngsters like Hall's fellow winger Riley Lumb.
It has raised realistic hopes that Leeds will return to the post-season stages and perhaps go on to grace Old Trafford for the first time since 2022.
'We want to stay in the top four and not just do that, we want to creep up and catch those above us,' added Hall.
'Leeds over the last six or seven years have really been struggling. It was hard to put your finger on what they were missing, but I can genuinely say now we are a good team.
'There games we've lost this year, apart from the one at Catalans, have been a narrow loss and we had realistic chances to win those games.
'If things had gone differently, we could have been sat at the top of the league with only one loss to our name.'

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


Reuters
2 hours ago
- Reuters
Two quick-fire wickets drag England back into opening test just before lunch
LEEDS, England, June 20 (Reuters) - Two wickets late in the session dragged England back into their opening test of the five-match series against India on Friday, with the tourists 92-2 at lunch having previously cruised into a strong position. Despite the clear, humid Headingley conditions seemingly favouring the batting side, England chose to bowl first, safe in the knowledge each of the previous six Leeds tests had been won by the side bowling first. Skipper Ben Stokes' decision initially seems ill-advised, with India openers KL Rahul and Yashasvi Jaiswal both looking in fine form, taking India into the nineties unbeaten as lunch approached. Without numerous frontline pace bowlers through injury - the lightning Jofra Archer and Mark Wood in particular - England's new-look attack grew more erratic as the opening session wore on. It was left to Brydon Carse, making his first test start on home soil, to make the crucial breakthrough just as Rahul was really settling in on 42, Yorkshireman Joe Root taking the catch on his home ground in the slips. The pressure then got to 23-year-old Sai Sudharsan on debut, as from the last ball before lunch, Stokes found a leading edge, with Jamie Smith taking the catch behind the stumps to send the rookie back to the pavilion without having scored a single run.

Leader Live
2 hours ago
- Leader Live
Promotion-seeking Northop Hall aim for home comforts benefit
However, there are no certainties and third-placed Hall will not be taking lowly visitors St Helens Town lightly. Skipper Ben Slater said: 'Obviously, we're not taking our eye off the ball. They only came down from Division One last year and they have got some good players in their squad.' It's just a case of trying to win matches from Hall's perspective as they look to maintain the pressure on Ainsdale and Caldy, the sides in the Division Two promotion spots. Northop Hall Seconds are on their travels to New Brighton Seconds tomorrow. Chirk are on an excellent run of form in the Shropshire League and they will be looking to continue the positive vibes when they make the Division One trip to Bomere Heath tomorrow. It's a meeting of two in-form teams, with both triumphing in their last two run outs. Last time out, Chirk were able to get the better of Cound by 16 runs in a tight showdown. Captain Liam Walker led from the front with his effort of 88 in Chirk's 157 all out. Hidayat Haroonkhail then picked up four for 25 as Cound's response was concluded on 141. Nitish Sharma (2-22) and Walker (2-28) also impressed for Chirk. In Division Seven, Chirk Seconds host Condover Seconds. St Asaph's Will Ryan will be the captain when Wales National County (North) tackle Staffordshire Seconds this Sunday. Stone Cricket Club will be the venue for the 50 overs-per-side encounter. A trio of St Asaph players are in the North Wales 12, with Dan Evans and Matt Ryan also included. Hawarden Park's Evan Shaw is included, alongside Bangor pair Nat Scott and Jamie Grimshaw, Menai Bridge's Patrick Glover, Neston's Ben Beaver (pictured above), Nantwich's Jason Foulkes and Newtown's Griff Davies. The line-up is completed by Denbigh duo Harrison Jones and Ranija Abeysinghe. North Wales will look to build on their 71-run success versus Shropshire Academy last time out. Harrison Jones (71), Brymbo's Sam Aplin (54) and Will Ryan (52 not out) pushed North Wales to 295 for four, before three wickets apiece from Jason Foulkes and Matt Russell played their part in the home side's 224 all out.


BBC News
3 hours ago
- BBC News
Huddersfield half-back Clune out for season
Huddersfield Giants half-back Adam Clune has been ruled out for the rest of the season because of a hamstring had already restricted the 30-year-old Australian to six Super League appearances this year and he will now miss the rest of the campaign with an issue picked up in last week's defeat by Wigan."He's had a torrid time," head coach Luke Robinson told BBC Radio Leeds."He's one of our key signings and he's only managed to play six games this year. It's been really disappointing for him and us."Robinson added: "The prognosis is three to four months, which is devastating from a personal perspective and for us as well."The Giants, who have won just once in the league this season, brought in Leeds Rhinos half-back Matt Frawley on a one-month loan earlier this week.