One of the original clubs to form the game of Rugby league, they took the word Rhinos as late as 1996. Perhaps their most successful period came during the earlier part of the period here under discussion. The year 2000 had Dean Lance at the helm but was soon replaced by Daryl Powell who took the club to the second spot on the table. He was relieved from his post to make way for Tony Smith.
That ushered in a five year spell where the team didn't finish below third place and were top in 2004. They also won the grand final twice, in 2004 and 2007. This after years of being in the trophy wilderness. Then in came Brian McLennan who took a second consecutive grand final in 2008. In 2009, the league title was theirs. Brian then resigned to return to New Zealand.
Another Brain Mc arrived in the form of McDermott. League form started to slip but two grand final victories were attained in 2011 and 2012. Heady stuff. A Challenge Cup in 2014 was the only silverware for a couple of years, before achieving the league, cup and grand final treble in 2015.
After that, retirements of some key players hurt them and consistency eluded the club. 2017 was an exception with a second in the league and a grand final in the bag. After a poor 2018, Brain McDermott was relieved of his post and David Furner reigned for a brief spell before Richard Agar took the coaching role.
Rohan Smith took charge until recently and it didn't go to plan. The fans will be hoping that Brad Arthur and the others brought in to improve coaching and recruitment will sort things out. The problem is that while the current squad is solid, it lacks the class required to test the best teams going around. Not a bad skyline in the early part of the century when they were the team to beat but lately less than stellar.
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