Leeds Rhinos 2025 ref stats: new leader as Jack Smith snatches Chris Kendall's crown
There was a new name at the top of the Leeds Rhinos referees’ leaderboard in 2025.
Jack Smith stormed up the table from fourth place last year, taking charge in 10 of Rhinos’ 30 competitive matches, including all four of their Betfred Super League and play-off fixtures against St Helens. Rhinos won six times with Smith in the middle and didn’t have a losing record under any of the eight men to referee them this term.
Defending champion Chris Kendall slipped to second spot, blowing the whistle in six Rhinos games, half of which were victories. Aaron Moore retained his bronze medal from 2024 with four appearances in Leeds matches, two of which they won.
After being runner-up last season with six, one behind Kendall, Liam Moore - who will take charge of Saturday’s Grand Final between Hull KR and Wigan Warriors - refereed Rhinos only twice in the regular Super League season, both being home wins. His other Leeds game was a Challenge Cup defeat at St Helens.
Liam Rush also did three Rhinos matches, all of which they won and Leeds had a 50 per cent success rate in two games refereed by Tom Grant. Leeds came out on top in their only fixture officiated by Marcus Griffiths. Rookie whistler Matty Lynn was in the middle for the season-opening Challenge Cup win against Wests Warriors.
In terms of video referees, a late surge by Kendall - who was appointed to five of Leeds’ last eight matches - saw him finish in pole position ahead of Rush and Liam Moore. Kendall was the video assistant for seven Rhinos games this year, Liam Moore and Rush both did six, Grant four, Griffiths two and Smith, Ben Thaler and James Vella one each.
Here’s who was in the middle for Leeds’ matches this season.
Jack Smith: Rhinos 12, Wigan Warriors 10 (round five); Rhinos 28, Huddersfield Giants 6 (round eight); Rhinos 17, St Helens 4 (round 10, Magic Weekend); Rhinos 18, Hull FC 16 (round 11); St Helens 18, Rhinos 4 (round 15); Rhinos 0, St Helens 6 (round 18); Leigh Leopards 14, Rhinos 22 (round 21); Rhinos 28, Hull KR 6 (round 23); Rhinos 8, Catalans Dragon 16 (round 26); Rhinos 14, St Helens 16 (elimination play-off).
Chris Kendall: Rhinos 14, Hull KR 20 (round nine); Rhinos 22, Wakefield Trinity 18 (round 13); Rhinos 36, Warrington Wolves 12 (round 14); Hull KR 8, Rhinos 14 (round 17); Wakefield Trinity 15, Rhinos 14 (round 20); Wigan Warriors 26, Rhinos 6 (round 27).
Aaron Moore: Rhinos 12, Wakefield Trinity 14 (round one); Catalans Dragons 11, Rhinos 0 (round four); Castleford Tigers 6, Rhinos 64 (round 22); Hull 0, Rhinos 34 (round 24).
Liam Moore: Salford Red Devils 6, Rhinos 32 (round two); St Helens 22, Rhinos 14 (Challenge Cup round four); Rhinos 48, Leigh Leopards 30 (round 16).
Liam Rush: Salford Red Devils 0, Rhinos 28 (round seven); Castleford Tigers 6, Rhinos 29 (round 12); Rhinos 42, Salford Red Devils 6 (round 19).
Tom Grant: Warrington Wolves 16, Rhinos 14 (round six); Huddersfield Giants 0, Rhinos 26 (round 25).
Marcus Griffiths: Rhinos 38, Castleford Tigers 24 (round three).
Matty Lynn: Rhinos 92, Wests Warriors 0 (Challenge Cup round three).