Remembering Leeds Rhinos stalwarts who died in 2025

Here we remember much-missed past players, coaches and administrators who have died during the past 12 months. Featherstone-born prop Mick Harrison, who passed away in October, aged 79, was a Challenge Cup winner at Wembley when Leeds upset Widnes in 1977 and again when they retained the trophy against St Helens the following year.

Harrison also had two stints with Hull FC and was capped seven times by Great Britain. At the time of his death, he was hailed by then-Rhinos chief executive Gary Hetherington, who packed down alongside him at Leeds, as “ a very formidable player…one of the toughest and strongest I ever played with.”

Derek Hallas made history as a member of Leeds’ first Championship-winning team, scoring two tries in the 1961 play-off final against Warrington at Odsal. Having played rugby union for Roundhay, he had spells with Keighley either side of his five seasons at Leeds.

Hallas, a centre, scored 60 tries and 18 goals in 135 games in blue and amber and later had a successful stint in Australia with Sydney giants Parramatta, as well as a season coaching Halifax. After hanging up his boots, he was heavily involved in Leeds’ players’ association and, even in his 90s, was a regular at home games until shortly before his death in May.

Former Australia Test prop ‘Slamming’ Sam Backo died in hospital in Queensland in August, aged 64, four months after being diagnosed with the tropical disease melioidosis. Backo played 18 times for Leeds in the 1988-89 season, including off the bench in their Yorkshire Cup final victory against Castleford at Elland Road.

Backo’s former Leeds teammate Colin Maskill recalled: “He was a quiet kind of guy, but always had a smile on his face and was great to have around the dressing room. He was a real character.”

Off the field, Rhinos mourned former chief scout Bob Pickles, who brought many of the modern era’s greatest players - including Kevin Sinfield, Danny McGuire and Rob Burrow - to the club.

A former player with Hunslet and Keighley, Pickles, who was 80 when he passed away in March, retired around five years ago, but remained a regular visitor to AMT Headingley on match days. Paying tribute, McGuire described him as “part of the fabric of the club and probably one of the most important people who contributed to the success Leeds have had over the last 20 years”.

Doug Laughton, who also died in March, aged 80, coached Leeds to Wembley in 1994 and 1995, having joined them from Widnes in 1991. Capped 15 times by Great Britain, he played for St Helens, Wigan and Widnes.

Bill Carter was one of Leeds’ most long-serving and respected administrators. He joined the club in 1957, was football secretary until the 1991-92 season and remained a keen supporter after that. He died, aged 97, in July.

Others with a Leeds connection who passed on in 2025 include former players Peter Banner, Gill Ashton, Frank Brown, Gordon Pritchard and Alf Meakin.