My Ultimate Team: Leeds Rhinos legend Kylie Leuluai names his greatest 1-13 of players he played alongside

Six-time Super League champion Kylie Leuluai is the next guest on Love Rugby League‘s My Ultimate Team feature, selecting the best 1-13 of players he had the pleasure of playing alongside at Leeds Rhinos.

An Auckland native, Leuluai arrived at Headingley ahead of the 2007 season with 79 first-grade appearances to his name, all made Down Under, including 57 in the colours of the Manly Sea Eagles.

Winning two World Club Challenges and two Challenge Cups as well as the already mentioned six Super League titles, the five-time Samoa international would spend nine seasons with the Rhinos, featuring 265 times.

Also playing three games for The Exiles and two for the New Zealand Māori during an illustrious career, Leuluai hung his boots up at the end of the 2015 campaign having helped Leeds to the treble.

After lifting the Challenge Cup and the League Leaders’ Shield, the last official game of the prop’s career was the 2015 Super League Grand Final, beating Wigan Warriors 22-20 at Old Trafford.

A couple of weeks later, Leuluai donned a Rhinos shirt and took to the field one last time as they faced New Zealand in an exhibition match at Headingley, with the Kiwis warming up for a Test Series against England.

Now 46, Leuluai – the most successful overseas player in Super League history – has been the Head of Rugby Operations at Warrington Wolves since 2017.

This is his Rhinos ultimate team…

MY ULTIMATE TEAM:Warrington Wolves star George Williams selects the best 1-13 of players he’s played alongside

1. Brent Webb

He was quick, fit and he understood the game. Brent had the skillset to deliver whatever he was thinking, a really intelligent player.

Games played together: 143

2. Ryan Hall

Hally’s big, strong, and robust. He’s a prolific try-scorer and a great finisher.

Games played together: 219

3. Keith Senior

Big, strong, athletic and fit. Keith was a great defensive player and an attacking weapon.

Games played together: 127

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4. Kallum Watkins

Athletic, skilful and strong in defence. He’s got great feet, which is why he can beat a man one-on-one so easily, and he’s a great finisher.

Games played together: 131

5. Zak Hardaker

I can’t not include Zak! When he first came to Leeds (in 2011), he was a young guy and I got to watch him develop into a quality Super League player. He could slot in anywhere along the backline.

Games played together: 113

6. Danny McGuire

He’s probably in the top five players I’ve ever played with – just a natural-born rugby league player. Mags delivered on the big stages, especially in Grand Finals. He just understood the game.

Games played together: 220

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7. Rob Burrow

Rob was so strong, fast and fit. Pound for pound, the strongest player I’ve played with and probably the fittest I’ve ever played with.

He was resilient, and we saw that with what he went through over the last few years, but as a player, he always rose to the challenge and wasn’t afraid to take anyone on. Just a really good rugby player.

Games played together: 223

8. Jamie Peacock

JP was an inspirational leader. He had a burning desire to win, a great work ethic and a team-first attitude. He won nine Grand Finals, so his record speaks for itself.

Games played together: 224

9. Danny Buderus

Danny was a proper warrior that understood the game and was really fit. He played with a lot of courage and for a small bloke, he was a great defender as well as an attacking threat.

Games played together: 73 (including one for The Exiles)

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10. Jamie Jones-Buchanan

Similar to Gaz, JJB was so fit – mentally and physically. He was incredibly resilient too, dealing with a lot of injuries throughout his career but always bouncing back.

That’s pretty much how he played the game. A really tough and uncompromising player that put the team first.

Games played together: 194

11. Gareth Ellis

Gaz was physically strong and he had an unbelievable skillset for a big man. Fit, fast, tough.

Games played together: 58

12. Ali Lauiti’iti

Big Ali is definitely in my top five of players played with, alongside Danny McGuire. An amazing, amazing talent. Just naturally good, gifted but totally honed that talent. He was once considered the best back-rower in the world.

I’ve played with him since club rugby. He always played a year up then, and he’s always been unbelievable. He came through at the (New Zealand) Warriors with me and played for the Junior Kiwis. Big fast, skilful.

Senior games played together: 109 (including two for Samoa)

MY ULTIMATE TEAM: Wigan Warriors captain Liam Farrell’s best 1-17 of players he’s played alongside

13. Kevin Sinfield

Kev could play in the halves too, but I’ll slot him into 13. He was a great leader and a great example for anyone to follow of how to be a professional athlete. He wasn’t the biggest of players, but he could definitely bat above his weight.

Kev was inspirational, and had an incredible rugby league IQ.

Games played together: 252

Carl Ablett (sub)

Carl was the ultimate utility player, you could throw him in to play any position. He was incredibly valuable to us.

Games played together: 214

Brett Delaney (sub)

Brett was tough, a team-first type of guy. He valued the one-percenters and would just do anything for the team to succeed. A tough bloke.

Games played together: 139

MY ULTIMATE TEAM: Wigan Warriors legend Denis Betts names his greatest 1-13 of players he played alongside

Paul Aiton (sub)

A tough bloke who would do anything for you. He always punched above his weight and was aggressive – my type of player. Defensively, he was aggressive with his line speed, but he was really good in attack as well.

Games played together: 29

Joel Moon (sub)

Joel could play anywhere along the back line, and was another very tough player. He was incredibly skilful and defensively, so aggressive. A talented individual.

Games played together: 68 (including two for The Exiles)

Lee Smith (sub)

Lee never seemed to miss a game! He scored tries for fun, made metres and was one of the strongest guys in his position out on the wing with the ball in hand.

Games played together: 116

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Ryan Bailey (sub)

The ultimate menace. Along with his athletic and physical ability, we could always rely on Bails to turn up with his A-game when it mattered. Someone I loved playing alongside.

Games played together: 169

Ian Kirke (sub)

Kirky and Carl Ablett were the most underrated players in the squad, but their team-first mentality is what creates winning cultures. He was physical and athletic, and would always put his body on the line.

Games played together: 172