Jamie Jones-Buchanan relishing Leeds Rhinos' League Leaders' Shield 'shootout'

The Rhinos chief executive grew up on the terraces before becoming a club legend during a playing career that delivered seven Super League titles.

Now, with a sell-out Headingley awaiting a clash with Wigan Warriors for top spot, Jones-Buchanan admits he is feeling like a kid again.

"It's amazing," he said on the club's first capacity crowd since 2020.

"I think it's a reflection of 2026 and the performances on the pitch. Massive credit to Brad Arthur, all the coaching staff and the players for performing the way they have with the brand of rugby league that they've played.

"It's been a great competition. You've got two clubs who have got immense heritage, big values and lots of professionalism.

"It's a shootout for top spot and ultimately that's what sport's about. It's about winning, being successful and competing for the big prizes.

"I'm just really pleased for the fans. I grew up in the South Stand and know what it means and feels like. I'm watching it as a fan. I've been a fan all my life and am really excited about this week."

It has never carried the same weight as the trophy lifted at Old Trafford but the League Leaders' Shield offers its own measure of success at the end of a gruelling regular season.

The demand for tickets has underlined its significance to Leeds supporters.

"I think so, especially because it's been so long since we've had it here – 2015," said Jones-Buchanan.

"It represents consistency. That's a big ingredient when it comes to playing in big games and winning finals.

"Winning the League Leaders' Shield would amplify the feeling that something big is coming.

"We talk about transitions and dynasties; I just think they've set a platform that's raised the bar at Headingley. It's been a while since we've had that bar and you get excited about where that might go.

"Winning breeds confidence and it validates the work that you do. It would be a great reward for all the sacrifice."

With Brodie Croft, Cameron Smith and Mikolaj Oledzki among the players preparing to move on, the nucleus of Arthur's team is set to break up at the end of the year.

Jones-Buchanan has experienced just how powerful the motivation to send players out on a high can be.

"I call it the Emerald City," he said. "The destination helps you to run a little bit faster up the yellow brick road and it widens it as well.

"You get a team of people that look after each other and understand where they're all heading. In my experience it creates a synchronicity, almost a telepathic way of communicating.

"You need that in elite sport because that's the difference between winning and losing – being able to communicate, work together and have that synchronised performance when it matters.

"It's not just on the field but off it as well. There's a vibrancy around the partnerships, the commercial – everybody's playing a part.

"The aeroplanes that fly over Headingley every 15 minutes, there are six or seven million parts and each part has got a different role to play. None of them can fly on their own. The constituent parts of Headingley have borne fruit.

"The destination is still to be decided but I think we're heading in the right direction and a lot of good people are working hard."