'I can’t see this team not being in the Grand Final next year': Leeds Rhinos plotting Old Trafford return

After making the worst start to a campaign in the club’s history, winning only one of their opening 10 competitive games, Rhinos climbed from 11th in Betfred Super League in April to a final position of fifth, for the third successive year.

They then pulled off shock play-off victories at fourth-placed Catalans Dragons and Wigan Warriors who were second, before reigning champions and league leaders St Helens proved too strong, winning 24-12 in the title decider.

Rhinos were hit by suspensions and injuries all year and half-back Aidan Sezer missed the Grand Final because of concussion, joining David Fusitu’a, Harry Newman, Tom Holroyd - who didn’t play a first team game in 2022 - and Morgan Gannon on the casualty list.

In the circumstances, Donaldson reckons it was an achievement to go down to the last game of the campaign and felt it was a positive experience, despite the result.

“From where we were at the start of the season, where we got to was unbelievable,” Donaldson said.

“Obviously, everyone’s disappointed we lost, but there’s a foundation to build on for next year.

“I am bitterly disappointed, but I honestly can’t see this team not being there [in the Grand Final] next year, the way things are going at the moment.”

Donaldson added: “What Rohan has done and the coaching staff have done has been brilliant. We just missed opportunities out there on the field.

“If a couple of things had gone our way it would have been a different game, but Saints are a top-class team, that’s their fourth [title] in a row now so it’s tough to stop their momentum. We are going to have to come back next season and do that.”

Saints have featured in all but the first of the Grand Finals since Leeds’ previous Old Trafford appearance in 2017 and Donaldson reckons having been through the build-up, as well as the event itself, will be invaluable for Rhinos in the future.

He said: “There’s a lot of players within our squad who have played in big games, but we will definitely take a lot out of it.