Matt Diskin says Leeds are hungry for more success

Diskin took his testimonial game against Bradford pretty seriously

By Phil Dawkes

Leeds Rhinos fans of a youthful age could be forgiven for being a little blasé about their side's success in the last few years.

Three thrilling Grand Final victories in a row have seen them emerge as the undisputed top team in Super League.

But any Rhinos fans - and, for that matter, players - with a slightly longer memory will be well aware that it certainly has not always been the case.

When hooker Matt Diskin was first breaking into the side in 2001, the Rhinos were battling to shake off the unwanted tag of perennial underachievers.

A Grand Final defeat at the hands of Wigan in 1998 and a Challenge Cup final win over London Broncos in 1999 were a poor return for a club with such a massive following in the game.

606: DEBATE Correct me if I'm wrong but when the Super League was originally formed it was supposed to be an "elite" league put together for the good of rugby league in general timatcp

The arrival of Australian coach Tony Smith changed all that.

The Rhinos ended a 32-year wait for a league crown in 2004 and quickly added three more titles in 2007, 2008 and 2009, the last two under Brian McClennan.

Last year's hard-fought win over St Helens - their big rivals - made them the first club to win three Grand Finals in a row.

With their underachiever tag long since consigned to the dustbin, Leeds are now living with the status of being overwhelming favourites as Super League XV prepares to kick off this weekend.

But that suits Diskin just fine.

"The media and fans make a lot of the pressures on a team with the tag of champions, but that's not something we take much notice of," he says.

"If we live up to our standards, irrespective of what anybody else says, we'll do OK.

World Cup winner Greg Eastwood has been added to the Rhinos squad

"We try to have a real positive feel at the club. Defending the title is kind of a negative phrase. It's negative to try to protect something rather than go out and take something.

"At the end of the day, we're the 2009 champions. Now the 2010 title is up for grabs and we've got to go and take it."

Complacency doesn't seem to be an issue, judging by that approach.

"We've won three in a row, but we've got so much to achieve," adds Diskin. "Look at the Challenge Cup. We've really underachieved in over the last few years and we want to address that in 2010."

Diskin is in his testimonial year at the club. Still only 27, he has witnessed plenty of changes during his time at Headingley, however, there is one thing that remains the same.

"A lot of the players I was playing with in the academy when I started as a 16-year-old are still in the first team now," he says.

"In terms of playing personnel, there has been real continuity. It's probably been the biggest reason for the success we've had.

"We know each other extremely well, so when times are tough we can rely on each other.

"But bringing one or two new players in every now and then can really spark the team and create competition for places. We're hoping that's what occurs this year.

"We've made some quality signings, with guys like Brett Delaney and Greg Eastwood coming over from the NRL with fantastic reputations.

It's going to be tougher than ever this season Matt Diskin

"Then we've signed some really talented kids - like Michael Codey - who with the right coaching could really develop very well and have big futures in the game.

"Off the field, the coaching just keeps getting better and better, with more improvements in the technical and motivational side of things.

"The game is advancing all the time and Leeds have been at the forefront."

The Rhinos will start 2010 as the team to beat - and 13 other sides will be lining up to knock them off their perch.

"It's going to be tougher than ever this season," concedes Diskin. "The other teams have made some fantastic signings, so we know it's going to be extremely hard."

Hard but not impossible.

Who would bet against Leeds making it four in a row?