Former Leeds Rhinos star Joel Moon hails retiring Ryan Hall as iconic Huddersfield try reminisced

Between 2013 and 2018, Hall and centre partner Joel Moon formed one of the most lethal left-edge partnerships the Rhinos, and perhaps Super League, have ever seen.

Playing 147 games together, though some of those came with Moon in the halves, the pair were as in sync as you could get, and both played a huge role towards the end of Leeds' golden generation, and again in their Grand Final-winning year in 2017.

Moon racked up well over 50 assists in his Rhinos career, and whilst not all of them would have been for Hall, the large majority will have been sending the former England international over into the left corner.

But what made the pair so special? Speaking to this masthead, Moon has revealed that, on paper, the pair couldn't be any different, but stepping over that white line, something clicked that made them a dominant centre-wing force.

"'Hally' and I were chalk and cheese," Moon explained. "We had different backgrounds, different personalities, and different ways of going about things, but that's probably why we got on so well.

"He's one of the most genuine blokes you'll meet - humble, the hardest worker in the place, and he never carried himself like a star even though he was one.

"Around the squad, he was a quiet leader. He didn't need to say much because of the way he played and the confidence he had within himself."

Moon, who also spent time at Salford Red Devils in Super League, said that their differences on and off the field were "exactly why it worked" as a pairing.

He continued: "We brought different things to the left edge, so we complemented each other rather than doubling up.

"I could focus on creating and getting him the ball with a bit of space, and nine times out of ten he was finishing it. Defensively, we talked constantly and trusted each other completely. His size and his read of the game meant he could finish things no one else could. Without a doubt, he's the best wing partner I've played with."

The word 'legend' is thrown around far too often in rugby league, but Hall, who ended his career on 257 Leeds Rhinos tries and 358 career put-downs, certainly fits the moniker.

Asked what made the former 'World's Best Winger' so special, Moon explained: "He was the full package. He had the size and power of a forward, the athleticism of an outside back, and a rugby league brain that was as good as anyone's in the game.

"A lot of wingers have one or two of those things, but 'Hally' had all of them, and he delivered year after year in the biggest moments. I think as time goes on and people look back on the impact he had, they'll understand why we call him a legend. That's not a word I'd use lightly, but for 'Hally' it fits."

One of those 147 games Moon and Hall played together took place at the Accu Stadium, or the John Smith's as it was known back then. In 2015, Leeds knew that a win over the Giants would give them the League Leaders' Shield, but after being eight points down with as many minutes left, the RFL-commissioned helicopter looked certain to be landing in Wigan.

But then, a Leeds miracle happened...

Tom Briscoe's try and Sir Kevin Sinfield's conversion put Leeds back to within two, before a Sinfield penalty goal with a minute left on the clock levelled the game.

Leeds got the ball back and, in the famous words of Eddie Hemmings, the game was “heading for a draw.”

A chip over the top from Danny McGuire saw the ball bounce perfectly for Hall, who collected and raced down the touchline to score one of the greatest tries in the competition's history.

Reflecting on that iconic game that gave Leeds the second part of their historic treble, Moon said: "That game felt different from the start. It could have gone either way right to the end, so when Magsy [McGuire] put the chip up, everything was riding on it.

"Once 'Hally' got his hands on it, there was no doubt. I knew how much that moment meant to me and to the club, and the scenes afterwards were unbelievable. It summed up that 2015 group. We never thought we were beaten, and we had players who could produce something out of nothing when it mattered most.”

That moment went down as Moon's favourite between the pair, but overall it was Hall's character in and around training that the Australian centre looks back on most fondly.

"I've got plenty of memories of 'Hally', especially off the field, which is where the real fun happens with Ryan," he revealed. "Some of them are funny, and some aren't - his daily jokes were never as funny as he thought they were!

"On the field, it's the work he did every week that people didn't always notice. His carries coming off our own try line were huge for the team. When we were under pressure, 'Hally' would take it up and win us the metres every time. It was like having another forward on the park.

Upon learning that Hall will remain at the club and take up a role within the commercial team, Moon backed his ex-wing partner to succeed, and also revealed why it is so important for a figure like him to remain in and around Headingley.

Moon said: "He'll be brilliant at it [new job]. People love him, he's great with fans and sponsors, and he brings the same work ethic off the field as he did on it.

"'Hally' needs to be involved in the club because he's such a huge part of it. Having him around to mentor the younger players and pass on his experience is massive. There aren't many people who know what it takes to win at Leeds better than he does, and the next generation will be better for having him there."