25 Aug 2023

Rhinos Academy set for penultimate Friday night showdown against Giants

As the Academy season begins to reach its final stages before the Play-Offs, Leeds Rhinos Academy travel to face Huddersfield Giants Academy at Huddersfield YMCA RU on Friday night, kick off 7pm.

A confident performance from the young Rhinos last time out saw them run 50 points passed Wakefield Trinity to break a losing streak that lasted through July. Having kept themselves in the fight for a potential Play-Off run, Tony Smith's side confidently beat Newcastle, London, Castleford and Bradford, but losses to St Helens, Hull FC and Warrington, who are confirmed in the top four, meant that the Rhinos' hopes of retaining the Grand Final ended with a handful of games left.

Leeds only have one game remaining after this weekend as the focus turns to Reserves next week ahead of a trip to face Wigan. The Under-18s face their counterparts from Wigan on the 7th September at Stanningley though, which marks the final game in their 2023 season.

Friday's meeting will be the second time that the Rhinos and Giants have faced off the Academy division this season. Back at the start of the season, the Giants fought off a comeback from the young Rhinos, spearheaded by half backs Jack Sinfield and Fergus McCormack, to win 34-30 at Stanningley.

Watch the tries back here:

The result at Stanningley was Tom Tsang's sides first win of 2023, having lost out to Grand Finalists St Helens in round one. The Giants went on to beat Bradford in a tight 6-4 win a fortnight after but were beaten by Hull KR and Warrington either side of a win over London Broncos. Wigan also defeat the side in claret and gold, before they picked up their most recent win of the year against Wakefield.

After this week's meeting, the Giants pick up a rearranged clash with Castleford before finishing their season with a trip to Newcastle.

Remaining fixtures

Rhinos

Vs Huddersfield Giants (Friday 25th August, Huddersfield YMCA RU, KO 7pm)

Vs Wigan Warriors (Thursday 7th September, Stanningley, KO 7pm)

Giants

Vs Leeds Rhinos (Friday 25th August, Huddersfield YMCA RU, KO 7pm)

Vs Castleford Tigers (Saturday 2nd September, Huddersfield YMCA RU, KO 10.30am)

Vs Newcastle Thunder (Friday 8th September, Kingston Park, KO 5.45pm

Team News

The Rhinos have named their extended 19-man squad ahead of their trip to take on the Giants.

Compared to the side that faced Huddersfield in round two of the Academy season, there are five changes to the squad that could feature at Huddersfield YMCA RU. Neil Tchamambe, Harry Smith and Freddie Brennan-Jones miss out as they continue their recovery from injury, whilst Jack Johnson misses his first game since the defeat at Warrington at the start of July.

Kyden Frater could make his return to action having been out for two months through an injury suffered whilst playing for the Reserves against Wigan. Joe Phillips and Zach McSwiney are also in contention for their first minutes in over a month.

The Rhinos Academy's top try scorer Fergus McCormack looks to continue a scoring run that has seen the half-back cross the try line in each of his last four games, and he will potentially partner up again with Jack Sinfield, who comes back in the fold having missed the win over Wakefield Trinity.

Harrison Gilmore, Dylan Proud and Mason Corbett continue their run of appearing in every Academy game so far in 2023.

The team in full is:

Leo Aliyu

Mason Corbett sponsored by UK Tank Services

Kyden Frater sponsored by Atlas Crew

Harrison Gilmore sponsored by Morley Ventilation

Bobby Hartley sponsored by Fab Gas

Jack Iceton

Ben Littlewood sponsored by GTD Painting and Property Maintenance

Riley Lumb sponsored by Euro Auction

Fergus McCormack

Ned McCormack