Next up at AMT Headingley Rugby Stadium, Leeds Rhinos and Hull KR celebrate the career of James Donaldson as the two sides face off in his testimonial match next Sunday afternoon, kick off 2.30pm.

With the game being the last opportunity for both teams to get a run out ahead of round one, take a closer look at our opponents and also the man of the moment, James Donaldson.

James Donaldson

Five seasons as a Rhino; 15 seasons as a professional player; five clubs played for.

James Donaldson first appeared in a Super League at the age of 18 in 2009 when Bradford suffered a 38-40 loss to Castleford. Two games later he scored his first try for the first team against Wigan before finishing the campaign with seven substitute appearances, two tries and a three-year contract at the Bulls.

A ruptured ACL midway through the 2010 season ended Donaldson’s season early; the forward being out for six months. Over the next two seasons, he made fourteen appearances as the Bulls began to slip down the table, but with a new 12-month contract accepted in 2013, Donaldson appeared regularly in the front row; 12 starts and two more tries came as the Bulls finished ninth at the end of the season. In 2014, Donaldson made 22 starts but couldn’t prevent Bradford’s fate of relegation from Super League.

He moved away from the Bulls in 2015 to sign for Hull KR, where he spent four seasons. He made 42 Super League appearances throughout his time at the Robins and appeared in the club’s first Challenge Cup final since 1986, where they lost 50-0 to the Rhinos. With the Rovers relegated a year later, Donaldson was one of thirteen players that stayed to help get the club promoted out of the Championship in 2017.

With Tim Sheens at the helm for the club’s first season back in Super League, Donaldson was mainly an impact player, coming off the bench 16 times. With the club surviving their Qualifiers campaign, Donaldson left the club at the end of the 2018 season.

Without a club heading into the 2019 season, he trialled with the Rhinos and impressed to earn a one-year deal. Playing 25 times throughout the season, he has extended his stay and proved to be a popular member of the group. Despite the trials of Covid in 2020, he came off the bench in the Challenge Cup Final to claim his first piece of major silverware as the Rhinos defeated Salford at Wembley. In 2022, he was also a substitute in the Rhinos’ Grand Final clash with St Helens at Old Trafford, the club’s first Grand Final since 2017.

2023 saw Donaldson enter the final year of his Leeds contract and he was used as an impact player by Head Coach Rohan Smith as he played 14 of his 16 appearances off the bench. In August, he agreed a one year extension which sees him celebrate his testimonial in 2024.

Opposition

Donaldson's former club Hull KR have one final test against the Rhinos before Willie Peters' side takes on cross-city rivals Hull FC in the opening round of the season on 15th February.

Peters' first campaign had its bumps in the road but 2023 was largely a positive. In Super League, having made a quick start in the opening ten rounds, a mid-season drop in form saw the Robins fall to eighth by July was resurrected with five straight wins to finish fourth and secure a play off berth. They dispatched Leigh 20-6 in the eliminator but eventual Champions Wigan proved too much at the DW Stadium as the road to Old Trafford ended for the Robins.

The Challenge Cup on the other hand saw the Robins go all the way to Wembley with wins against Batley, Salford and Wigan en route to the Final. Facing off against the Leopards, a historic final went the full eighty minutes and into golden point, where Lachlan Lam snatched the Cup for Leigh with a drop goal.

Another busy off-season in preparation for 2024 has seen players arriving and departing as Peters prepares for his second season at the helm. With experienced names Kane Linnett and Shaun Kenny-Dowall retiring, the Robins wasted no time in bringing internationals Oliver Gildart and Peta Hiku into the fold, along with Niall Evalds from Castleford and Wakefield pair Jai Whitbread and Kelepi Tanginoa. Brad Schneider's return to the NRL also sees Tyrone May make the move from Grand Finalists Catalans Dragons, plus talents Neil Tchamambe, AJ Wallace and Reiss Butterworth bolster the side's youth coming through.

On the coaching side, Danny McGuire's move to join Craig Lingard at Castleford saw Danny Ward move in the opposite direction as he joins Brett Delaney and Dave Hodgson as assistant coaches, and Kenny-Dowall has also been retained in a new development coach role.

Ins

Oliver Gildart (Leigh Leopards), Peta Hiku (North Queensland Cowboys), AJ Wallace (Bradford Bulls), Tyrone May (Catalans Dragons), Niall Evalds (Castleford Tigers), Jai Whitbread, Kelepi Tanginoa (both Wakefield Trinity), Reiss Butterworth (Dewsbury Rams).

Outs

Ethan Ryan (Salford Red Devils), Sam Wood (Castleford Tigers), Jimmy Keinhorst (York Knights), Brad Schneider (Penrith Panthers), Jack Walker (Hull FC), Greg Richards (Toulouse), Rowan Milnes (Castleford Tigers), Rhys Kennedy (London Broncos), Luis Johnson (released), Connor Moore (Saint-Gaudens Bears), Shaun Kenny-Dowall (retirement), Kane Linnett (retirement - joined Sarina Crocodiles).

Key Players

Elliot Minchella

A new season brings a new captain for the Robins as Elliot Minchella takes the mantle from Shaun Kenny-Dowall in 2024. The former Rhinos Academy product is in his fourth season at Hull KR and comes into 2024 after being within one point of lifting the Challenge Cup against Leigh and 80 minutes away from Old Trafford last year. He also has two new faces among the forward pack in Wakefield duo Jai Whitbread and Kelepi Tanginoa, who were brought in as part of Willie Peters' new look squad.

Peta Hiku

New Zealand international Peta Hiku makes his return to Super League in 2023 with Hull KR on a three-year contract as one of three additions to the back line.

Hiku had a brief spell with Warrington back in 2017 to help the club survive the Qualifiers before returning back to the NRL, where he became an important member of the One NZ Warriors and North Queensland teams. Last year, he capped his 200th NRL appearance with a try against the Dolphins in round 26, having started his career with Manly back in 2013. He arrives a Sewell Group Craven Park in 2024 alongside two-time Super League Grand Final winner Oliver Gildart and Niall Evalds.

Mikey Lewis

One of the stars of last year's autumn international series against Tonga, Mikey Lewis is tipped to be a key figure in the 2024 Super League competition.

The half-back committed his future to the Robins by agreeing a five-year deal until 2028 and enters this season with a new half-back partner in Tyrone May, who also had a breakout season with Catalans Dragons in 2023. Only Ryan Hall scored more tries than Lewis last season, plus the half-back is a threat at setting up tries too as he finished as the club's top try assister.

Pre Season Form

Leeds were one of the first teams to kick off the pre-season period with the annual Boxing Day Wetherby Whaler Festive Challenge matchup. Even though they trailed 22-6 at half time against Wakefield Trinity, a huge second half saw a young outfit run riot with six tries from Jack Smith, Cameron Smith, Tom Nicholson-Watton, Mickael Goudemand and two from Derrell Olpherts.

The Robins start their pre-season at the end of January with a home meeting with Championship side Sheffield Eagles, who are one of the sides to watch out for in the Betfred Championship after finishing in fourth last year. They then take on the Rhinos at the start of February in their final test before the season begins.

The Rhinos continue their pre-season on the 28th January too with the Keith Howard Foundation trophy match against Bradford Bulls at Odsal. Having claimed the trophy at Headingley in a 24-10 result, the Rhinos return to Odsal to take on Eamon O'Carroll's squad as he returns to the club from Catalans.

Tickets for the clash are priced at just £15 for Adults/Concessions (18+), with Juniors (0-17) costing £2 and can be bought here. Adult/Concession prices will rise on the gate to £18 on gameday.

Pre Season Fixtures

26th December 2023 - Leeds Rhinos 41 Wakefield Trinity 22 

28th January 2024 - Hull KR v Sheffield Eagles

28th January 2024 - Bradford Bulls vs Leeds Rhinos

4th February 2024 - Leeds Rhinos vs Hull KR

Last time out

Both Leeds and Hull KR met at Sewell Group Craven Park in preparation for the 2023 season, but it was the Robins that walked away with a 26-4 win.

Get your tickets now

Tickets are on sale now online and are available to all fans from today at tickets.therhinos.co.uk, over the phone on 0113, or fans can buy in the club shop. All areas of the ground will be open excluding the AMT East Stand seats which will be closed for this fixture.

There will be a member’s discount available which is £3 off the general match ticket price for adults and concessions and is available to Rhinos 2024 Season Members / Rhinos 2024 Flexi Members / Rhinos 2024 Supporter Members and will also be available for Hull KR 2024 members. Rhinos 2024 Season Members positions will not be held for this game.

The Member’s discount is valid until midnight the day before the game (please be aware this will be online if Club Shop and Ticket Office Phone Lines are closed) and tickets can be collected on match day or received as print at home tickets which can be either printed off or used on mobile phones at the turnstiles on match day (smartphones only). On match day all ticket prices will be general ticket price.

Junior tickets for members and non-members are priced at £5 for standing and £10 for seating – this is available both in advance and on match day.  

For more information, click here.