Wednesday night sees Leeds Rhinos Scholarship look to maintain their winning run in 2024 as they travel the short distance to take on Bradford Bulls Scholarship at Odsal, kick off 7pm.

Led by Mark Butterill, the young Rhinos have warned off challenges from Hull FC, Wakefield Trinity and Castleford Tigers so far this season; two of which saw Leeds score over 40 points on home soil. Last time out against the Tigers, the Rhinos were clinical in an eight try performance, led by Jacob Hardy who scored two tries and kicked eight goals. The Scholarship captain currently leads the side in tries (four) and points (46) so far in 2024, but fellow second year players Zak Lloyd, Tom Richardson and Harvey Butterworth are right on his tail with three tries. Butterill has also given almost every one of his newest Under-14s players game minutes this season too, including Jack Smith who scored on his first Scholarship appearance a fortnight ago.

This week's clash against the Bulls has been one sided in years gone passed as the Rhinos have kept Bradford scoreless in the last four meetings. Last year in particular saw current Academy players Joe Diskin, Harley Thomas and George Brown all score hat tricks in a convincing 64-0 result, which topped the 60-0 win from the year before.

Martyn Oxbury's side enter this week's meeting with Leeds looking for their first win of the year. So far, the Bulls have lost out to Warrington and Hull FC on the road, as well as a 28-16 defeat at Odsal to Hull KR at the start of April. 

Their sole match of the month against the Rhinos sees them hope for a result before taking on Wakefield, Wigan, Castleford and Huddersfield in their remaining matches.

Team News

As the Scholarship season reaches the halfway point, head coach Butterill hands trio Bailey Hardy, Jack Manning and Connor Mullins their first Scholarship appearances since they joined the club as Under-14s in November.

Hardy is named alongside his brother Jacob, who wears the captain's armband for the fourth straight game this season, and will come off the bench with Manning and Mullins. The trio are part of thirteen changes to the team that beat Wakefield which sees seven first-year players return. Noah Lunn and Alfie Steel make their first start at hooker, Sonny Hetherington and Jacob Tooala returns in the outside backs, and Seth Marchant moves back into scrum half to join Wade White. Daniel Shaw and Jack Mears are also back on the bench for the first time since the Castleford win.

Will Wilkinson is introduced into the pack with Robin Smith. Jacob Hardy, Zak Lloyd and Harvey Butterworth are the only players who have played every game so far this year.

The team is:

1. Will Hunter

2. Jack Smith

3. Jacob Tooala

4. Sonny Hetherington sponsored by Butterfield Builders

5. Micah Charles

6. Wade White

7. Seth Marchant sponsored by Oak Electrical

8. Will Wilkinson sponsored by KSW

9. Noah Lunn

10. Robin Smith sponsored by Yorkshire Will Writers

11. Zak Lloyd

12. Alfie Steel sponsored by T&A Powering Maintenance

13. Jacob Hardy (C) sponsored by Bennetts Butchers

14. Harvey Butterworth sponsored by Travis Perkins

15. Dacx Jones-Buchanan

16. Jack Mears

17. Jack Manning

18. Bailey Hardy sponsored by Castleford Physiotherapy

19. Daniel Shaw

20. Connor Mullins

To sponsor a Reserves, Academy, Women's Academy or Scholarship player, email sales@therhinos.co.uk.

More Information

Entry at Odsal is £5 for adults and free for juniors.