With the annual Wetherby Whaler Festive Challenge approaching fast, take a look at our opponents Wakefield Trinity, a recap of last year's Boxing Day clash and a brief history of Leeds and Wakefield's Festive head to head.

Opposition

Wakefield's time out of the Betfred Super League only lasted twelve months as Daryl Powell and his side turned relegation at the end of 2023 into a joyous promotion for the 2025 season.

After finishing bottom of the league in 2023, and bringing their 24 year run in the top tier of the UK competition to an end, a clean slate this year allowed the club to build on and off the field. New owners and management led to the signing of Daryl Powell as the club's new head coach, as the former Castleford, Warrington and Leeds coach took the reigns for his first season coaching in the Championship in over a decade. 

Along with a number of familiar faces from his time at Castleford, including assistant coach Michael Shenton and star half back Luke Gale, the club recruited strongly by mixing the experience of Jermaine McGillvary and Iain Thornley with the upcoming talents of try scoring machine Lachlan Walmsley and in-demand hooker Thomas Doyle.

What the Championship competition got was a juggernaut as Wakefield won 25 out of 26 regular season games on their way to Grand Final glory and a 1895 Final win at Wembley against Sheffield. Walmsley's try scoring saw the former Halifax player touch down 27 times, but Max Jowitt had a season to remember. 

500 points, 26 tries and 198 goals in 35 games saw the long-serving Trinity full back clinch the Championship's Player of the Year award to round off a season to remember.

Looking ahead to the upcoming season, when Wakefield will open their campaign with a round one clash against the Rhinos, the club have brought in a wealth of talent to lift their on-field performance again. 

Tom Johnstone is back at Belle Vue on a new four year contract after a largely successful time at Catalans. The winger scored 87 tries in 115 games between 2018 and 2022, so a return to his hometown club should see the winger pick up his try scoring once again.

Mike McMeeken connects back up with his former Castleford coach too, as does Jake Trueman, who ends two tough years in black and white. Matty Storton arrives from a debut Grand Final appearance with Hull KR, plus Cam Scott and Corey Hall also make the move from the East coast. Josh Rourke's standout season with London last year, in which the full back led the club with eight tries, sees him arrive at Wakefield and highly rated Queensland prospect Seth Nikotemo is also one to watch.

Boxing Day is a trial run for round one as Trinity look to make a positive start to life back in Super League in February 2025, plus a pre-season trip to neighbours Castleford, and Powell's former side, is the club's final chance to prepare too.

Scheduled Pre Season Games

Vs Leeds Rhinos (26th December 2024, AMT Headingley Rugby Stadium, KO 11.30am)

Vs Castleford Tigers (24th January 2025, DIY Kitchens Stadium, KO 8pm)

Boxing Day Record

Although Leeds' Boxing Day games have a history that dates back to the early 1900s, Wakefield became involved in the tradition for the first time in 2005 when they became the fourth side to play annually at Headingley.

Having lost the first two meetings to the Rhinos, Trinity picked up the next two results before Leeds' won the next four. Included in that was the 2010 match, which was delayed to New Year's Day 2011 due to a frozen pitch, but that didn't stop the Rhinos taking away a 40-22 result. 2013 was only the second time the Festive Challenge ended in a draw as neither side could be separated in an 18-18 stalemate, but Leeds rallied a year later thanks to five tries from Ash Handley.

Looking back at the last decade, Wakefield have only managed three wins in 2015, 2016 and 2022. 2022's matchup was a high-scoring affair as a young Rhinos outfit rallied to stay in contention, until Trinity ran away with the result with four tries in the last 20 minutes. Last year it was the opposite way round as Leeds' youngsters fired the home side to a 41-22 triumph.

The only time the Festive Challenge has been played away from Headingley in recent memory was 2018, when a low-scoring 10-4 saw Mikolaj Oledzki lead the try scoring at Belle Vue.

Recent meetings

2023 - Leeds Rhinos 41 Wakefield Trinity 22

2022 - Leeds Rhinos 20 Wakefield Trinity 38

2021 - Leeds Rhinos 34 Wakefield Trinity 6

2020 - Called off due to Covid

2019 - Leeds Rhinos 30 Wakefield Trinity 4

2018 - Leeds Rhinos 10 Wakefield Trinity 4

2017- Wakefield Trinity 10 Leeds Rhinos 17

2016 - Leeds Rhinos 6 Wakefield Trinity 30

2015 - Leeds Rhinos 6 Wakefield Trinity 14

2014 - Leeds Rhinos 50 Wakefield Trinity 28

2013 - Leeds Rhinos 18 Wakefield Trinity 18

2012 - Leeds Rhinos 40 Wakefield Trinity 26

2011 - Leeds Rhinos 26 Wakefield Trinity 10

2010* - Leeds Rhinos 40 Wakefield Trinity 22

2009 - Leeds Rhinos 32 Wakefield Trinity 12

2008 - Leeds Rhinos 16 Wakefield Trinity 22

2007 - Leeds Rhinos 18 Wakefield Trinity 26

2006 - Leeds Rhinos 22 Wakefield Trinity 14

2005 - Leeds Rhinos 42 Wakefield Trinity 18

(*Played on New Years Day)

Last time out

Get your tickets now

Tickets for the Wetherby Whaler Festive Challenge 2024 are available to purchase online at tickets.therhinos.co.uk, over the phone on 0371 423 1315 and from Leeds Rhinos Club Shop.

Find out more here.