5 Feb 2025

Opposition Preview: Wests Warriors

A new name heads to AMT Headingley next Saturday as Wests Warriors take on Leeds Rhinos in the Betfred Challenge Cup at AMT Headingley, kick off 12pm.

The restructuring of the Cup competition sees the Rhinos take on the Warriors from London in a true David vs Goliath matchup that pits the 2024 Southern Conference League Finalists up against the 14-time Challenge Cup Champions.

Here's our profile on Saturday's opposition: 


In Brief

Name: Wests Warriors

Founded: 2014

League: Southern Conference League

2024 Finish: 2nd (Finalists)

Head Coach: Kimbo Parkinson

Honours: Southern Conference League Winners 2021 and 2022, London Men's Premier Division Winners 2016, 2019 and 2024

Success story: Jarred Bassett (Previously with Wests before signing for London)

2024 London Men's Premier Division Final Highlights


2025 Cup Form

So far in 2025 Wests have seen off two opponents in Eastern Rhinos and The Army to get back to round three for the third consecutive year in the competition. They are one of four clubs outside the top three divisions of the UK game, along with York Acorn, West Hull and Ince Rose Bridge, to be competing in third round and are one of two clubs facing Super League opposition (York Acorn take on Hull FC along with Wests game vs Leeds)

Here is how the Warriors got to this stage of the competition:

Round One vs Eastern Rhinos

Kicking off in January, Wests opened their Challenge Cup campaign in style as they beat Southern Conference League rivals Eastern Rhinos 66-4; Reiss Walker scored 30 points in a great solo performance.

Amongst the try scorers, William Poching scored twice and Jack Payne added three alongside Walker's three tries and nine goals. Harrison Nichols, Tyler Johnson-Thomas and Paul McCullough were also amongst the tries on a day to remember for the Warriors.


Round Two vs The Army

Knowing a clash with the Rhinos awaited with a win over The Army in round two, Wests needed little motivation to secure a 26-18 win in a tough clash.

Louis Robinson's first half double, along with two tries from centre McCullough helped put the Warriors in command, before Poching, Mike Greenhalgh and Mohammed Hammad clinched victory and a third round tie.


Challenge Cup History

The Warriors' best ever finish to a Challenge Cup campaign has been the third round, which they have reached three times before. Their debut in the competiton saw the club beat the GB Police and Featherstone Lions in the opening rounds before falling to North West club Haydock in a 26-12 loss.

After missing out on qualification in 2018 and 2019, Wests' 2020 Cup season ended after one game but they returned stronger from 2022 to 2024. The last two season has seen them finish on the brink of a round four spot, including in 2023 when they faced a stern challenge in former Super League outfit Widnes Vikings. Last year, after good performances against Newsome Panthers and Rochdale Mayfield, they were undone by a fellow London outfit as Hammersmith Hill Hoists knocked them out in the third round.

Results by Season:

2017

Round 1 vs Great Britain Police - Won 40-22

Round 2 vs Featherstone Lions - Won 26-0

Round 3 vs Haydock - Lost 26-12

2020

Round 1 vs Sherwood Wolf Hunt - Lost 26-24

2022

Round 1 vs Jarrow Vikings - Won 52-10

Round 2 vs York Acorn - Lost 28-10

2023

Round 1 vs Skirlaugh - Won 26-16

Round 2 vs London Chargers - Won 18-14

Round 3 vs Widnes Vikings - Lost 80-4

2024

Round 1 vs Newsome Panthers - Won 28-4

Round 2 vs Rochdale Mayfield - Won 28-22

Round 3 vs Hammersmith Hill Hoists - Lost 22-12


Rhinos Connection

Rhinos fans may not be aware of a small connection which ties the club to Wests Warriors, and it comes through a former player.

Willie Poching's success in the UK is well documented, including a Grand Final and World Club Challenge win whilst at the Rhinos, but it will be a the next generation of Poching which will be taking to the field for Wests on Saturday in Willie's son, William Poching. William, who plays in the back row like his dad, was a member of the Rhinos Scholarship in 2012 and 2013 but has spent the last the last two years with Wests where he also played with his brother Kobe, who was previously on the books at Huddersfield and Wakefield. 

So far in the Cup, Poching has played both games and scored three tries, but makes his return to Leeds to face off against the Rhinos.


Tickets and more information

Leeds Rhinos and Wests Warriors go head to head in the Third Round of the Betfred Challenge Cup at AMT Headingley Stadium on Saturday 8th February, kick off 12 noon.  

Tickets for the game will go on sale at 10am on Thursday 30th January priced at £15 for adults, £10 for concessions (65 & over, 17-23 year olds & Disabled) and free for all juniors aged 16 and under (juniors do not require a ticket – access will be allowed at the turnstiles on match day), one price will cover standing or seating for this game. 

For this game, the North Stand seats and accessible area (unreserved excluding Directors Box seats) and AMT East Stand terrace will be open. The AMT East Stand seats, the entire South Stand and the Western Terrace will not be open. 

Tickets will be available online at tickets.therhinos.co.uk or over the phone on 0371 423 1315 (opening hours).

To find out more, go to https://www.therhinos.co.uk/ar...

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