Ahead of every Rhinos Academy game this year, an Under-18s player will share more about themselves and their journey so far in Rugby League, their development in Chev Walker's team, and offer insight into the Rhinos camp.

With Wakefield Trinity set to arrive at AMT Headingley to take on the Rhinos this week, Dylan Hutchinson is next up to talk about how he's found his second year in the Rhinos Academy:

After five appearances in his first Academy season, Dylan Hutchinson had eyes on making 2025 his year as he entered his final year with the Under-18s. 

Having been utilised off the bench as he learned the ropes of the Under-18s competition, he made a starting appearance against Wigan in the first game of this campaign and bounced back after a short period on the sideline by making a try-scoring outing against Salford last time out. Now looking to have a similar impact against Wakefield Trinity on Thursday night, he feels like he has taken the next step in his development compared to where he was in 2024.

"It's been good, training's been good," he said. "It's a bit different this year with Chev coming in as a new coach, and Simon as a new assistant. I've developed a lot more as a player this year in terms of getting my weight on and having that bit more confidence. I think the coaches invest well into the players in terms of focusing on diet and nutrition outside here and it helps massively. It's much more intense, especially from the transition from Scholarship. You see the whole game in a different way in Academy - it's completely broken down much more. We train a lot more so that intensity is lifted.

"It improves you as a person as well. Coming in and socialising every day, getting to know new faces and everything. It just makes you a better person in general."

A switch from the halves to full back has presented a different challenge, but as he showed against Salford, the extra time on the ball has given Hutchinson some advantages. He explained: "At full back you're not stuck to one spot, you're all over the place in attack on either side of the rook. That freedom to run the ball, you get a lot more. I can play anywhere to be fair in terms of spine, at half or fullback. I guess it's good just to be able to play several positions but I've enjoyed full back this year. It's a lot better in terms of expressing yourself with your running game which I've been working on."

Being around familiar faces has helped too, as Hutchinson is one of eight players to come through the junior ranks at Castleford club Lock Lane. Joe Butterfield, Alex Cowley, Dax Millington, Marcus Qareqare, Callum Webster and Noah Whittingham all came up alongside Hutchinson into the 2024 Under-18s squad, plus Jacob Hardy has been added this year too. "It's massive [having them around me]. For example with Jacob Hardy, I played with him at Lock Lane for years so there's that chemistry on the pitch and obviously lot of Lock Lane lads are from where I'm from as well so it does just help us playing as a team. I think that is a big contributor to the success we're having in the wins and the good team morale we have too."

The chance to play at AMT Headingley doesn't come around often either; an opportunity that Hutchinson knows is a big opportunity for the team to get a win against a Yorkshire rival also competing for a place in the top four. He said: "It's a great stadium, isn't it? When you experience the changing rooms and the ground, you do get that feeling of how historic the stadium is and it makes you keep that drive that you want to play first grade rugby. I just think it is really good we get to play there in such a good stadium.

"Wakefield will be a tough game. They've got some big middles -  middles who have played Reserves too and some of them even first grade. It's quite local too, Wakey vs Leeds, so it'll be good game."

Despite a strong five game run, which they hope turns into six on Thursday, Hutchinson has the same mentality as his team mates. It's about the week to week and not looking too far down the line. When asked about what the side need to focus on going into the second half of their season, he said: "Obviously just continuing with the wins. If we do win, it's clean and we're putting good performances in, not just getting the two points. We need to see out games, not let games slip at the end and keep good discipline as well.

"We've still got some big teams to come up who are also unbeaten, Warrington are unbeaten I think as well. Wakey are a good side as well though - we are not letting it get ahead of ourselves. We're five from five but we've still got more to go and I'm looking forward to it."

Watch the Under-18s at AMT Headingley this Thursday

Entry to the Stadium is £5 for adults/concessions and free for junior 16 & under, with monies going towards rugby league development. Cash and Card payments available via Gate E (St Michael's Lane) from 6pm

Standing is available in the Tetley's South Stand Terrace and unreserved seating in Tetley's South Stand Seats (excluding Press Box). Wheelchair accessible positions are available at the front of the Tetley's South Stand Terrace. This stand is along the side of the pitch and is undercover.

Food - A food concession will be available in the South Stand Car Park. Please note that this is card only,

Smoking - Smoking, vaping and e-cigarettes will be allowed in designated smoking areas at Gate D.

Wi-Fi - Super-fast free WIFI is available for all fans on match day! Just join the ‘Rhinos-FREE’ network to get started.

Re-entry policy - Please be aware that pass-outs are not available for Leeds Rhinos fixtures, and once you have entered the stadium, you cannot exit and re-enter at a later time.

Toilets - Available on the ground floor of the AMT East Stand. This includes accessible toilets.