Three tries from George Brown led Leeds Rhinos Under-18s to a 38-0 win over St Helens as the home side continued their unbeaten run in 2025.  

Still unbeaten after beating Bradford for a second time a fortnight ago, the Rhinos faced a sterner challenge when the Saints arrived at AMT Headingley. Leeds hadn’t beaten the Red Vee in an Academy game since 2018, except for the 2022 Grand Final, so Chev Walker’s side had their work cut out for them if they wanted to keep their winning streak.

From the kick off, Saints made the most of early possession as they pinned Leeds back by their try line early on. A dangerous lifting penalty against Diskin, followed up by a knock on by Cassell gifted the Red Vee territory but the Rhinos made up their efforts in defence as they held the away side out.

As the contest began to even out as the half continued, both sides had chances to post points before Leeds got the opening score. A 40/20 by Saints’ Tyler McGann put the visitors back on Leeds’ try line, but attempts from Garmston and Matagi were thwarted by strong defence. A high tackle on Harley Thomas and a ball strip on Zak Lloyd proved crucial in helping the Rhinos come away from their own try line, and Walker’s side took full advantage as Lloyd powered at the line and stretched out to score.

Saints tried to respond as Thomas Humphreys and Tyler McGann missed chances to get the visitors on the scoreboard, but errors proved their biggest fault as Leeds managed to add more points as the half progressed. An offside call gave Leeds the field position and Jacob Hardy kept the momentum going as he broke free, only to be cut down by full back Kian McGann. Not panicking, the Rhinos kept the ball moving across the line and George Brown showed great agility and footwork to step through the defence and score.

Marcus Qareqare could have added more points as the winger picked off a pass from Bobby Tyerman to break away, only to be brought down before he made it to the try line. The winger was also forced over the sideline as the home side tried to force their way over down the edge, but Oscar Brown made sure the young Rhinos took a healthy lead into the break with his try before half time. An error from Reilly Cosgrove proved fatal as a set scrum play posted Brown through a gap to take the home side to 18 points.

Saints should have got a score as the half expired – Declan Lyon ran a strong line to touch down under the posts but the referee called the play back for an obstruction to keep the score at 18-0 at the break.

Coming out for the second half, the arm-wrestle resumed as both sides got stuck into each other. It was the Rhinos that found the breakthrough thanks to great handling and a finish from Will Wilkinson. Joe Butterfield did well to keep the ball alive and get it wide for George Brown to make the initial break, before the half back passed away to Hardy. With Saints’ defence chasing back, the centre came up with a great offload to his wing partner Wilkinson, who found the try line.

Saints continued to stay in the fight as they were given chances to score, but the Rhinos backed up confident attack with resolute defence to force a poor kick on the fifth tackle and force a turnover. The missed chances continue to accumulate as Alfie Tate dropped what would have been a certain try as he was unable to keep hold of Kian McGann’s inside pass.

As they did in the first half, the Rhinos were able to keep converting their chances as Fox and George Brown combined for the half back to score his second of the game. A break by Oscar Brown also helped set up Dax Millington for his first try of the season as the Rhinos all but ended the contest with ten minutes to go.

The game belonged to George Brown though as the half back sealed a great personal performance with his hat trick try in the closing stages, confirming a 38-0 final score and an eighth win of the campaign for the Rhinos.

Teams

Rhinos U18s

1. Harley Thomas, 2. Will Wilkinson, 3. Jacob Hardy, 4. Oscar Brown, 5. Marcus Qareqare, 6. George Brown, 7. Harry Smith, 8. Dan Stelfox, 9. Joe Diskin, 10. Dacx Jones-Buchanan, 11. Jacob Stead, 12. Presley Cassell, 13. Zak Lloyd

Subs: 14. Elliott Fox, 15. Dax Millington, 16. Noah Whittingham, 17. Joe Butterfield (18^th Man – Max Rhodes)

Tries: Lloyd (13), G.Brown (23, 64, 75), O.Brown (30), Wilkinson (47), Millington (72)

Goals: Thomas 5/7

Saints U18s

1. Kian McGann, 2. Luke Brighouse, 3. Oscar Knox, 17. Bobby Tyerman, 16. Reilly Cosgrove, 6. Tyler McGann, 7. Luca Walsh, 20. Oliver Polec, 14. Thomas Humphreys, 20. Matthew Evans, 11. William Keeley, 12. Oliver Garmston, 13. Christopher Matagi

Subs: 23. Daniel Kent, 24. Alfie Tate, 18. Declan Lyon, 8. Oliver Evans (18^th Man – 4. Jack Campbell)