5 Aug 2025

MATCH PREVIEW | U18s look to bounce back against Leopards this Saturday

Leeds Rhinos Under-18s Academy are back in action this Saturday as Chev Walker's side look to get back to winning ways against Leigh Leopards at Golbourne Parkside, kick off 1pm.

The young Rhinos were unlucky in their top-of-the-table clash with Warrington Wolves last time out as a Junior Westwood drop goal stole a one-point win for the Wolves and subsequently broke Leeds' unbeaten record in 2025. Nevertheless, Walker's side look to finish the regular season in style as they can lock in a home semi-final with wins over Leopards and both Hull FC and Hull KR in their final three games.

Last weekend's break in fixtures gave eleven Leeds players a chance to bounce back from the Wolves defeat as they ran out for Yorkshire in the second Academy Origin game of the year. Leading try scorer Oscar Brown got over for a score on his county debut, plus Marcus Qareqare, Joe Diskin, George Brown and Zak Lloyd also crossed the try line in a 42-10 triumph for the White Rose, and now they look to bring that confidence to the wider group heading into an important period of the season.

Leigh got their first win of the season last time out as they came away from Bradford with an 18-16 result over the Bulls, but it has been a tough season so far for the Leopards. Before that result, Leigh were eight games without a win as they'd lost out to Hull KR, Hull FC, Wakefield, Wigan, St Helens, Huddersfield and Warrington twice, but they hope the win can spur them into back to back home games against Leeds and Castleford to close to 2025 campaign.