The 2025 Academy Grand Finalists will be decided this Saturday afternoon as Leeds Rhinos and St Helens go head to head at AMT Headingley, kick off 4pm.

In a repeat of the 2022 Academy Grand Final, in which Leeds defeated Saints in a 22-20 thriller at the Totally Wicked Stadium, the Rhinos look to make their return to the Grand Final for the first time since they lifted the trophy three years ago. Chev Walker's side have been one of the form teams throughout this year's Academy competition, losing only once and accumulating 616 points (more than any other team in the competition). Only a one-point defeat to Warrington in July broke what has been an outstanding season for the young Rhinos, who kicked off their campaign with eight straight wins and finished with three convincing results.

After beating Wigan on home soil in the opening game of the campaign, the Rhinos quickly found their rhythm to defeat Castleford, Huddersfield, Bradford (twice), Salford, Wakefield and St Helens by a margin of 404 points scored, to 44 conceded. A late drop goal against the Wolves ensured they held onto the top spot until the end of the season, but the Rhinos backed the defeat up with high scoring wins against Leigh, Hull KR and Hull FC to enter the semi final stage as one of the favourites to lift this year's trophy.

Besides the likes of Presley Cassell, who has since moved into a first team role in Brad Arthur's lineup, other players fans can watch out for this weekend include the Rhinos' top try scorer Oscar Brown, who has touched down 14 times over the course of the campaign. Five tries against Bradford was a key highlight for the centre, who also touched down four times against Hull KR to be the side's outright leading try scorer this campaign. Half back George Brown has found the try line 10 times and assisted plenty more alongside half back partner Harry Smith, plus full back Wade White has been electric bringing the ball out from the back. Forward Zak Lloyd has found plenty of points with the ball in hand or on the kicking tee too, scoring ten tries and kicking 33 goals to accumulate 106 points.

After losing out 38-0 to the Rhinos earlier in the season, St Helens kept themselves in the battle for the semi finals as they go in search of a fourth consecutive Grand Final appearance.

The 2023 Academy champions were pipped by Wigan in last year's final but as they returned for 2025, their start didn't go as planned. Derek Traynor watched on as Warrington and Huddersfield claimed wins over the Red Vee in the first two games of the season, before they found momentum following a 18-10 win over Wigan to win their next four. Their loss at AMT Headingley broke that run, and Wigan took advantage to secure a low scoring 4-0 win a fortnight later, but the season wasn't over for the Saints.

Wakefield, Bradford and Hull KR were all beaten down the last stretch of the season, confirming Saints' place in this week's semi final and demoting Huddersfield to fifth place and Wigan to fourth.

Semi Final Form

Saturday's game is the first semi final meeting between the two club since 2019, when a Jack Welsby-inspired display saw Saints progress through to that year's Final. The year before saw the Rhinos fight hard to go through to the 2018 Grand Final, thanks to tries from Mikolaj Oledzki, Harry Newman, Alex Sutcliffe, Muizz Mustapha and Owen Trout.

Take a look at the highlights:

Last two semi final meetings:

2019 - St Helens 34 Leeds Rhinos 10

2018 - St Helens 18 Leeds Rhinos 40

Last Academy Outing

Recent Results

Rhinos

Form: Won 11, Lost 1

Won 46-18 vs Hull FC

Won 64-0 vs Hull KR

Won 84-24 vs Leigh Leopards

Saints

Form: Won 8, Lost 4

Won 38-0 vs Hull KR

Won 42-0 vs Bradford Bulls

Won 53-4 vs Wakefield Trinity

Tickets and Fan Information

Ticket prices for this game are:

• Adults (aged 17 and over) - £5
• Juniors (aged 16 and under) – FREE

Cash and Card payments available via Gate E (St Michael's Lane) from 3pm

Standing in 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.

• AMT Headingley Stadium Map
• Leeds Rhinos have a zero-tolerance approach to fans who are in breach of the AMT Headingley Stadium Ground Regulations. Further information can be found here
• Fans are reminded that bags no larger than A4 are allowed into AMT Headingley Stadium
• AMT Headingley Stadium Search Policy
• Bags will be searched on arrival and fans may also be searched upon entry.
• What you can and cannot bring into AMT Headingley Stadium

• 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.