The countdown is on for the 2025 Wetherby Whaler Festive Challenge as Leeds Rhinos and Wakefield Trinity go head to head in the annual Boxing Day clash at AMT Headingley, kick off 11.30am.

Here's your match preview for the match:

Opposition

Wakefield Trinity and Daryl Powell made a statement to the Super League competition in their first season back in the top tier as they became the latest promoted side to secure a Play-Off berth.

Following in the footsteps of Leigh Leopards' recent Play Off revival since they returned to the league in 2023, Wakefield completed a stellar 2025 season by finishing in sixth place by round 27 with 15 wins. Amongst their campaign, notable results saw Trinity secure key wins against Leigh in round 6, Wigan in round 15, and two wins against the Rhinos on the opening day of the season and in round 20 (thanks to the boot of Mason Lino) as Powell guided a club back to the Play Offs for the first time since 2021. The DIY Kitchens Stadium became a fortress towards the end of the year, too, as Trinity won eight of 15 home games across all competitions, matching their 2018 and 2019 total home wins when they also made the play-offs.

Max Jowitt's career revival continued after the 2024 Championship Player of the Year had his best Super League season to date with 14 tries and 222 points in 23 games, whilst Tom Johnstone announced his return to Belle Vue with 14 tries to finish as the side's joint top try scorer. Alongside Johnstone, the club's other season recruits stepped up to carry the club to the top six - none more than forwards Caius Faatili and Mike McMeeken. McMeeken rekindled his connection with head coach Powell from their days at Castleford and finished the year with both a Dream Team and England spot, whilst the barnstorming Faatili was one of the surprises of the year, ripping defences apart all year long.

2025 sees the club build again with notable NRL signings Jazz Tevaga and Premiership winner Tyson Smoothy to bolster the club's hooker and loose forward options. The bulk of the squad remains largely unchanged as long-serving veterans such as Josh Griffin, Liam Hood and Matty Russell have been replaced by upcoming stars in former Rhino Jack Sinfield, Dolphins prop Tray Lolesio and St Helens Academy winger Kian McGann as Powell mixes a win-now attitude with preparing for years to come.

Today's game is the first opportunity for Trinity fans to see how their side could run out in round one, especially if Powell names the likes of Smoothy and Tevaga in his squad. It is the club's only scheduled friendly too, as they look to win the Festive Challenge for the first time since 2022.

Scheduled Pre Season Games

Vs Leeds Rhinos (26th December 2025, AMT Headingley Rugby Stadium, KO 11.30am)

Boxing Day Record

Although Leeds' Boxing Day games have a history that dates back to the early 1900s, Wakefield became involved in the tradition for the first time in 2005 when they became the fourth side to play annually at Headingley.

Having lost the first two meetings to the Rhinos, Trinity picked up the next two results before Leeds won the next four. Included in that was the 2010 match, which was delayed to New Year's Day 2011 due to a frozen pitch, but that didn't stop the Rhinos taking away a 40-22 result. 2013 was only the second time the Festive Challenge ended in a draw as neither side could be separated in an 18-18 stalemate, but Leeds rallied a year later thanks to five tries from Ash Handley.

Looking back at the last decade, Wakefield have only managed three wins in 2015, 2016 and 2022. 2022's matchup was a high-scoring affair as a young Rhinos outfit rallied to stay in contention, until Trinity ran away with the result with four tries in the last 20 minutes. Results in the last two matchups have been in favour of the home side as Leeds' youngsters fired the Rhinos to a 41-22 triumph in 2023 before George Brown's late score snuck a 18-16 final score in 2024.

The only time the Festive Challenge has been played away from Headingley in recent memory was 2018, when a low-scoring 10-4 saw Mikolaj Oledzki lead the try scoring at Belle Vue.

Recent meetings

2024 - Leeds Rhinos 18 Wakefield Trinity 16

2023 - Leeds Rhinos 41 Wakefield Trinity 22

2022 - Leeds Rhinos 20 Wakefield Trinity 38

2021 - Leeds Rhinos 34 Wakefield Trinity 6

2020 - Called off due to Covid

2019 - Leeds Rhinos 30 Wakefield Trinity 4

2018 - Leeds Rhinos 10 Wakefield Trinity 4

2017- Wakefield Trinity 10 Leeds Rhinos 17

2016 - Leeds Rhinos 6 Wakefield Trinity 30

2015 - Leeds Rhinos 6 Wakefield Trinity 14

2014 - Leeds Rhinos 50 Wakefield Trinity 28

2013 - Leeds Rhinos 18 Wakefield Trinity 18

2012 - Leeds Rhinos 40 Wakefield Trinity 26

2011 - Leeds Rhinos 26 Wakefield Trinity 10

2010* - Leeds Rhinos 40 Wakefield Trinity 22

2009 - Leeds Rhinos 32 Wakefield Trinity 12

2008 - Leeds Rhinos 16 Wakefield Trinity 22

2007 - Leeds Rhinos 18 Wakefield Trinity 26

2006 - Leeds Rhinos 22 Wakefield Trinity 14

2005 - Leeds Rhinos 42 Wakefield Trinity 18

(*Played on New Year's Day)

Last time out

Get your tickets now

Tickets for the Wetherby Whaler Festive Challenge 2025 are available to purchase online at tickets.therhinos.co.uk or over the phone on 0371 423 1315.

Prices start at £23 for adults, £19 for concessions and £10 for juniors. * Concession covers Senior Citizens over 65- and 17–23-year-olds, Disabled – wheelchair and ambulant. Disabled purchasers are entitled to a free companion ticket upon production of a companion allowance entitlement letter.

Find out more here.