Three first half tries were enough for Leeds Rhinos to retain the Wetherby Whaler Festive Challenge in 2025 as they defeated Wakefield Trinity 18-10 at AMT Headingley.

Rhinos fans had the opportunity to see all three of the club’s new signings take to the pitch along with a number of rising talents who shone in this year’s Academy and Reserves Grand Final squads. Ethan O’Neill started in the back row, whilst Jeremiah Mata’utia and Danny Levi were included on the bench for their first appearances in blue and amber. The starting lineup also included half-back George Brown, who has shown plenty of promise during pre-season, as well as Harley Thomas, who started outside Max Simpson on the wing. The bench was made up primarily of Academy talents.

A frantic first half saw both teams, who had fielded predominantly young sides, get stuck into each other early to try and force the first points of the morning. Led by an energetic half-back pairing of Chris Hankinson, George Brown and Alfie Edgell, Leeds enjoyed most of the opening exchanges – Cooper Jenkins coming closest to touching down - whilst Wakefield found themselves backed up by their own try line off the back of an array of errors and set restarts. 

Points came for Brad Arthur’s side on 15 minutes through Edgell, who gave the Rhinos fans a late Christmas present. With Hankinson going with an aerial bomb on the last tackle, Jayden Myers lost the flight of the ball in the air under pressure from Ned McCormack, and Edgell was there to collect and score for the game’s first points. The Leeds lead then became two scores as George Brown mustered a remarkable solo effort which saw the half back to weave his way through the Trinity defence and cross the line for a well-worked try.

With the score at 12-0, Wakefield needed an answer to give their fans hope of a similar comeback to the 2024 Festive Challenge, and they got one in Isaiah Vagana as the forward forced his way to the line. With half time in sight, the Rhinos quickly restored their 12-point advantage as Riley Lumb connected with a grubber kick ahead from Hankinson to make the score 18-6 at the break.

As is traditional with Boxing Day games, mass changes to both teams in the second half saw the scoring drop off as only one try was added to the final result.

Leeds fans got a chance to see hooker Levi, who came on after the break for Jarrod O’Connor, for the first time, and got a preview of the damage Mata’utia is capable of, along with a number of exciting youngsters. The start of the half saw Ethan O’Neill miss two huge chances for points as Wakefield managed to take away two kicks that the Leeds second rower almost reeled in. Levi also thought he had a try as he sneaked over out of dummy half, and Jenkins barrelled his way over too, but referee Marcus Griffiths ruled both attempts out for being held up.

Wakefield started to come to life as Leeds brought on more of their youngsters, and Myers provided a response as he took a flat pass from Jack Sinfield to score Trinity’s second with 12 minutes to go. Myles Lawford could have brought the game to within two points as he collected a miscued pass from Levi to race away, but good work from Harley Thomas caught the Wakefield man and ensured the Rhinos came away with their first friendly win ahead of 2026.

Teams

Rhinos

21. Alfie Edgell, 3. Harley Thomas, 18. Max Simpson, 24. Ned McCormack, 22. Riley Lumb, 14. Chris Hankinson (C), 7. George Brown, 10. Tom Holroyd, 9. Jarrod O’Connor, 15. Cooper Jenkins, 25. Ben Littlewod, 16. Ethan O’Neill, 13. Keenan Palasia

Subs: 19. Jeremiah Mata’utia, 23. Danny Levi, 26. Tom Nicholson-Watton, 4. Marcus Qareqare, 2. Oscar Brown, 5. Jacob Hardy, 20. Jacob Tooala, 6. Harry Smith, 12. Jacob Stead, 17. Zak Lloyd, 11. Oliver Smart, 1. Joe Diskin, 8. Joe Butterfield

Tries: Edgell (15), Brown (20), Lumb (39)

Goals: Hankinson 3/3

Trinity

1. Robbie Brook, 21. Jayden Myers, 2. Oliver Pratt, 4. Corey Hall, 32. Will Tate, 27. Myles Lawford, 20. Jack Sinfield, 10. Ky Rodwell, 17. Harvey Smith, 16. Caius Faatili, 3. Cameron Scott, 18. Isaiah Vagana, 13. Charlie Abraham

Subs: 31. Kian McGann, 24. Tray Lolesio, 25. Jordan Williams, 14. Cass Walker-Smith, 28. Ewan Molyneux, 19. Alfie Briggs, 22. Harry Ratcliffe, 23. Dom Sinfield, 19. Rowan Stephenson

Tries: Vagana (31), Myers (78)

Goals: Sinfield 1/2