Leeds Rhinos Women kicked off their 2026 season with a massive win on the road against Leigh Leopards Women in the Betfred Women's Challenge Cup.

Ruby Enright returned after almost two years out with injury and took little time to settle into the game with a try in the first two minutes in the corner.  Ruby Walker with the perfectly place kick from 30m which Eringht collected and making up for lost time with her first try.

Leeds had to be patient in the first  twenty with some errors gifting the hosts possession, but some big moments in defence, a big hit from Connie Boyd and coolness under pressure from Enright to deal with a grubber close to the line, helped to keep the Leopards out.

On ten minutes the Rhinos broke through with Liv Whitehead making a break in her own half and racing clear.  Lacey Owen kept the scoreboard ticking over when she collected a pass from Walker and spotted a gap in the Leigh defence to score her first of the afternoon.  The former York player was in again with eight minutes left of the half aftrer Enright took the ball to the line and then making a short tip to Owen who finished off the move.  Howard added the conversion to put the Rhinos 20-0 ahead.

There was also a sigificant moment for the club when Academy graduate Pauliane Wambalu came on in the first half to make her debut and made an impressive start to her Rhino career.

The first half came to an end with a bit of class from Ruby Bruce, who stepped round several Leigh players on her way to the try line.  Once again Howard landed the conversion to see her side go in 24-0 in front.

The second half started the same way as the first had done, with Enright collecting a kick before crossing again in the corner.  Quick hands from Ruby Bruce and Mel Howard shifting the ball out to the wing for Enright to go over.  There was little time for the hosts to settle into the half, after Connie Boyd was held up Bruce got the ball out wide for Lucy Murray to go over in the corner minutes later.  Evie Cousins then showed her pace to hold off her defender and create room for the third try of the half.

Connie Boyd was next on the scoreboard after good work from Murray opened up the Leigh defence and the centre had a clear run for the tryline.  A brillaint break from Bruce then got the Rhinos on the front foot, before she spotted Cousins on the wing who then sprinted from the half way line to bring the Rhinos tally to 50.  Bryer adding the conversion.

Leeds looked in control and the Leopards never really troubled the Rhinos defence throughout the second half.  In attack, it was a clinical dispaly from the visitors and a great piece of play led to the next try as the ball was shifted out wide to Ebony Stead, who raced through before stretching out to get the ball over the line.  Bryer on target with the touchline conversion.

A break from Jess Sharp in the Leigh half got the Rhinos in a strong position before she sent Howard away on the halfaway line and there was no stopping the Australian on her way to the try line.  Bryer added the conversion.

Sharp was then stopped short of the line before Bennett offloaded to who Grace Field extended the lead for the Rhinos, showing a her strength to power over next to the posts.  Mel Howard, Ebony Stead and Connie Boyd then combined to put Enright over for hat trick hat trick with a race down the wing unchallenged by her opponents.  Good work from Bryer then set up Murray for the score to help wrap up the big win in the closing stages. Bryer completed her 100% kicking record with her seventh from seven conversion.