Leeds Rhinos ended the 2025 Betfred Super League regular season in defeat as Brad Arthur’s side suffered a 22-6 defeat at the hands of reigning champions Wigan Warriors at The Brick Community Stadium.

Leeds’ play off place had already been secured heading into the final round of the regular season, but a home clash with St Helens was confirmed for next week after Paul Wellens’ side beat Castleford Tigers on the night too.

With a place in the play-offs already confirmed ahead of the trip to Wigan, Brad Arthur’s side was hit hard by injuries as Lachie Miller, Ryan Hall, and Andy Ackers joined Jake Connor, Ash Handley, and Cameron Smith on the sidelines following the round 26 defeat to Catalans. Chris Hankinson was forced to move to full back for the first time since joining the club from Wigan’s Academy, while Riley Lumb returned for his first minutes since June. Kallum Watkins also shifted into the centres to partner Max Simpson in the only other change to the starting 13. Joe Shorrocks was the sole new face among the substitutes, making his first appearance since the win over Hull FC at the end of August.

A weakened Leeds lineup made a bright start at The Brick Community Stadium following a knock-on by Abbas Miski, but the visitors were unable to make their early pressure count as Hankinson’s last-tackle kick was safely taken by Liam Marshall. Wigan struggled to make headway against the Rhinos’ defence, and Leeds had a chance when a crunching hit from Brodie Croft dislodged the ball from Harry Smith — only for James McDonnell to spill possession moments later. Wigan’s best early opportunity had Bevan French’s fingerprints all over it, as the full back dabbed a kick for Adam Keighran to chase, but the centre’s inside pass only found Jarrod O’Connor, who turned defence into attack for Leeds.

An attritional contest needed a gamebreaker, and Abbas Miski delivered on 20 minutes. A late flop by Watkins gifted the Warriors field position, and although Leeds muscled up to stop French and Jai Field dancing across the line, French’s pass out wide found Miski in space to score the opening points.

Strong defence from McDonnell prevented Field from latching onto an inside pass, but the Warriors soon doubled their lead. Moving play to the right edge, Keighran broke through the challenges of Simpson and Watkins before offloading inside for French to touch down under the posts, extending the score to 12-0.

The half continued under Matt Peet’s control, with Wigan limiting Leeds’ time in attacking territory. Late in the half, a penalty against Leeds substitute Tom Holroyd handed the hosts another chance, but resilient Rhinos defence saw Watkins force a goal-line drop-out before French’s last-tackle kick drifted over the dead-ball line.

Leeds nearly snatched points before the break as James Bentley broke free, but Jack Sinfield was brought down just short of the line, leaving the Rhinos trailing 12-0 at half-time.

The home side started the second half by extending their lead as French grabbed his second score of the game. Simpson lost out to Keighran as both players contested Smith’s high bomb, and the bouncing ball fell back into French’s hands. He worked his way around Bentley and Simpson to finish in the corner.

Wigan were unlucky not to add a fourth try when another high ball wasn’t taken cleanly by Leeds, but this time French’s pass was intercepted by Riley Lumb rather than finding a teammate in cherry and white. The reprieve was short-lived, however, as on the next set Jake Wardle burst through the Leeds line from a short pass by Field and the centre crossed to put the Warriors 22 points ahead.

Leeds finally earned some attacking territory after an incorrect play-the-ball by Kruise Leeming. With good field position, Croft and Watkins both drove for the line, but Sinfield’s last-tackle kick was comfortably dealt with as Field carried the ball clear. Uncharacteristic errors from the Rhinos soon invited more pressure, allowing Wigan to mount back-to-back sets on the Leeds try line that ultimately came to nothing.

Wigan thought they had another score when Miski crossed for what would have been his second of the night inside the final ten minutes, but referee Chris Kendall pulled the play back for a forward pass. Leeds struck back on the counter as Sinfield found a gap and raced clear, with former Warrior Hankinson in support to claim the Rhinos’ only points of the night.

Sinfield almost set up Gannon for a second Leeds try with a brilliant dummy, only for referee Kendall to deny the try for a forward pass. It was a night to forget for the away side as the full time whistle sounded, as attention shifted to a home play off against St Helens next week.

Teams

Warriors

1. Jai Field, 2. Abbas Miski, 3. Adam Keighran, 4. Jake Wardle, 5. Liam Marshall, 6. Bevan French, 7. Harry Smith, 16. Liam Byrne, 9. Brad O’Neill, 10. Luke Thompson, 21. Sam Walters, 12. Liam Farrell, 13. Kaide Ellis

Subs: 8. Ethan Havard, 11. Junior Nsemba, 15. Patrick Mago, 17. Kruise Leeming (18^th Man – 20. Harvie Hill)

Tries: Miski (19), French (24, 43), Wardle (48)

Goals: Keighran 3/4

Rhinos

31. Chris Hankinson, 23. Riley Lumb, 3. Harry Newman, 28. Kallum Watkins, 28. Max Simpson, 6. Brodie Croft, 20. Jack Sinfield, 8. Mikolaj Oledzki, 14. Jarrod O’Connor, 17. Cooper Jenkins, 16. Morgan Gannon, 12. James McDonnell, 10. Keenan Palasia

Subs: 32. Joe Shorrocks, 11. James Bentley, 15. Sam Lisone, 19. Tom Holroyd (18^th Man – 25. Ned McCormack)

Tries: Hankinson (73)

Goals: Sinfield 1/1