Warm Up Matches
Sun 26th Jan 2025 KO: 15:00 RD:

Leeds Rhinos
22 4
HT: 12-4

Wigan Warriors
Tries
Handley
Smith
Hall
Newman
Eckersley
Goals
Connor x3
-
Full Back
1
Jake
Connor
-
Right Wing
2
Harry
Newman
-
Right Centre
3
Ash
Handley
-
Left Centre
4
Ryan
Hall
-
Left Wing
5
Matt
Frawley
-
Stand Off
6
Brodie
Croft
-
Scrum Half
7
Mikolaj
Oledzki
-
Prop
8
Andy
Ackers
-
Hooker
9
Keenan
Palasia
-
Prop
10
James
Bentley
-
Second Row
11
Morgan
Gannon
-
Second Row
12
Cameron
Smith
-
Loose Forward
13
George
Brown
-
Int 1
14
Sam
Lisone
-
Int 2
15
James
McDonnell
-
Int 3
16
Tom
Holroyd
-
Int 4
17
Marcus
Qareqare
-
Jai
Field
-
Zach
Eckersley
-
Adam
Keighran
-
Jacob
Wardle
-
Liam
Marshall
-
Harry
Smith
-
Bevan
French
-
Luke
Thompson
-
Kruise
Leeming
-
Tyler
Dupree
-
Junior
Nsemba
-
Liam
Farrell
-
Kaide
Ellis
-
Noah
Hodkinson
-
Jacob
Douglas
-
Joshua
Cartwright
-
Finlay
Yeomans

By Sam Brocksom
Leeds Rhinos helped Ash Handley celebrate his testimonial in style with a 22-4 victory against Wigan Warriors at AMT Headingley.
It was a day to remember for the winger, who opened the scoring in the match and other tries came from Cameron Smith and Harry Newman, whilst Ryan Hall also scored his first try after returning to AMT Headingley in the off-season.
After receiving a guard of honour from both sides, Handley showed what he has done for the last decade, crossing the line early in the game. A 40/20 from Matt Frawley gave Leeds good field position. That allowed full back Jake Connor to put a delicate kick into the in-goal and the winger was first to react, diving on the bouncing ball. Connor was successful with his first conversion attempt as the Rhinos led with just five minutes on the clock.
Connor was again influential in the Rhinos second try of the half. His high bomb could not be taken in by Jai Field, and a knock on gave Leeds possession once again in the Wigan danger zone. Driving runs from Keenan Palasia and James Bentley took Leeds close before a short ball from Andy Ackers to Cameron Smith allowed the co-captain to crash over under the posts. Another conversion on target from Connor increased the Rhinos lead to 12.
Chances for both sides followed but it would be Wigan who scored the final try of the half. With half an hour played, some off-the-cuff play by the Warriors saw Zach Eckersley touch down after patting the ball back in-field to Liam Farrell, who then found the young winger to touch down. Adam Keighran couldn’t add the extras.
To make matters worse for the Rhinos, new signing Maika Sivo hobbled off the field with a leg injury. Cooper Jenkins also had to leave the field for a HIA, which he subsequently failed. At half time, the Rhinos led 12-4.
The second half started much like the first, with Leeds in control. James McDonnell almost put Connor away for a try, but the full back couldn’t take in the pass. However, after Wigan couldn’t deal with a Harry Newman kick, the resultant scrum saw Brodie Croft produce a long ball to Ryan Hall who scored his first try back in Rhinos colours. Connor couldn’t find the target so Leeds’ lead stayed at 12.
The final try of the half came from Newman, who had the easiest score of the afternoon. Young Wigan winger Josh Cartwright couldn’t take in a cross-field kick and the England international was there to touch down. Connor added the final conversion to seal the victory after 65 minutes.
The final fifteen minutes saw youth players from both sides take to the field. Academy prospects Toby Warren, Jack Smith and Joe Diskin were a few of the names to see out the game. Both sides had half-chances, but there would be no additions to the scores meaning the Rhinos would be victorious in a 22-4 win.
Leeds: Connor, Sivo, Newman, Handley (cc), Hall, Croft, Frawley, Oledzki, Ackers, Palasia, Bentley, Gannon, C Smith (cc). Subs: McDonnell, Lisone, J Smith, Jenkins, Sinfield, Nicholson-Watton, Lumb, Diskin, Warren, Brown, Thomas, Holroyd.
Tries: Handley (4’), C Smith (18’), Hall (47’), Newman (65’)
Goals: Connor 3/4
Wigan: Field, Eckersley, Keighran, Wardle, Marshall, French, Smith, Dupree, Leeming, Thompson, Nsemba, Farrell (c), Ellis. Subs: Mago, Byrne, Hill, Walters, Forber, Farrimond, Douglas, Makin, Kerr, Hodkinson, Hirst, Cartwright, Yeomans.
Tries: Eckersley (32’)
Goals: Keighran 0/1
Attendance: 5,055