Leeds Rhinos Under-18s extended their unbeaten start to the 2025 Academy season, with a hat-trick from Jacob Hardy helping seal a convincing 46-14 win over Salford Red Devils Under-18s at Salford Community Stadium.

The young Rhinos made an electric start, opening the scoring inside three minutes. In their first attacking set, a short-side shift from Hardy exposed a gap in the Salford defence, allowing Sam Johnson to cross for his second try of the season. Hardy followed up with a try of his own before the ten-minute mark to give Leeds an early 10-0 lead.

Despite their winless run in 2025, Salford proved to be no pushovers, especially during a competitive first half. Joe Griffiths nearly gave the hosts their first points after being handed space on the wing, but he lost control of the ball while attempting to ground it. Reacting to the near miss, Leeds regrouped and crafted a clever last-tackle play, with Dylan Hutchinson slicing through the line to score a brilliant solo try under the posts.

Salford continued to test the Rhinos, dominating territory and earning back-to-back sets inside the visitors’ 20-metre zone. Their persistence paid off when Mason Riley produced an acrobatic finish to open the Red Devils’ account.

Leeds responded before the break to reassert control. In a near carbon copy of his earlier effort, Hardy was again given space to work and made no mistake, crossing for his second try to give the Rhinos a 20-4 halftime advantage.

The second half saw Leeds pull away with five unanswered tries in a more dominant showing, echoing their recent performance against the Bradford Bulls.

Joe Diskin got things rolling six minutes in, capitalising on a Salford knock-on. Forced to switch from hooker to fullback after George Brown's first-half exit, Diskin showed great awareness, taking Harry Smith’s pass and barging over the line with defenders hanging on.

Cobi Ellis then added a quickfire double within three minutes. First, he supported an offload from Jacob Stead to score, before catching the Salford defence off guard to go through a gap for his second. With Harry Smith converting both tries, Leeds led 38-4 with 20 minutes to play.

Leeds continued to press. Johnson and Hardy both came close to adding to the tally before Logan Staveley-Carr, making his Academy debut, broke through and set up Hardy to complete his hat-trick. Tom Richardson added a final try after Diskin turned provider once more, making it 46-4.

Salford rallied late on, scoring two consolation tries through Sam Hill and Rhyley Hyde in the dying minutes. But the result was never in doubt, as Leeds maintained their position at the top of the league standings.

Teams

Salford Red Devils U18s

1. Rafael Van Osselaer, 2. Mason Riley, 3. Charlie Bailey, 4. Sam Hill, 15. Joe Griffiths, 6. Dan Jenkinson, 7. Rhyley Hyde, 24. Harrison Hope, 21. F Walker, 10. Matthew Eden, 8. Noah Appleby, 16. Littler 26. Jacob Walker

Subs: 13. Greenhalgh, 14. James Hodgkiss, 19. Cohen Addi, 20. Ellis Clark (18^th Man – 28. Lucas Roper

Tries: Riley (31), Hill (77), Hyde (80)

Conversions: Jenkinson 2/3

Leeds Rhinos U18s

1. Dylan Hutchinson, 2. Sam Johnson, 3. Jacob Hardy, 4. Cobi Ellis, 5. Tom Richardson, 6. George Brown, 7. Harry Smith, 8. Lore Jones-Buchanan, 9. Joe Diskin, 10. Dacx Jones-Buchanan, 11. Jacob Stead, 12. Oscar Brown, 13. Noah Whittingham

Subs: 14. Alex Cowley, 15. Logan Staveley-Carr, 16. Hughie Tinkler, 17. Jayemm Oladipupo (18^th Man – Wade White)

Tries: Johnson (3), Hardy (10, 37, 65), Hutchinson (24), Diskin (46), Ellis (55, 58), Richardson (70)

Conversions: H.Smith 5/9