Men

2025 Season Review: Leeds Rhinos

18 Nov 2025

Leeds Rhinos are back in the hunt. They hinted at past title charges before a late stutter.

The Rhinos’ season might have ended in dramatic disappointment with their last-gasp Play-Offs defeat to St Helens, but overall 2025 was a year of undoubted progress.

The eight-time winners of the competition were back in the top six for the first time since 2022, and were still in contention for the top two with just two rounds remaining.

A flat home defeat to Catalans and loss at Wigan the following week resulted in a fourth placed finish, but they still looked set for a Super League semi-final when they led Saints by two scores in the closing stages.

That was when late tries to Jon Bennison and then Shane Wright in remarkable style - after the hooter had sounded - condemned Brad Arthur’s side to the exit door, when at certain times anything had looked possible during the course of the season.

Three early league defeats and a Betfred Challenge Cup exit to St Helens made for a decidedly mixed start, but the Rhinos found some form as the summer months approached, winning nine from 11.

Narrow defeats to St Helens and Wakefield slowed their climb up the table, but then five straight wins - including over leaders Hull KR - had pundits whispering about their Old Trafford prospects, not least because of a defence that conceded a total of just two tries in the final four of those victories.

Much of the Rhinos’ success with the ball was down to the form of revitalised playmaker and Steve Prescott MBE Man of Steel Jake Connor, who enjoyed a stellar year in the middle of the field alongside half-back partner Brodie Croft.

“What a phenomenal player Jake Connor is” ?#SuperLeague pic.twitter.com/l10GNh7JUp
— Betfred Super League (@SuperLeague) October 8, 2025

Further attacking threat was provided by electric Lachlan Miller at full-back and international centres Ash Handley and Harry Newman.

Lachie Miller is something else ?@leedsrhinos are lively tonight ?#SuperLeague pic.twitter.com/fNChNLZvfw
— Betfred Super League (@SuperLeague) August 21, 2025

The returning Ryan Hall and youngsters Riley Lumb and Alfie Edgell helped to overcome the bitter disappointment of losing star wing signing Maika Sivo for the entire campaign due to a pre-season injury.

In the pack, Kallum Watkins proved a revelation as he also came back to the Rhinos from Salford part-way through the year, and hooker Jarrod O’Connor finished as the competition’s top tackler.

Sam Lisone provided explosive power off the bench to complement regular starters Mikolaj Oledzki and Keenan Palasia, with James McDonnell, Morgan Gannon and James Bentley adding punch from the second row.

As always there was a crop of promising academy products pushing through, with front rower Presley Cassell making a real impression towards the end of the campaign and Jack Sinfield continuing his development in the playmaking roles.

With popular Australian Arthur’s future confirmed for 2026 after months of speculation, there is much to be positive about at AMT Headingley again, even if memories of that heartbreaking Play-Offs defeat will take a while to fade.