BWhcSL | Eagles v Panthers Preview

The Betfred Wheelchair Super League continues this weekend as Sheffield Eagles take on Halifax Panthers in their rearranged game ahead of Round 8 of the competition (Sunday 3 May, K.O. 11.45am).

The Eagles got their first win under their belt last week after an emphatic victory over Bradford Bulls. This week they take on last season’s victors the Panthers in a clash that will test their early momentum.

Both sides have a strong line up which includes four players from each side who have been named in the 2026 England Wheelchair National Performance Squad.

Included in that list are Sheffield’s Joe Wink-Simmonds and Halifax’s Rob Hawkins, both of whom have great ambitions for the season ahead, including fighting for a place in the World Cup squad at the end of the year:

“Back in 2022 during the last World Cup I discovered the wheelchair version of the game and ended up watching every game,” explained Wink-Simmonds.

“It looked pretty fun, I support Sheffield eagles anyway, I have done since I was a kid, and then they put out a post saying come down and try it out and I thought why not, and then it just kind of stuck.

“I only started playing the game a few years ago and now I’m essentially competing for a spot in the England squad in the World Cup, it gives me every more reason to put my foot down and improve my own game this season as well as the squad at Sheffield.”

As the reigning IRL Golden Boot Winner, Hawkins is also excited at the prospect of another exciting season ahead:

“This year’s obviously a big year for Rugby League as a whole with the World Cup at the end of the year so myself and a lot of players in the Super League are going to be fighting for a spot to play in that, for whichever country they play for.”

Not only is the Panthers player the reigning IRL Golden Boot winner, he is also the first player to win the award for two consecutive seasons:

“Being the first ever person to do it within the sport of Rugby League is very special for myself and for my family as well. It’s great to think that my consistency is paying off and all the hard work that I’m putting in both on and off the pitch is really showing.

“I’m hoping that I can have another strong season this year and hopefully take some more trophies away.

“I couldn’t have done it without the coaching of Jack Brown and Wayne Boardman from the start of my career, it’s helped to turn me into the player I am today.

“It’s a really good feeling to have those achievements behind me, at the age of 24.”