BWhcSL: Round 4 Preview

The Betfred Wheelchair Super League returns this weekend for Round 4 as four teams continue their journey in the competition.

Saturday (13 June) sees Hull FC take on Leeds Rhinos (KO 2:30pm) in another tough test between the pair.

The Black & Whites have already come up against some tough competition this season and it’ll be another big game this weekend against the Rhinos, a challenge FC’s Josh Edwards is ready for:

“I’m always excited to face Leeds because we know it’s going to be a tough game, we always have good camaraderie with them off the field but on the field it’s always a tough challenge.

“Leeds are definitely a team we look up to in aspiring where we’d like to be as a team with how close and connected they are.

“The lads are ready for it, I’m ready for it and hopefully we can bounce back from our loss against Sheffield in the previous week.”

After making it to the play-offs in 2025, the squad are hoping to rebuild and push for a spot at the top this season:

“As a team we’ve said that the goal this year was growing from last year.

“We’ve had some changes in camp so we’re now starting again, not from scratch but we’ve changed some stuff within the Hull FC side so we’re rebuilding on what we want to do.

“We’re looking forward to seeing how we progress week on week and as a team, our goals this year are just to keep improving, bringing everyone up and doing the best we can.”

Helping them achieve those goals are a number of key players both experienced and new:

“This year, I think Liam Stancliffe has stepped up a hell of a lot, he’s definitely improved a vast amount.

“And Devon Smith, he’s one of our newer, up and coming players into the Super League.

"He’s hopefully going to be bringing a bit more impact, given a bit more game time and hopefully he can feel a bit more comfortable and do what he does in training on the pitch.”

On a personal level, Edwards is also hoping he can make waves for his national team after making the England Wheelchair National Performance Squad (NPS) for a second year.

With the Rugby League World Cup heading to Australia this Autumn, the prospect of a place in that squad is a huge opportunity for him: 

“We’ve had six days together this year with the NPS, from day one it’s been amazing. Everyone’s just got round each other, pushed together and shared tips and hints to each other to progress not just individually but also as a team.

“From being involved in the NPS last year to being involved this year I feel like the lads have been a lot more connected.

“It’s been an amazing environment to be in because everyone’s just trying to give their best to perform for their own spot but also be supportive of each other”

On Sunday (14 June), Halifax Panthers host Sheffield Eagles in their second game of the season.

The pair met recently in May when they faced off for their rescheduled Round 8 fixture. It was a resounding win for the Panthers who finished with 92 points on the board after Jack Brown crossed an astounding seven times.

The Eagles never lost hope, making it over four times, but without any successful conversions the Panthers continued to extend their lead and headed home with a mighty victory.

This weekend, Sheffield will be looking to get their first win over the Panthers on just their fourth meet since the Eagles joined the top flight.

It will be no easy feat but it’s by no means an impossible task as the Eagles have a more than capable squad, four of whom also feature in the 2026 England Wheelchair NPS.

Betfred Wheelchair Super League Round 4 fixtures:

Hull FC v Leeds Rhinos - Saturday 13 June (K.O. 2.30pm)

Halifax Panthers v Sheffield Eagles - Sunday 14 June (K.O. 3pm)