BWhcSL Grand Final: O’Neill confident as Panthers chase final piece of the treble

Halifax Panthers are chasing their final piece of silverware when they face Leeds Rhinos in the Betfred Wheelchair Super League Grand Final on Sunday, aiming to cap another outstanding season with the treble – live on Sky Sports (20 September, KO 5:30pm).

Having already secured the Betfred Challenge Cup and League Leaders’ Shield, the Panthers now turn their focus to the final prize - once again against the Rhinos.

Last weekend, they faced last year’s finalists, London Roosters, as both sides battled for a place in the final:

“It was a very tough game, London are a world-class side, they’ve got some of the best players in the world and I think their brand of rugby can mitigate what we're very good at,” said Panthers’ Finlay O’Neill.

“But luckily, we were able to get our heads together and execute what we had in training the night before, and we came away with the win in the end.”

Although Halifax beat the Rhinos in the Challenge Cup Final, O’Neill says the biggest lessons came from their other meetings this season:

“We're very confident as a team, not just in finals.

“We've played them [Leeds] three times this year, but I think for us the most important is that first game we played against them.

“It was a very close game and I think we won by six points in the end.

“We took a lot of lessons from that and we're looking to implement the same things that worked further on in the league and when we came away with the win in the cup final.”

As reigning champions, it’s theirs to lose, but O’Neill believes that brings more confidence than pressure:

“It probably gives us more confidence than anything. A couple of years ago when Leeds beat us in the Grand Final we had a very inexperienced team, but since then we've been to two Cup Finals, and now a second Grand Final.

“We've just built the experience as a team. We've got players still getting better and better and we should hopefully be experienced enough for the occasion not to disturb anything.”

Winning the Grand Final would be a huge achievement and would move the Panthers closer to their biggest goal of the season:

“It means we're one step closer to the ultimate goal which is the treble-treble. We set that after the Grand Final last year and we've put that pressure on ourselves.

“We are really going for it so it just means that we're one step closer to achieving it.”

O’Neill began the season as the 2025 Young Player of the Year, an achievement that gave him direction and reinforced his belief in his progress:

“It gave me direction that I am doing the right stuff. Starting off the year in the reserves, I didn't think I was going to be playing much Super League.

“I thought I might make the odd appearance on the bench, but then I played in the Challenge Cup semi-final and then got told the night before Challenge Cup final that I was playing and I would play the full game.

“Since then, it's just taken off and that award demonstrated that I'm doing the right things, I'm progressing.

“But it's not the be all and end all, as a team sport we aim for the team trophies. If you win a personal award at the end of year, it's just another bonus.”

Don’t miss your chance to see history made when the 2026 Betfred Wheelchair Super League Champion is crowned on Sunday 20 September.

Tickets are available here!