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2025 Season Preview: Leeds Rhinos

28 Jan 2025

It was a rather rocky 2024 for Leeds Rhinos to say the least with head coach Rohan Smith stepping down in June and being replaced by former Parramatta Eels boss Brad Arthur.

Arthur couldn’t quite turn fortunes around quickly enough to see a late Rhinos surge towards the Betfred Super League Play-Offs, as supporters can see in the SuperLeague+ documentary ‘Spirit of the Rhinos’.

However, the Australian boss will be hoping to guide the club back to the glory days following a full pre-season with the side, as well as adding his own flavour with a handful of exciting new additions.

Inconsistency has been the pitfall for the Rhinos in recent years missing out on the Play-Offs with back-to-back 8th place finishes following their appearance in the 2022 Betfred Super League Grand Final, falling to defeat against St Helens.

There have been a lot of changes at Leeds in recent seasons with seven full-time and caretaker coaches in charge since the departure of the highly successful Brian McDermott but hopes of a new ‘Golden Generation’ still loom large…

Could the Rhinos be back in 2025?

? Class of 2025 pic.twitter.com/0slKIjOFE6
— Leeds Rhinos (@leedsrhinos) January 9, 2025

Ins & Outs

Ins: Ryan Hall (Hull KR), Keenan Palasia (Gold Coast Titans), Cooper Jenkins (Norths Devils), Jake Connor (Huddersfield Giants), Maika Sivo (Parramatta Eels)

New boys looking good in blue and amber ? pic.twitter.com/gjlaaa7owf
— Leeds Rhinos (@leedsrhinos) November 26, 2024

Outs: James Donaldson, Rhyse Martin, David Fusitu’a, Luis Roberts, Corey Johnson, Kieran Hudson, Mickael Goudemand, Leon Ruan, Alfie Johnson, Paul Momirovski

Ones to watch

The Rhinos have made a handful of notable off-season acquisitions with three of their 2025 superstars coming from the NRL.

Brad Arthur has bolstered his pack adding Keenan Palasia and Cooper Jenkins to his ranks. Palasia is a 6ft 4in Samoan international who has enjoyed time with both Brisbane Broncos and Gold Coast Titans whilst Jenkins starred for North Devils in their 2024 NRL State Championship winning season culminating in a Grand Final victory over Newtown Jets.

Exciting things had also been predicted for powerhouse winger Maiko Sivo who arrives at AMT Headingley following an impressive six-year spell with Parramatta Eels which saw him score 104 tries in 115 games. The Fijian flyer has unfortunately suffered a devastating ACL injury in Leeds' pre-season friendly against Wigan Warriors last weekend and has been ruled out for the 2025 season.

New faces getting their first run out with the Rhinos ? pic.twitter.com/85igLRdJWe
— Leeds Rhinos (@leedsrhinos) December 27, 2024

One arrival hasn’t travelled had to travel as far with Jake Connor joining the Rhinos ahead of the 2025 Super League season. The 30-year-old joins following a second spell with Huddersfield which didn’t quite see him nail down a regular starting spot.

Connor will be looking to the form which saw him selected for England and Great Britain Rugby League in 2018 and 2019 and already impressed for the Rhinos in the Wetherby Whaler Festive Challenge against Wakefield on Boxing Day, where he scored two first half tries.

2? tries for Jake ? pic.twitter.com/OMePshBNPA
— Leeds Rhinos (@leedsrhinos) December 26, 2024

Super League's all-time top try scorer and former Leeds legend Ryan Hall returns to the Rhinos for a second stint and reclaims his iconic number 5 shirt.

Hall was a pivotal part of Leeds' success in the 2000s and 2010s and will hope to recreate similar success, while adding size to the Rhinos flanks.

There are also a host of Rhinos who will be looking to build on their 2024 performances and ensure a successful year for Leeds including Ash Handley, Harry Newman and Brodie Croft.

Next generation

The surname Sinfield is synonymous with Leeds and Super League success thanks to Kevin Sinfield however it is now his son Jack Sinfield who is looking to take the Rhinos into their next 'Golden Era'.

The 20-year-old featured in just four Betfred Super League fixtures last season, crossing for one try in a 46-8 defeat of London Broncos. Sinfield will be looking to force his way into a regular first team spot building on his 17 appearances to date.

Defining dates

The Rhinos will be looking for a quick start to 2025 kicking off the season at AMT Headingley Stadium against Super League newcomers Wakefield Trinity.

Leeds welcome local rivals Castleford Tigers in Round Three before a tough run which sees trips to Catalans Dragons and Warrington Wolves either side of a visit from reigning Champions Wigan.

Rivals Round sees Leeds host Huddersfield which is the start of a run of five home games from seven with Hull KR, Hull FC Wakefield Trinity and Warrington Wolves making the trip to AMT Headingley Stadium. Leeds’ Magic WKND clash with St Helens comes in Round 10 at Newcastle’s St James’ Park.

Brad Arthur’s side will be hoping to be in Play-Off contention come the backend of the season but face six of their final eight games on the road, finishing at The Brick Community Stadium to battle the Warriors.

Squad list

1 Lachlan Miller 2 Maika Sivo 3 Harry Newman 4 Ash Handley 5 Ryan Hall 6 Brodie Croft 7 Matt Frawley 8 Mikolaj Oledzki 9 Andy Ackers 10 Keenan Palasia 11 James Bentley 12 James McDonnell 13 Cameron Smith 14 Jarrod O’Connor 15 Sam Lisone 16 Morgan Gannon 17 Cooper Jenkins 18 Jake Connor 19 Tom Holroyd 20 Jack Sinfield 21 Alfie Edgell 22 Tom Nicholson-Watton 23 Riley Lumb 24 Ben Littlewood 25 Ned McCormack 26 Max Simpson