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MATCH PREVIEW | Rhinos U18s host Tigers this Friday

Top of the table after a convincing round one result over Leigh, Chev Walker's Leeds Rhinos Under-18s Academy side can continue their positive start to the new season on home soil as they host Castleford Tigers at Stanningley, kick off 7pm.

13 tries last time out against the Leopards saw a Rhinos side made up of first-year players run riot at Golbourne Parkside, led by five tries from Sonny Hetherington. The highly talented outside back marked his Under-18s debut with a convincing performance alongside Jacob Tooala, who also enjoyed a two-try performance, plus Liam Watson also added two scores from full back to get the Rhinos' season kick-started.

After falling short in the Grand Final at the end of 2025, the result was a good way for senior faces such as Wade White, Dacx Jones-Buchanan, Zak Lloyd and Jacob Hardy to get back to winning ways, but they face another stern test as the Tigers visit Stanningley off the back of a win last time out too.

2025 saw Castleford finish the year three points away from a return to the semi-finals as they finished short of the post season for a second successive year. Like the Rhinos, they made sure 2026 started the right way as Tylor Sharpe, Will Gardiner, Harrison Simpson and Sean Coughlan got over the try line in a 30-16 outing against the Robins. This Friday's game is a chance to get a second result, before a tough test against Wigan at the start of April.

Last meeting

Leeds' positive start to the 2025 campaign saw the Rhinos put ten tries passed the Tigers on the road. The game was all but over in the first half as the young Rhinos scored five tries to establish a healthy lead thanks to Jacob Hardy, Wade White, Joe Diskin, Tom Richardson and Daniel Stelfox. Hardy ended the game with a hat trick as Leeds ran up the score in the second half, whilst the Tigers only responded with two tries of their own.

Take a look at the highlights: