A new chapter of the Betfred Women's Super League competition kicks off on Saturday afternoon as Leeds Rhinos and Wigan Warriors open their league seasons at Edge Hall Road Community Stadium, kick off 2pm.

Both sides enter the league season a week on from featuring in the Challenge Cup semi-finals -  the Rhinos falling out of featuring at Wembley Stadium at the hands of St Helens. Now focusing on the next three months in the league, Lois Forsell's side looks to make a bright start against last year's Grand Final winners.

Here's your match preview:

Opposition

Denis Bett's Wigan Warriors stole all the spoils in 2025 as the club capped off its best Women's season to date with victory over St Helens to claim their maiden Grand Final title, but now the Warriors have the target firmly on their backs as they look to retain their titles.

No club has held every piece of silverware for two consecutive seasons since the Women's Super League competition was expanded in 2018 to include Leeds and Wigan, but a convincing victory in last week's Cup semi-final victory firmly put Wigan back in the conversation to not only lift the Cup for a second time in the club's history in a fortnight, but potentially a Grand Final and League Leaders too if they carry on a similar form.

In the wake of losing pivotal forwards Shaniah and Tiana Power, Emily Veivers, Holly Speakman and Vicky Molyneux following last year's treble success, the Warriors added extra threat in the signing of former Rhino and Welsh international Bethan Dainton to its ranks along with Kelsey Gentles who has been converted from an outside back into a strong ball carrier in the middle for Betts. No Wigan player made more carries, metres and tackles than Dainton specifically at the weekend in the 52-0 win over York Valkyrie.

Like Leeds, the club has remained loyal to promoting its talents from within, as Mia-Jayne Atherton has earned a starting squad number in only her second full season with the first team. She joins the likes of Izzy Rowe, Jenna Foubister, Grace Banks and Woman of Steel Eva Green in being the latest Academy talent to break through into the senior ranks, plus Cerys Jones, Lucie Sams and Jade Gregory-Haselden have also been key success stories. The return of Academy full back Beri Salihi from St Helens also bolsters a dangerous backline, who have made a bright start to 2026.

Outside backs Anna Davies and Ellise Derbyshire jointly lead the try scoring charts for the Warriors alongside half back Rowe with seven tries each in the Cup competition. Derbyshire and Rowe both have tries in all four games they've played this season so far, whilst Dainton is closely behind with six tries as Wigan have recorded 318 total points already - led by 112 points scored in the Cup quarter finals against London.

This weekend's game is the first-ever meeting between Leeds and Wigan in a Super League season opener as they both aim to make a winning start to the season ahead. The Warriors enter as one of the form sides after winning all three games against the Rhinos in 2025, but Leeds enjoyed a winning run of their own that saw the Rhinos win 10 league games against Wigan between 2019 and 2024. 

Form & Last Five Meetings

PLAYED: 16

LEEDS WINS: 11

YORK WINS: 5

2025 - Warriors 38 Rhinos 0

2025 - Warriors 30 Rhinos 16

2025 - Rhinos 12 Warriors 34

2024 - Warriors 4 Rhinos 24

2024 - Rhinos 28 Warriors 8

Milestones

SHANNON BROWN needs six points to reach 50 Super League points for the Rhinos.

MEL HOWARD needs 12 points to reach 150 Super League points for the Rhinos.

OLIVIA WHITEHEAD needs two points to reach 100 career points for the Rhinos.

KEARA BENNETT needs two points to reach 150 career points for the Rhinos.

RUBY WALKER needs six points to reach 100 career points for the Rhinos.

Recent League Meeting

This weekend's fixtures

Saturday

York Valkyrie vs Huddersfield Giants

Leigh Leopards vs Featherstone Rovers

Wigan Warriors vs Leeds Rhinos

Sunday

Barrow Raiders vs St Helens

Ticket & Fan Information

Tickets to watch both the WSL game and the Academy match are priced at £7 for adults and concessions, with junior tickets available for £4. Purchase tickets online via Wigan here.

Please note that there is no on-site parking available for games at Edge Hall Road Community Stadium - parking can be found locally at Hewitt Business Park, Winstanley Road, Orrell WN5 7XB Or Winstanley College, Winstanley Road, Billinge, WN5 7XF. Disabled Parking can be booked by emailing  georgia@wiganwarriors.com but spaces are extremely limited.