'Highlights, lowlights & no lights': Leeds Rhinos fans happy with season so far but expect more to come

It hasn’t been all plain sailing, but with a quarter of the campaign completed, our supporters panel are happy with the way things are going and optimistic about what could happen over the next five months. Here's what they think of it so far.

TOM GOLDSWORTHY

Leeds Rhinos have enjoyed a productive start to the 2026 campaign, winning five of their opening seven games and sitting second in the league - or joint top with four other teams, but I don’t think that sounds as impressive. After a number of disappointing years, it is quite refreshing to have a number of positives to talk about in April.

The main and obvious highlight is the trip to Las Vegas and beating the newly-crowned world champions Hull KR convincingly on the world stage. While we haven’t produced another performance of similar quality yet, we have shown we are a force to be reckoned with and Leeds are definitely on their way back to the top.

Aside from Vegas, we have made a decent start to our Super League season. In most games we have looked solid, but I still think there is more to come from this Rhinos side. There are definitely improvements from last season, however I think consistency is still an issue.

Big wins against Hull KR and Warrington are impressive, but we need to back it up in games against teams like Leigh and Hull FC. However, it is still early days and I imagine as the season progresses we will find that consistency and keep pushing for a top-two finish.

The only real stain in 2026 is our early cup exit to Wakefield. This ties in with the consistency issue; we are more than capable of beating anyone in this league and a club of Leeds’ size should at least be making the quarter-finals. The only positive from this is it gives us a much-needed break after a hectic start to the season, but I would have much rather seen us compete for a trophy we have failed to reach the latter stages of in six years.

BECKY OXLEY

The week off due to the Challenge Cup was a good chance to reflect on the season so far. There have been highlights, lowlights and everything in between - including no lights at Wakefield.

Being second in the table feels like a fair reflection of our overall performance. For me, the standout game was undoubtedly the one in Las Vegas against Hull KR. The atmosphere was electric and we truly rose to the occasion. What an incredible match it was.

Maiko Sivo has been exceptional, starting his time with the Rhinos in remarkable try-scoring form, netting 12 tries in just six Super League games, which is outstanding. Unfortunately, the Challenge Cup has again been our nemesis and we suffered another fourth round exit, which is disappointing for me. I had hoped for a trip to Wembley, but being eliminated by Wakefield dashed those plans for another year.

This week we return to Super League action against Huddersfield on their home turf. They are currently on a winning streak, so I hope we don’t become complacent and assume the two points are already secured. We must stay focused, secure the win and demonstrate to the other teams what we are truly capable of achieving.

DAVID MUHL

Played seven, won five and joint top of the table: not a bad position at this stage of the season. Yes, we went out of the cup early yet again, but the league is most important to me. We’ve had some good and some great performances this year, the matches against Warrington and Hull KR in Vegas were the outstanding games while the one at Hull was probably the low point.

Brad Arthur is putting a good squad together with cover in all positions and I am excited about some of the youngsters coming through. These will be needed as some of our more established stars go off for adventures Down Under. I’m not as worried about this exodus as some are; it’s good for the players, a feather in the cap for the club and we have an excellent track record of developing young talent. Working with people such as Chev Walker, Simon Brown, Darren Higgins and Mark Butterill, the next generation of players are in good hands.

I’m probably more positive about the future at Leeds than I have been for some time. There is the obvious gossip and rumours about Brad Arthur every time an NRL vacancy comes up, but I think we have to be aware this is going to happen. He will probably leave eventually, but he seems happy at the moment and when the time comes he will leave the club in a lot better position than when he arrived. That means we should be able to recruit a top-quality replacement. Ian Blease has done a superb job behind the scenes and I’m sure he has a plan in place.

Now it’s on to Huddersfield away and then Catalans and Wakefield at home, all three games we should win. Come on the Rhinos - onward and upwards.

KATIE MARCZYNSKI

In some ways it was nice to have a week off and enjoy watching the Challenge Cup quarter-finals without nervously anticipating the results. The four teams through to the semi-finals are to be expected; as a neutral, I'm looking forward to the Saints/Wigan tie and hoping for a Warrington/Wigan final.

Back to Super League and we travel to Huddersfield this Friday. Typically, the Giants have started to find form recently and have won their last two games, having lost their first five. They’ve had it tough with injuries and are performing better now several key players have returned, including a fantastic win against Wigan a few weeks back.

I still think we'll be too much for them, given the quality we have and I’m expecting a fairly easy two points. While I wouldn’t change the team much from last time, I would like to see Presley Cassell get a game at some point. He was very impressive last season and deserves an opportunity, especially with Cam Smith leaving. I’d like to see a big scoreline on Friday, a solid performance and a resounding victory, to get us back on track heading into some tricker fixtures in May.

ALEX SHARP

With seven Super League rounds played, I’d give Leeds Rhinos six out of 10 for the season so far. Some people might think this is low, but let me explain.

On the field we have won five games and lost two, to Leigh Leopards and Hull FC. I believe the result against Leigh was expected with some key players, including Jake Connor, missing. However, the Hull FC result was disappointing given the fact FC went into the game on a four-match losing streak and with an injury crisis and we were fully-fit.

Also, off the field it is a worrying time with no news of Brad Arthur staying on for 2027, Mik Oledzki, Harry Newman, James McDonnell and Cameron Smith all leaving and rumours we are losing more youth, which is our future, to rival clubs. Ian Blease has a big task to replace the personnel we are losing.

Another point lost is recruitment: we have used cap space on Ethan O’Neill and Jeremiah Mata’utia who are rarely around the first team, with even Chris Hankinson - a winger or centre - getting picked over O’Neill in the second-row. Maika Sivo has been a positive and the trip to Las Vegas was once in a lifetime experience, however this next block of fixtures will be telling. We play Huddersfield, Catalans, Wakefield and Wigan and hopefully after that we are still near top as the league is so tight and competitive it will be easy to fall away.

IAIN SHARP

Five wins from seven Super League games and Leeds near the top of the ladder has been a good performance so far. No one expected much at Leigh and the Hull defeat was ridiculous - as was losing to Wakefield in the Cup - but generally the other performances have been decent and this all bodes well for the rest of the season.

Rumours abound about potential NRL investment into the northern hemisphere game. The Australian administrators have a proven track record of development and I embrace their intervention with open arms. I would even go as far as supporting a move back to winter rugby if required. Another crucial aspect is a substantial broadcast deal to reinvigorate, as the Sky TV coverage seems to be withering on the vine these days.

It’s back to domestic hostilities this weekend with an away game at the improving Huddersfield Giants. You’d expect a Leeds win, but even a fixture like this could catch out the unwary.

x