Leeds Rhinos fans expect finals and silverware as Challenge Cup kicks off 'rollercoaster' ride

Featuring two new members this year, our panel will assess the ups and downs of the next nine months and they are going into the year in a confident mood, predicting finals and silverware. There’s high excitement about the quality of Rhinos signings and the squad’s strength in depth and the expectation is Leeds will kick off with a big win against Widnes Vikings in the Betfred Challenge Cup this weekend.

KATIE MARCZYNSKI

At the start of each new season I am optimistic about our chances for the year and this one is no different. We've recruited well for 2026 and I've been impressed by what I've seen of our new signings in pre-season.

Danny Levi brings decent cover to allow Jarrod O'Connor the occasional rest and looked strong against Wakefield and Bradford. Hopefully Jeremiah Mata'utia won't be on the sidelines too long and proves to be another good signing. Ethan O'Neill should go well for us and winger Mika Sivo essentially feels like a new player, who should add strength to our wing.

We've got a good crop of young talent coming through and I'm very excited to see more of Presley Cassell. Add to that the fact we've announced contract extensions for some of our best-performing players - specifically current Man of Steel Jake Connor - and I think us fans have a reason to be confident heading into the 2026 campaign. Saturday's Challenge Cup tie at Widnes should be a good run out for the team ahead of Super League round one and, without being disrespectful to our opponents, I'm confident we will be in the hat for the next stage.

ALEX SHARP

As a passionate fan I am glad to have been asked to be part of the Leeds Rhinos jury for the YEP. There’s so many stories to unfold in 2026 and it is not too far away now.

Will Jake Connor be the first since Paul Sculthorpe of St Helens in 2001-2002 to be a back to back Man of Steel? Will Jarrod O’Connor repeat his fantastic form of 2025 when he led the Super League tackle count with 1,044?

Lachie Miller is another Rhinos star who topped the charts - for most metres made, 4,115 in 484 carries - and he will be looking to push on and put himself in the frame for Man of Steel. How will Danny Levi, Ethan O’Neill and Jeremiah Mata’utia fit into the squad and will they help us go that next step to glory?

With Las Vegas on the horizon and the game against Hull KR on February 28, it is going to be an exciting rollercoaster. Personally, I want a strong Challenge Cup run as we’ve only managed to beat Wests Warriors in that competition since our 2020 win. A trip to Wembley would be brilliant and on the subject of trips, scoring in the south of France isn’t too much to ask for, is it?

I expect Brad Arthur have Leeds build on last season and push the top teams in the competition. I’m hoping there are more positive articles from myself than negative ones and we finish in the top-four.

DAVID MUHL

There have rarely been seasons I’ve been so excited about. The squad looks good with real strength in depth in most positions. Our forward pack looks a real threat and the addition of Danny Levi gives us a proper, old-fashioned hooker to complement Jarrod O’Connor’s defensive abilities.

We have some more good youngsters coming through alongside Alfie Edgell and Riley Lumb. One player I was really impressed with in the reserves and academy last year was George Brown. He looks a good prospect.

Having another pre-season under Brad Arthur will stand us in good stead and the new interpretations of the rules must go in our favour. A lot of the pre-season talk has been about the players who are leaving. There is no doubt quality players will be missed, but I wish them well in their life with their new clubs.

I’m not getting too far ahead of myself, but I would hope for a bit of silverware or at least visits to Wembley and Old Trafford. I’m really positive that under the leadership of JJB our club will be starting a new golden generation. Bring on 2026!

IAIN SHARP

Does anyone remember how last season finished? Nope, neither do I. A little over four months later and with the slate clearer than a blackboard in early September, we’re back for another rugby league season - probably with more bumps than a budget airline landing.

Had I written this a few weeks ago, I would have been pretty confident about the start and the 17 Leeds would be putting out, however the full dress rehearsal friendly against Bradford has caused a few injury headaches. Leeds seem to have recruited well over the winter, however we already have the crazy situation of knowing who is departing at the end of the season before a ball has even been passed this year, totally detracting from what should be a chance to showcase the sport to a wider audience as the season launches. You can easily predict the social media responses; with the first mistake or dropped ball a departing player makes there will be a flurry of ‘it’s because he is leaving’ posts.

There is the small matter of Widnes, who should not be taken lightly, in the Cup to deal with next Saturday before domestic hostilities commence on the 13th at Leigh. Admit it, you’ve been counting the days until it all starts again. I know I have.

BECKY OXLEY

The 2026 season is nearly here, and I can hardly contain my excitement. I have a strong feeling we will be celebrating some trophies this year. The off-season has given me a sense of optimism regarding the team's progress, which truly excites me.

Players have strengthened and seized opportunities to enhance team spirit. The number of players who have signed contract extensions for the upcoming season indicates the forward-thinking nature of the Rhinos. Last season we achieved significant growth under Brad Arthur and his decision to remain this year to build on our previous success fuels my confidence for the upcoming campaign.

The highly-anticipated Yorkshire derby with Bradford Bulls returns and I am eager to see how games against the promoted clubs will unfold. Before our opening match of the Super League season against Leigh, we face Widnes in the Challenge Cup on their home turf. This concept, introduced last season, allows us to enter the Challenge Cup in round three against a lower league team, with the matches taking place at their venue.

I hope to see us reach Wembley again this season. I have missed the excitement of that journey to London and the enjoyable day it brings, complete with banter from clubs across the country. For the upcoming season, my prediction is that we will secure second place in the league, trailing behind Wigan or Hull KR.

TOM GOLDSWORTHY

As we approach the 2026 Super League season I am quietly confident about Leeds Rhinos’ chances of securing a trophy for the first time since 2020. It is the most stable the playing squad has been for years, with only a few additions required and a lot of deadwood within the team being moved on.

Hopefully Ethan O'Neill and Danny Levi can take us to the next level where we are seriously competing for titles. The jury is still out on Jeremiah Mata'utia as he is a bit of an unknown quantity, but hopefully he turns out to be like Cooper Jenkins and not Ethan Clark-Wood. I still feel like we are one forward short but I am happy with where the squad is at for 2026. However, Ian Blease has a job on his hands preparing for 2027, with some big players already announced to be moving on.

The aim for the Rhinos in 2026 has to be to win a trophy. For a club the size of Leeds, going five years without a trophy and only one Grand Final appearance in that time is appalling. The club has been heading in the right direction since Brad Arthur came in and with two pre-seasons under his belt, it is time for him and the team to start delivering. We are more than good enough to seriously challenge for silverware.

Looking ahead to our Widnes game in the Challenge Cup, we should be winning this game comfortably. It will feel like a cup final for the Cheshire club who will be more than fired up for the occasion, but we need to show our superiority and get our 2026 campaign started with an emphatic win.