Leeds Rhinos news: opening fixture revealed plus who Castleford Tigers & Wakefield Trinity meet in round 1
Leeds Rhinos will begin their league campaign with an away fixture next year, for the first time in three seasons.
The opening round of Betfred Super League fixtures sees Rhinos travel to Leigh Leopards on Friday, February 13 (8pm). Leigh finished third in the 2025 table, one place and three points ahead of Leeds. Rhinos, however, completed a home and away double, winning 48-30 at AMT Headingley in June and 22-14 in the return two months later.
Rhinos won all their opening league fixtures from 2001-2015, but have been beaten in seven of their last 10, including a shock 14-12 loss to Wakefield Trinity this year. The round one schedule means Leeds’ new second-row signing Ethan O’Neill could make his Super League debut for the club against his former side. Rhinos’ first competitive game of the new campaign will be the previous week, away to a Championship or community side in the Challenge Cup third round.
Trinity kick off their league campaign at home to promoted Toulouse Olympique the following evening, Saturday, February 14. That will be the sides’ first meeting since Wakefield’s 36-0 victory in 2024’s Championship Grand Final which secured their return to the top-flight.
Castleford Tigers also have a home opener, against Wigan Warriors on Sunday, February 15, which will be Ryan Carr’s first league game as coach. The 2026 league season kicks off on Thursday, February 12, when champions Hull KR visit York Knights, who topped the Championship table this year. In round one’s other matches, Warrington Wolves are at home to St Helens, Bradford Bulls visit Hull FC for their first Super League fixture in 11 years and Catalans Dragons play host to Huddersfield Giants.
Rhinos are expected to be at home in round two before travelling to Las Vegas to face Hull KR on Saturday, February 28. That comes the weekend after the Robins’ World Club Challenge showdown with Brisbane Broncos at Hull FC’s MKM Stadium.
RL Commercial managing director Rhodri Jones confirmed last term’s treble winners were keen to take on a promoted side in round one. Jones said: “We’ve worked with Hull KR in terms of preparing them as best as we can for the World Cup challenge the following Thursday.
“This game is on the Thursday night to give Hull KR the preparation time for that Brisbane game. We discussed with Hull KR and their ask of us was to play a team similar to York, a Bradford or Toulouse as an example.
“First night of Super League for York, we will support them and wrap around that in terms of making it an event. You’ve got to play Hull KR at some point, so why not play them first up? They might have their minds on the game the week after, so I think it’s a really good opportunity for York to put their flag in the ground and to show they are in Super League and will be a competitive force.”
Next season’s Magic Weekend has already been confirmed. Rivals round fixtures will be announced at noon today (Wednesday), with the full fixture list published tomorrow.