Leeds Rhinos clinched their first Wheelchair Tremendous League title since their treble-winning season of 2021 on Sunday, surging again from a 12-point deficit late within the first half to achieve revenge on Halifax Panthers for a Grand Closing defeat two years in the past.
That was the primary of two consecutive Grand Closing losses for the Rhinos, who had been overwhelmed by Wigan Warriors final season, so there have been emotional scenes after that they had scored six tries in a stunning second-half efficiency at Hull College’s Allam Sports activities Centre.
Leeds’ trio of England World Cup winners had been to the fore, with two tries every for Tom Halliwell and Nathan Collins, and a hat-trick for Josh Butler, who was this week awarded the Wheels of Metal because the season’s excellent particular person.
Collins additionally kicked eight targets from 9 makes an attempt for a private factors tally of 24, and he was awarded the Participant of the Match award by the Sky Sports activities commentary group for a efficiency which additionally featured quite a lot of sensible try-scoring passes.
“In that second half Nathan and Josh really switched it on,” mentioned James Simpson MBE, the Rhinos coach and former England worldwide.
“Maybe last year we built up the Grand Final too much. This year we were much more relaxed – and that’s our 10th trophy since the Wheelchair Super League was launched in 2019.”
There have been additionally tries for Leeds’ captain and Wales worldwide Jodie Boyd-Ward, and for Nathan Mulhall, a schoolteacher in Halifax who joined the Rhinos from his hometown membership two years in the past.
“It means so much to be captain of this team,” mentioned Boyd-Ward. “I know we were behind at half-time, but I always had faith that we’d come through.”
Collins had squeezed in for the sport’s opening rating however the Panthers surged again, with their captain Wayne Boardman laying on tries for Joseph Calcott and Rob Hawkins. When France worldwide Jeremy Bourson scored a spectacular long-range attempt down the left flank, Hawkins added the second of his three conversions to determine a 22-10 lead.
However Collins scored his second to cut back the Rhinos’ half-time deficit to 6 factors, and inside 10 minutes of the restart they had been again forward – though Halifax saved battling with Hawkins finishing a hat-trick to finish with 18 factors.
Within the first recreation of a double header at Hull College’s Allam Sports activities Area, Sheffield Eagles had clinched a dramatic Championship Closing in opposition to Gravesend Dynamite 38-36 in extra-time.
The Eagles are anticipated to use for a spot within the Betfred Wheelchair Tremendous League subsequent season after latest affirmation that the elite competitors will broaden from 5 groups to eight from 2025.
