Leeds Rhinos have defeated Bradford Bulls 46-16 in their final pre-season game of 2026, with half-back Brodie Croft scoring a hat-trick.
Croft was one of five Leeds try scorers of the afternoon, with Ash Handley (twice), Ethan O’Neill, Cameron Smith and Presley Cassell also crossing.
The game formed part of Smith’s testimonial game, as he celebrated a decade of being in the Leeds first team.
Bradford kept the game in the balance for the most part, and went in to half-time 16-12 down. Though, Leeds’ second-half effort proved too much for the newly-promoted side.
Here are the biggest talking points from the game.
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Leeds Rhinos vs Bradford Bulls talking points
Rhinos quartet injured
Leeds suffered three early blows in the contest, as James McDonnell and Chris Hankinson both left the field due to injury.
McDonnell limped from the field with help from the physios, whilst Hankinson also needed assistance.
It is unclear the extent of the injury as yet, but Leeds just have two weeks before their first competitive game of the 2026 campaign, so both the club and the fans will no doubt be left sweating with the news.
Two became three just 20 minutes later, as captain Ash Handley looked to suffer a reoccurrence of the groin injury that ruled him out for the latter part of 2025.
In the second half, centre Max Simpson left the field with a lower limb injury. The 21-year-old was out for over two years with a knee injury he suffered in 2022, and was rewarded with a lengthy contract extension earlier in pre-season.
Cam Smith honoured
Celebrating 10 years as a Rhino, Leeds forward Cameron Smith was met with cheers and applause from both sets of fans as he walked on to the field with his family.
Smith spent the 2017 season with Bradford, and has developed into a regular in the Rhinos side.
He has made 168 appearances in Blue and Amber so far, and featured for the first half hour, before returning for the final 20 minutes, in what was his first game since July.
He capped off his testimonial game with a try, as he crossed with 10 minutes to go, pouncing on a loose ball. He subsequently took the conversion, and converted with ease.
Overplaying in attack?
We know that Leeds like to throw the ball around, especially in their opponent’s half, and it is a tactic that has boded well for them under Brad Arthur.
However, on a number of occasions, the Rhinos overplayed, and it cost them some crucial chances to score.
Lachie Miller broke free but instead of passing to Harry Newman who was in space, the full-back tried the dummy, and was tackled.
Those missed opportunities proved to be meaningless today, but it was moments like that that Leeds will want to iron out before the season begins.
Ryan at the double
Winger Ethan Ryan is enjoying his return to Bradford, and showed that by crossing twice in the contest.
Both scores were flying efforts in the corner, something he will be hoping to continue in the season ahead.
Mitch Souter and Eribe Doro also looked impressive, whilst Joe Keyes put in a strong showing at half-back.
Bulls squad good enough?
In what was both sides’ final pre-season game, Leeds went full strength, whilst Bradford only had eight of their starting 13 in the squad.
Some of those, like Joe Mellor, were down to injury, but the likes of Rowan Milnes, Ryan Sutton and Andy Ackers all didn’t feature, meaning that their squad was significantly depleted.
The physicality of the Bulls was there, but the speed of the game, certainly by the end, caught up with them, something they will have to work on if they want to succeed in the top flight.
Leeds Rhinos: 1. Lachie Miller, 14. Chris Hankinson, 3. Harry Newman, 4. Ash Handley, 5. Ryan Hall, 6. Brodie Croft, 7. Jake Connor, 15. Cooper Jenkins, 23. Danny Levi, 10. Tom Holroyd, 16. Ethan O’Neill, 12. James McDonnell, 13. Cameron Smith
Bench: Mikolaj Oledzki, Jarrod O’Connor, Kallum Watkins, Max Simpson, Presley Cassell, Riley Lumb, Ned McCormack, Tom Nicholson-Watton, George Brown, Oscar Brown, Harley Thomas
Bradford Bulls: 22. Luke Hooley, 2. Jayden Okunbor, 23. Connor Wynne, 4. Waqa Blake, 5. Ethan Ryan, 6. Jayden Nikorima, 18. Joe Keyes, 10. Loghan Lewis, 14. Mitch Souter, 15. Eribe Doro, 11. Dan Russell, 30. Leon Ruan, 25. Elliot Peposhi
Bench: Caleb Aekins, Esan Marsters, Brandon Douglas, Sam Hallas, Ronan Michael, Jamie Gill
