In just under two months, Leigh Leopards will be kicking off their first game of the 2026 Super League season.
Leeds Rhinos will be the visitors to Leigh Sports Village on that occasion, with Adrian Lam’s side keen to build on the progress they made last season and start the year on the right note.
Leigh haven’t been too busy over the off-season in terms of recruitment, but they have still made five signings for 2026 and they’ll all be pushing to play in round one.
Jacob Alick-Wiencke and Adam Cook have both made the move over from down under, with Alick-Wiencke strengthening the club’s back-row options, while Cook, who arrives from Canberra Raiders, can play across the spine.
Liam Horne and Innes Senior have both been brought in from Castleford Tigers, while the addition of Oliver Polec from St Helens completes their recruitment so far.
So, how might Leigh line up on February 13 against the Rhinos?
Predicted Leigh Leopards line-up in round one
Well, with David Armstrong expected to miss the first few rounds of Super League action at least as he recovers from knee surgery, Bailey Hodgson will likely be the man starting at full-back in round one.
Hodgson more than took his opportunity to impress in 2025 and with Armstrong on the comeback trail, he’ll feel as though he’ll have something of a point to prove over the opening rounds.
Keanan Brand, Umyla Hanley and Tesi Niu are nailed on starters in the outside backs if fit, with Lam set to make a choice between Josh Charnley, Senior or AJ Towse for the last remaining spot.
Cook might just get the nod over Gareth O’Brien to start in the halves alongside Lachlan Lam, too. That’s a tough call on O’Brien, who impressed in large spells last season, but the Leopards have been looking for a new six for some time and Cook could well be the man to take on that mantle.
Joe Ofahengaue and Owen Trout were both superb last season and they could start together in the front row, with Alick-Wiencke and Frankie Halton in the back-row and the consistent Isaac Liu keeping his spot at loose-forward.
That means NRL-linked Robbie Mulhern might have to make do with a spot on the interchange bench. Aaron Pene needs a big year after missing much of the 2025 campaign through injury, while Jack Hughes and Liam Horne also look set to claim bench spots.
Predicted Leigh Leopards side to face Leeds Rhinos in round one: Bailey Hodgson; Josh Charnley, Tesi Niu, Umyla Hanley, Keanan Brand; Adam Cook, Lachlan Lam; Joe Ofahengaue, Edwin Ipape, Owen Trout; Jacob Alick-Wiencke, Frankie Halton; Isaac Liu.
Bench: Robbie Mulhern, Liam Horne, Aaron Pene, Jack Hughes.
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