Key Points
- Jake Connor aims to make an impact in the 2026 Challenge Cup with Leeds Rhinos and community club Siddal.
- The Leeds Rhinos half-back is beginning his first Challenge Cup campaign as Siddal head coach.
- Connor previously won the Challenge Cup at Wembley with Hull FC in 2017.
Leeds Rhinos playmaker Jake Connor is preparing for a Challenge Cup campaign that spans two levels of the sport, targeting success both with Super League side Leeds Rhinos and as head coach of National Conference League club Siddal, a community team entering the early rounds of the 2026 Betfred Challenge Cup.
Why does Jake Connor have Challenge Cup ambitions with two clubs?
Jake Connor joined Leeds Rhinos on a two-year contract from Huddersfield Giants ahead of the 2025 Super League season and has since established himself as a key figure at Headingley, winning the 2025 Steve Prescott MBE Man of Steel award, which recognises the competition’s outstanding player, according to Leeds Rhinos’ club profile and wider reporting.
At the same time, Connor has taken on the role of head coach at Siddal ARLFC, the Halifax-based community club where he previously served as assistant coach for several seasons, helping guide the side to back-to-back Grand Finals and a League Leaders’ trophy, as reported by the Rugby Football League (RFL). According to the governing body’s coverage of the 2026 Betfred Challenge Cup opening round, Siddal will begin their campaign with a home tie against Waterhead, which doubles as Connor’s first game in charge in the Challenge Cup as head coach.
How is Jake Connor balancing Leeds Rhinos duties with Siddal coaching?
According to the RFL’s report on the first round of the 2026 Betfred Challenge Cup, Jake Connor is combining his role as a Leeds Rhinos half-back with his responsibilities at Siddal, describing coaching the community club as something he gets “a lot of satisfaction from away from training and playing the game.” The RFL notes that Connor has been closely involved with Siddal for several years, initially as assistant coach before stepping up to lead the club into the new season and its Challenge Cup campaign.
Reporting by rugby league outlets including Serious About Rugby League and All Out Rugby League states that Connor’s first competitive fixture as Siddal head coach will be their televised tie against Waterhead in the opening round, scheduled to be shown live by online broadcaster The Sportsman. Those reports highlight that Siddal, as a National Conference League side, enter the competition at the community stage, while Leeds Rhinos and the other Super League clubs join later in the tournament, allowing Connor to fulfil both roles at different phases of the Cup.
What does the Challenge Cup represent for Jake Connor and Siddal?
In comments published by the RFL ahead of the 2026 competition, Jake Connor emphasised the importance of the Challenge Cup to Siddal and the wider community game, saying that “being part of the Challenge Cup each year is important for us as a club.” He described the start of the Cup as “a big year” for the West Yorkshire side and spoke of his anticipation for leading Siddal into the prestigious knockout tournament from the touchline.
The RFL’s report notes that Siddal is a club “close to his heart”, reflecting Connor’s connection to the team not only as a coach but also through his earlier playing days with the Halifax outfit. That background, combined with his current status as a leading Super League player, underpins his ambition to guide Siddal on a strong Cup run in the early rounds while also seeking success in the same competition with Leeds Rhinos once the top-flight clubs enter.
How has Jake Connor’s Challenge Cup history shaped his current ambitions?
Jake Connor’s experience in the Challenge Cup stretches back to his time with Hull FC. According to his club biography and major rugby league reference sources, Connor was part of the Hull FC side that lifted the Challenge Cup at Wembley in 2017, when Hull defeated Wigan Warriors in the final. That Wembley triumph remains a key milestone in his career and demonstrates his familiarity with the unique pressures and profile of the competition.
Connor’s wider track record adds context to his current dual ambitions. He made his Super League debut with Huddersfield Giants in 2013 and has since passed 200 Super League appearances, playing across the back line and contributing heavily in attack. He has also represented England and Great Britain at international level, featuring in England’s series win over New Zealand in 2018 and touring with Great Britain in 2019.
These experiences at the elite level inform his approach both as a player at Leeds Rhinos and as a coach at Siddal. The RFL’s coverage of Siddal’s Cup preparations notes that Connor is aiming to “lead from the front” in 2026, using his top-flight knowledge and previous Challenge Cup success to inspire a community side now beginning its own Cup journey.
According to the competition schedule published by the RFL and specialist rugby league outlets, community clubs such as Siddal enter at the first-round stage in January, Championship teams join later in January, and Super League clubs, including Leeds Rhinos, enter from the third round in February. Connor’s involvement with Siddal in the early stages and with Leeds when the Super League sides come in means he is directly engaged in the Cup at two different levels of the pyramid.
