Leeds Rhinos Name Unchanged Women’s Squad: St Helens 2026

Key Points

• Unchanged Line-up Selection: Leeds Rhinos Women’s head coach Lois Forsell has selected an identical 21-player squad for the upcoming fixture.
• Marquee Super League Fixture: The Rhinos are scheduled to travel to face league rivals St Helens on Sunday in round five of the Betfred Women’s Super League.
• Match Venue and Timing Details: The fixture will kick off at 12:00 pm at The BrewDog Stadium as the opening part of a Father’s Day double-header.
• Contrasting Team Records: Leeds enter the game on the back of a three-match league winning streak, whilst St Helens remain entirely undefeated in the league.
• Individual Milestones in Sight: Winger Liv Whitehead requires 10 points to hit 100 career Super League points, whilst forward Lucy Murray needs eight points to hit the same milestone.
• Injury Updates for the Rhinos: Mel Howard and Georgia Elliston are line-up options following injury assessments, but Caitlin Beevers, Sophie Nuttall, and Evie Cousins remain sidelined.

Leeds Rhinos (The Leeds Times) June 19, 2026, ahead of a highly anticipated round-five Betfred Women’s Super League clash against an undefeated St Helens squad at The BrewDog Stadium this coming Sunday. The contest, scheduled for a midday kick-off, forms the first half of a highly publicised Father’s Day double-header, preceding the men’s Super League fixture between St Helens and the Huddersfield Giants. This fixture marks a crucial cross-town battle between two of the competition’s heavyweight clubs, with the Rhinos seeking to extend their current three-game winning streak and shatter the flawless start established by their Merseyside rivals.

Which Players Have Been Included in the Leeds Rhinos 21-Woman Selection?

As published by the official communication department of the Leeds Rhinos rugby league club, the West Yorkshire side will travel across the Pennines with maximum continuity in personnel.

The identical selection strategy indicates a high level of confidence from head coach Lois Forsell following a run of dominant domestic performances, including a recent 46-6 triumph over the Barrow Raiders in Cumbria.

St Helens

The complete 21-woman squad announced for the trip to Merseyside features:

1. Ruby Enright
2. Ebony Stead
3. Liv Whitehead
4. Mel Howard
5. Ruby Walker
6. Ella Donnelly
7. Keara Bennett
8. Kaiya Glynn
9. Lacey Owen
10. Lucy Murray
11. Shannon Brown
12. Ruby Bruce
13. Connie Boyd
14. Grace Short
15. Tally Bryer
16. Jess Sharp
17. Frankie Blakey
18. Pauliane Wambalu
19. Amelia Hirst

What Are the Significant Individual Milestones and Injury Considerations for the Match?

Statistical tracking ahead of the round-five matchup highlights multiple individual player targets. Outside back Liv Whitehead, who has registered four tries during the current Betfred Women’s Super League campaign, sits exactly 10 points away from achieving a career milestone of 100 total competition points for the Headingley-based club.

Concurrently, forward Lucy Murray is also approaching a century of competition points; following her first Super League try of the season during last week’s victory against Barrow, she requires eight points to reach the 100-point mark for the Rhinos.

On the injury front, the selection pool has been bolstered by the inclusion of halfback Mel Howard and utility back Georgia Elliston. Both players have been included in the 21-player listing as they face late fitness tests to determine their availability for Sunday’s match. However, the Rhinos continue to contend with notable absences across their wider squad.

The coaching staff confirmed that international outside back Caitlin Beevers, experienced winger Sophie Nuttall, and young prospect Evie Cousins remain unavailable for selection as they continue their respective rehabilitation programmes.

How Do the Two Teams Compare Heading Into This Round Five Fixture?

A review of the current Betfred Women’s Super League table reveals a closely packed top tier. St Helens enter the weekend sitting in second position with a perfect record of four victories from four matches, accumulating a points difference of positive 94.

The Leeds Rhinos are close behind in third position, having secured three victories from their opening four league fixtures, supported by a points difference of positive 106.

The historical data from recent seasons outlines an incredibly close rivalry between these two organisations. As documented by league statistician Stephen Ibbetson of Total Rugby League, the recent head-to-head records show exceptionally narrow margins between the clubs. In their most recent league meeting during the 2025 campaign, St Helens secured a narrow 22-20 victory over Leeds, which followed a 20-20 draw earlier that same season.

Furthermore, as noted in the match preview published by St.Helens R.F.C. Media, the two sides met in a high-stakes encounter earlier this year in May during the Betfred Women’s Challenge Cup Semi-Final in Doncaster. On that occasion, St Helens secured a 30-14 victory over Leeds to advance to the final, meaning the Rhinos travel to The BrewDog Stadium with an explicit desire to avenge their cup elimination.

What Have the Respective Teams Said Before the Match?

In statements collected from media briefings ahead of the weekend fixtures, representatives from both camps emphasized the physical intensity and competitive nature of this specific fixture.

Writing for the official Super League media platform, league reporters highlighted the perspective of St Helens prop forward Erin McDonald, who scored a decisive late brace against Leeds in the May cup semi-final. As reported by the Super League editorial team, McDonald stated that:

“The season’s really good, it’s been quite competitive so far, we’ve had some good games. I’m looking forward to this weekend, Leeds are always a good game, they’re a good competitive side. It’s a good challenge, I know all the girls are excited, it’s always a game you look for in your calendar. You’ve got to stay on the ball with Leeds. They’ve got some good players, they’re strong in the middle with quick middles so it’s just making sure not to switch off and to keep our eye on the game.”

On the opposing side, Leeds Rhinos head coach Lois Forsell reflected on the development of her squad since their previous encounters. Speaking in an official pre-match press conference broadcast via the Leeds Rhinos Official YouTube Channel, Forsell stated that she feels her team has “grown significantly since last season” and firmly believes that the upcoming semi-final rematch against St Helens will be

“a hard-fought contest between two strong sides.”

Background of the Particular Development

The announcement of an unchanged squad by Lois Forsell arrives during a period of sustained structural development and professionalization within elite women’s rugby league in the United Kingdom.

The Betfred Women’s Super League has transitioned from an amateur regional competition into a highly structured elite tier, with clubs increasingly aligning their women’s operations alongside established men’s structures.

The staging of Sunday’s match as part of a high-profile Father’s Day double-header at The BrewDog Stadium represents a deliberate commercial strategy by sports administrators to maximize stadium attendance and media exposure.

Tickets for the day cover both fixtures consecutively, ensuring that the women’s game receives direct exposure to the broader rugby league fan base.

Furthermore, both clubs have invested significantly in formalizing their regional development pathways. St Helens have established a clear youth system that incorporates an Under-15s ‘Pathway to Performance’ programme, an Under-19s Academy squad, and local community club takeovers, such as the involvement of the Thatto Heath Crusaders as matchday mascots for this fixture.

The consistency in the Leeds Rhinos selection reflects the growing athletic durability and squad depth generated by these formalized training regimes, allowing elite coaches to maintain stable line-ups across consecutive weeks of high-intensity competition.

Prediction

The selection continuity shown by the Leeds Rhinos, contrasted against St Helens’ flawless domestic record, points toward a highly physical and structurally disciplined encounter that will heavily impact the landscape of the 2026 Women’s Super League table. Because both squads play with a high-tempo, expansive style, the game is expected to be decided in the forward pack battle during the initial 20 minutes, where discipline under fatigue will prove critical.

For the core audience of rugby league supporters, particularly families attending the Father’s Day double-header and travelling Yorkshire fans, this development promises a top-tier tactical showcase.

The outcome of this round-five fixture will likely dictate the psychological momentum and top-two seeding allocations heading into the back half of the regular season. Supporters can expect a game defined by fine margins, where individual milestone pursuits—such as those of Liv Whitehead and Lucy Murray—could provide the exact edge required to alter the scoreboard in a high-pressure environment.