Leeds Rhinos Name Young Squad for Castleford Tigers Testimonial Clash

Key Points

• Leeds Rhinos have confirmed a youthful squad to face Castleford Tigers in Brad Singleton’s testimonial at the OneBore Stadium this Sunday, with kick-off at 3:00 pm.​
• Transition coach Chev Walker, who oversees the academy and reserves and works within head coach Brad Arthur’s senior staff, will take charge of the Rhinos team for the fixture.
• The starting backline is drawn heavily from Leeds’ 2025 Academy and Reserve Grand Final squads, featuring Harley Thomas at full-back and a young outside-back group of Tom Richardson, Jacob Hardy, Oscar Brown and Marcus Qareqare.​
• Young halves pairing Harry Smith and Dylan Hutchinson have been selected to start in the pivotal playmaking roles.​
• There is greater experience in the pack, with Super League-tested forwards Ben Littlewood and Tom Nicholson-Watton joined by new recruit Jeremiah Mata’utia, who starts at prop alongside Jacob Stead.​
• Hooker duties will be handled by Joe Diskin, with Oliver Smart named in the back-row as part of a forward unit that has trained with the first team during pre-season.​
• The bench includes first-year academy prospects Robin Smith, Jacob To’oala and Sonny Hetherington, alongside Elliot Fox, Joe Butterfield, Hughie Tinkler, Dacx Jones-Buchanan, Harvey Butterworth and Wade White.​
• Castleford Tigers, coached by Ryan Carr, have also named a predominantly youthful squad for Singleton’s testimonial, with new signing Jimmy Beckett starting at prop alongside Singleton in a side described as packed with academy talent.​
• At the time of the original squad announcement by Love Rugby League, Castleford were yet to confirm their line-up, but subsequent confirmation showed a young Tigers squad featuring full-back Fletcher Rooney and centre Louis Senior among the notable names.
• The game forms part of Leeds’ pre-season schedule, following a Boxing Day win over Wakefield Trinity and preceding a home testimonial clash for captain Cameron Smith against Bradford Bulls at AMT Headingley.
• Leeds head coach Brad Arthur has indicated that the Castleford testimonial will feature mainly youth and reserve players, with senior internationals to return for the Bradford Bulls friendly ahead of the Challenge Cup third round.​
• The Rhinos aim to maintain a 100% pre-season record and build momentum before a Challenge Cup tie against either Thatto Heath Crusaders or Widnes Vikings.
• Leeds legend Ryan Hall has publicly backed Brad Singleton’s testimonial, stressing the importance of testimonial games in rugby league and praising Singleton’s resilience after difficult spells with Toronto and Salford.​
• Both clubs are using the fixture to showcase rising stars while paying tribute to former Rhinos forward Singleton in front of supporters at Castleford.

Leeds (Leeds Rhinos) January 17, 2026 – Leeds Rhinos have named a fresh-faced, youthful squad to face Castleford Tigers in Brad Singleton’s testimonial this Sunday, with transition coach Chev Walker set to lead a side dominated by academy and reserve talent as the club looks to extend its perfect pre-season record.

How are Leeds Rhinos approaching Brad Singleton’s testimonial against Castleford Tigers?

Leeds Rhinos have confirmed that Sunday’s testimonial for former Rhinos forward Brad Singleton will see a predominantly young squad travel to face Castleford Tigers at the OneBore Stadium, with kick-off scheduled for 3:00 pm. As reported by the club’s official website in the article “Rising stars get chance to shine at Castleford”, transition coach Chev Walker has selected a line-up that he describes as an “exciting looking” group of emerging players, reflecting the club’s focus on development during pre-season.​

According to Love Rugby League, which highlighted that the Rhinos will look to preserve their 100% pre-season record after their Boxing Day win over Wakefield Trinity, Walker will take the reins this weekend while continuing his dual role overseeing academy and reserve squads and assisting head coach Brad Arthur with the senior group. This match forms a key part of Leeds’ build-up, sitting between the Wakefield fixture and the upcoming Cameron Smith testimonial against Bradford Bulls.tickets.

Which young players have been selected in Leeds Rhinos’ starting backline and halves?

Leeds have leaned heavily on their Academy and Reserve Grand Final contingents to fill the starting backline. The club’s official squad release notes that Harley Thomas will start at full-back, providing the last line of defence and joining the attack from deep. In the three-quarter line, Tom Richardson and Marcus Qareqare are named on the wings, with Jacob Hardy and Oscar Brown set to start in the centres after impressing in age-grade competitions last year.​

In the halves, Leeds have opted for youth with Harry Smith and Dylan Hutchinson forming the key creative partnership. As detailed by the Rhinos’ own preview, this pairing has been rewarded for strong performances in the academy and reserves, with the game seen as a chance to test their game management in a senior environment while working under Walker’s guidance.​

How much experience is in the Leeds Rhinos forward pack and who is the new recruit?

While the backline is largely youthful, there is a stronger core of experience in the pack. The club has confirmed that Ben Littlewood and Tom Nicholson-Watton, both with Super League exposure, will add valuable know-how to the forward unit. New overseas recruit Jeremiah Mata’utia, described by Love Rugby League as a standout name in the youthful group, is named to start at prop alongside Jacob Stead, signalling the club’s intent to integrate him early into match situations.

At hooker, Joe Diskin will direct play out of dummy-half, while Oliver Smart features in the back-row after training through pre-season with the first-team squad. As reported by the Rhinos, several forwards in the starting 13 – including Thomas, Brown, Hardy, Qareqare, Stead, Diskin and Smart – have all trained alongside senior players in recent weeks, underlining the pathway from youth into Brad Arthur’s top squad.

Who features on the Leeds Rhinos bench and what does it say about their development strategy?

The bench reflects Leeds’ emphasis on giving opportunities to their newest prospects. The Rhinos have confirmed that first-year academy players Robin Smith, Jacob To’oala and Sonny Hetherington are included among the interchange options, representing a significant step up as they move from junior rugby into semi-senior opposition. They are joined by Elliot Fox, Joe Butterfield, Hughie Tinkler, Dacx Jones-Buchanan, Harvey Butterworth and Wade White, providing depth across the forwards and backs.​

This selection aligns with head coach Brad Arthur’s broader pre-season plan outlined in an interview with Serious About Rugby League, where he explained that Leeds would send a squad “full of reserve and youth players” to Castleford, before switching to a much stronger, senior-heavy team for the subsequent Bradford Bulls friendly. Arthur stressed that giving youth meaningful minutes in the testimonial would be balanced by a more experienced lineup in the following game to ensure the senior group gets sufficient preparation before the Challenge Cup.​

What is the full Leeds Rhinos squad named for the Castleford Tigers friendly?

The Rhinos have published the complete 22-man squad for the testimonial contest. The starting 13, as listed by the club, is:

• 1. Harley Thomas, 2. Tom Richardson, 3. Jacob Hardy, 4. Oscar Brown, 5. Marcus Qareqare
  6. Dylan Hutchinson, 7. Harry Smith
  8. Jacob Stead, 9. Joe Diskin, 10. Jeremiah Mata’utia
  11. Ben Littlewood, 12. Oliver Smart, 13. Tom Nicholson-Watton​

On the bench, Leeds have named:

As emphasised in both the club’s announcement and coverage by Serious About Rugby League, this group mirrors the club’s academy and reserve successes in 2025, offering a platform for rising stars to showcase their abilities on a testimonial stage.​

How are Castleford Tigers lining up and what has changed since the initial Leeds announcement?

At the time of the early Love Rugby League coverage, Castleford Tigers had not yet confirmed their squad for Singleton’s testimonial, meaning the focus of that initial report was on Leeds’ selection. Subsequently, as reported by Serious About Rugby League’s unnamed correspondent in the piece “Castleford Tigers confirm squad for forward’s testimonial as surprise player named in starting XIII”, the Tigers have now announced a youthful side of their own, offering a fuller picture of the contest.

In that report, it is stated that Ryan Carr’s first Castleford squad includes Brad Singleton starting at prop and new signing Jimmy Beckett lining up alongside him in the front row. The article notes that this is a “very youthful squad that’s packed full of academy talent”, mirroring Leeds’ approach, with only a handful of more established names. Castleford’s club communications, amplified via social media and highlighted by Love Rugby League, have framed the fixture as the first chance for fans to see a new-look Tigers side after Carr’s appointment as head coach.

Who are the notable Castleford Tigers players selected and why is there a ‘surprise’ inclusion?

Serious About Rugby League reports that full-back Fletcher Rooney is among the standout selections in Castleford’s starting line-up, anchoring a backline that also includes Louis Senior in the centres and promising half Jenson Windley partnering Corey Sharpe, whose brother Tylor plays on the wing. This configuration underlines the Tigers’ intention to give meaningful responsibility to players tipped as stars of the future.​

The same report identifies a surprise in the naming of Aidan Doolan at hooker. As explained by the journalist, Castleford had only recently announced Doolan’s season-long loan move to Barrow Raiders, making his inclusion at nine unexpected given Barrow’s Championship campaign begins on the same Sunday. Alongside Doolan, the pack features Singleton and Beckett at prop and a back-row that includes youngsters such as Grice, Salmon and Hill, further emphasising the developmental nature of the squad.​

What is the full Castleford Tigers squad named to face Leeds Rhinos?

The full Castleford squad for the testimonial has been published by Serious About Rugby League and relayed via the club’s official channels. The 20-man group is listed as:

• 1. Fletcher Rooney, 2. Sarbah, 3. Louis Senior, 4. Lindsay, 5. Tylor Sharpe
  6. Corey Sharpe, 7. Jenson Windley
  8. Brad Singleton, 9. Aidan Doolan, 10. Jimmy Beckett
  11. Grice, 12. Salmon, 13. Hill​

On the bench or extended list, Castleford have named:

Why is Brad Singleton’s testimonial significant for both clubs and what has been said about it?

Brad Singleton’s testimonial carries emotional and symbolic weight for both Leeds and Castleford. Singleton, a former Rhinos forward now with the Tigers, is being honoured for his long service to the sport and his contributions across several clubs. Castleford’s official ticket information describes the fixture as the club’s first pre-season game and the first opportunity for supporters to see Ryan Carr’s new-look side at the OneBore Stadium.​

From the Leeds side, club legend Ryan Hall has publicly underlined the importance of the occasion. In an interview published on the Leeds Rhinos YouTube channel, Hall said he was happy to pay for his own ticket to support Singleton and stressed that testimonials remain an important part of rugby league, particularly for players like Singleton who, in Hall’s words, have had “tough luck” with spells at Toronto and Salford. Hall’s comments reflect a wider sentiment within the sport that testimonial games recognise loyalty and resilience, and give fans a chance to show appreciation.

How does this fixture fit into Leeds Rhinos’ wider pre-season and Challenge Cup plans?

The testimonial at Castleford is one of three key fixtures shaping Leeds’ build-up to the competitive season. Serious About Rugby League notes that Leeds began with a Boxing Day warm-up against Wakefield Trinity before lining up two further friendlies: the Singleton testimonial away to Castleford, and a home match at AMT Headingley against Bradford Bulls for Cameron Smith’s testimonial. Ticket information published by Leeds confirms that Cameron Smith’s testimonial against Bradford Bulls will take place on Saturday 24 January at 1:00 pm.tickets.

In his interview with Serious About Rugby League, head coach Brad Arthur outlined his selection strategy across these games and the early Challenge Cup rounds. He explained that Leeds would send a youth- and reserve-heavy squad to Castleford under Chev Walker, then field a much stronger side in the Bradford fixture where “the majority of their senior and international players” will feature for significant minutes. Arthur added that, regardless of whether Leeds face Thatto Heath Crusaders or Widnes Vikings in the Challenge Cup, he intends to select the “best side available”, insisting that the club must “treat the competition with the respect it deserves” and aim to “win everything”.

What are the wider implications and expectations for both sides in this testimonial?

For Leeds, the match represents a dual opportunity: to pay tribute to Singleton and to give meaningful game time to a cohort of players who have already tasted success at academy and reserve level. The youthful squad, anchored by Mata’utia, Littlewood and Nicholson-Watton in the pack, is expected to be tested physically by an equally hungry Tigers side, offering Walker and Arthur valuable insights into which young players may push for senior contention later in the year.

For Castleford, Ryan Carr’s first outing in charge, even in a testimonial context, offers a platform to embed his systems and assess emerging talent under match pressure. With key prospects like Rooney, Windley and the Sharpe brothers involved, and a surprise inclusion in Doolan, the Tigers are using the occasion not only to honour Singleton but also to signal the beginning of a new era under Carr’s leadership.