Leeds Rhinos are preparing their first final since 2024 when they face off against Halifax Panthers in the Betfred Wheelchair Challenge Cup Final on Saturday (25 July).
Hoping to guide her team to glory is Captain Jodie Boyd-Ward, who believes the Rhinos have learned valuable lessons from their two meetings with the Panthers this season.
“We've obviously played Halifax twice now, one game was a lot closer than the other,” said Boyd-Ward.
“We've had time to reflect on both games and we've looked into how we can perform as Leeds because at our last meeting we weren't performing as we normally do.
“Going into it, Halifax are last year's treble holders and they've had an unbeaten run so far this season.
“But that doesn't change an outcome of a game and we're very aware of that. Just because somebody has those titles, it doesn't reflect what may happen in the game.
“We're not overthinking things and we are just going in playing how we play as Leeds.”
In their previous two battles this season in the Betfred Wheelchair Super League, the Rhinos have fallen short of the Panthers on both occasions by narrow margins.
Having worked hard to address those shortcomings, Boyd-Ward feels her side has the right mindset ahead of Saturday’s final:
“We probably gave a bit too much respect to certain players in last week's game whereas in the previous meeting, we weren't doing that and we shut down certain players.
“We all know the players, we've played with them, against them and we need to treat them like anybody else and go out and stick to our game plan and not let other things influence the way we're playing.”
For Boyd-Ward, the Challenge Cup Final is about more than silverware. After falling short last season, lifting the trophy would represent the fulfilment of a personal ambition as well as a worthy reminder of the team’s hard work:
“Personally, it means a lot to me because I have yet to get to that stage of being able to lift the Challenge Cup trophy as captain.
“Although last year is water under the bridge, I wanted us to get those trophies. This year it's not even a want, it’s a need. I need to lift it.
“For me, I have degenerative conditions. I want to be able to have that impact with the team and for us to lift the trophy because as years go on, my conditions become more debilitating.”
Another important part of playing the sport for Boyd-Ward is inspiring the next generation, in particular her nieces and nephews who are in awe of the career she has forged:
“It's also just little things. I have a lot of nieces and nephews and my nieces in particular watch everything I do and it pushes them.
“Even my youngest niece, she's a baby at this point, but the moment she sees me on TV, she goes absolutely mental.
“And it's influencing not just the next generation in the wheelchair sport, but potentially the next generation in running game.
“My nieces that live in an area where Rugby League's not really a massive thing, they want to play rugby now and unfortunately, they've got my attitude to go with it so they take no prisoners!
“For me, lifting that trophy is just another step in inspiring those nieces and nephews to take the paths that they want to take and chase something that they want to go for.”
