Hunslet are looking for a step change in 2026

After a tricky 2025 in the Rugby League Championship Hunslet RLFC are looking to establish themselves as the RFL merge the Championship and League 1 together for 2026.

Promotion in 2024 through the back door of the play-off’s meant it was always going to be tricky for Hunslet to bring together a team with enough quality to challenge in the Championship. Starting late and not having the funds of bigger rivals was always going to be a problem bridging the gap between competitions.

Although Hunslet had only 2 wins all year there were some highlights especially on the road. Wins at Batley and Sheffield for the first time in over 10 years, and pushing Featherstone and Widnes close were highlights. Whilst good periods against Bradford and Halifax were good learning for some of the younger squad members.

Unfortunately poor home form cost Head Coach Dean Muir his job, the role quickly filled by assistant Coach Kyle Trout. Muir was unlucky with loan players and players wanting away, but back to back heavy defeats cost him dearly.

To some extent the Board at Hunslet knew of the RFL’s plan to merge the Championship and League 1 and so kept ‘their powder dry’ as it were, ready for a re-assessment in 2026.

And so the task falls to Kyle Trout and Assistant Coach Michael Knowles to get the Parksiders ready for 2026.
A massive appointment as Director of Rugby was filled by ex-Great Britain international Keith Senior (coming in for the departing Darren Higgins), which should help attract budding talent to South Leeds.

Some core players were retained. Club legend Jimmy Watson again signed for his 13th season at the club, and popular forward Harvey Hallas for his 7th.

Ethan O’Hanlon and Harrison Gilmore will bring youthful go-forward again in the pack, whilst pace on the flanks is retained in the forms of Mackenzie Turner and Coby Nichol.

Experience on the wing is boosted by the addition of Mo Agoro returning for his second spell at the club. At only 32 years old Mo has had experience in recent years at Keighley and Oldham and is a Jamaican International. With 214 career tries this local lad will be a big part of the 2026 Parksiders.

Last year’s Player of the Season awards was a clean sweep for Billy Jowitt, who celebrated by committing himself to Hunslet again, with a full season under his belt Jowitt really is one to watch this season possibly from the full-back berth.

Half back was a problem for Hunslet last season, with the very talented and experienced Lee Gaskell having to create without a regular partner. Retaining Gaskell for 2026 will make Hunslet fans smile, but the addition of Dan Abram at his side should make them overjoyed. Abram, a Cumbrian with experience at Swinton and Oldham has 24 tries and 81 appearances and also kicks goals.

The Centre position is likely to be filled by Myles Harrop (signed from Rochdale) who comes with a try every 2 game ratio, and Matty Dawson-Jones from Sheffield who earlier in his career made 75 appearances in Super League including 6 Tries in 19 Appearances during St Helens 2014 Super League winning season, who should bring valuable experience.

2024 Coaches player of the Season Cam Berry re-signs after a frustrating injury filled 2025, whilst Mason Corbett hopes to show what he can do after impressing last time out.

Eddie Battye comes in as a big signing in the pack. A former Super League player with experience at Wakefield, London and Sheffield chalking up over 300 career appearances, Battye could be one of the most astute signings of the Season.

Emmerson Whittel and Bailey Aldridge (from Rochdale and Oldham respectively) come in to shore up the midfield, both players come with good reputations and should seal up Hunslet’s leaky defence. Whittel has over 100 career appearances, whilst Aldridge (a former Rhinos youth player) received Oldham’s Fans Player of the Season in 2024.

The overseas quota is filled again this year with the addition of Australians Darcy and Elijah Simpson. The brothers who are from Cairns, Queensland played at Rochdale last year and are fast running back rowers.

Liam Carr is back for another season after working his way back into the team after an early season injury set him back, and Zach McSwiney has committed after impressing late in the season, scoring a try at Widnes.

Young half-back Jack Ward comes on board as does Lewis Hagan the former Oulton Raiders man and great nephew of Hunslet legend Alan Preece. Hagan was voted Bradford Bulls reserve player of the year for 2025 and is touted as one of the ‘players to watch’ for 2026.

Whilst training started in the cold depths of a November, things look sunny for The Parksiders as Trout and his team have put together a mixture of experience and youthful talent, with hopefully a mobile but defensive minded pack and flying try scoring backs.

There may be more signings to come, but for now this squad needs to develop as the task of competing in a tough Championship looms on the horizon.

Off the field Hunslet look to find more sponsorship, and sell their vision to the fans. An established Hunslet in the Championship should attract fans back to the South Leeds Stadium as other distractions have lured them away.

With big fixtures coming, hopefully the hospitality and bar areas will be filled and some vibrancy and a bit of hostility in the stands may make the South Leeds Stadium a tough place for visiting teams to endure and pleasant for the home fans as the cry of ‘So we shall again’ rings out.

Early bird season tickets are now on sale at £180, £120 concessions and with a new 16-21 ticket at just £100; and the 2026 replica shirts are available to order at hunsletrlfc.com.

Photo: Matty Dawson-Jones in action for Sheffield Eagles. Credit: Allan McKenzie/SWpix.com