IT’S all eyes on a ‘double treble’ for Halifax Panthers – with only rivals Leeds Rhinos left standing in their way.
Halifax have dominated the wheelchair game over the past two years, claiming all three available trophies – Challenge Cup, League Leaders’ Shield and Super League – last season.
And having retained the first two, Wayne Boardman’s side are back in the Grand Final on Sunday at Manchester’s Belle Vue Leisure Centre, looking to become the first team to claim all the silverware two years running live on Sky Sports (kick-off 5.30pm).
Halifax’s success has been led by England star men Rob Hawkins and Jack Brown, both International Golden Boot winners, but they have quality across the side including Finlay O’Neill, Jordan Holt and Joe Calcott.
O’Neill, a rising star who is hoping to make England’s World Cup squad, says: “It makes the game so easy.
“You want to match them. With how good they are, you’ve got to keep up or you’re going to get left behind.”
Halifax enjoyed an emphatic 92-24 victory against Leeds in July’s Challenge Cup final in Wigan, but O’Neill anticipates a tougher test this time around, adding: “We expect Leeds to throw quite a lot at us.
“The Cup final didn’t quite go their way, so they’ll be wanting to get their own back. We know what Leeds are like in finals – if they turn up they’re very hard to beat.”
James Simpson-Hill’s Rhinos hope that’s the case, having enjoyed a late-season resurgence with six wins on the spin to make the Grand Final.
England’s 2022 World Cup-winning captain Tom Halliwell – back after two years out with a shoulder injury – said of their last meeting: “That was so long ago now.
“In the games since, we’ve had the opportunity to get our strongest team together, so we’re really chomping at the bit to get out there and showcase what we’ve got.
“There’s no pressure on us really – the pressure is all on Halifax. They’ve won the two trophies on offer so far. The pressure’s on them to win the treble.
“We’ve just got to go out there with our underdog mentality and play with no pressure, which is what we do best.”