Tykes have to hit the ground running in 2026, says Lucock

As uplifting as a victory over Rotherham Titans at Headingley on the Saturday before Christmas was for Leeds Tykes, it was also a message to the players to alter their mindset.

- by Nick Westby

The autumn of 2025 had been tough for a Tykes team that had known nothing but winning in the spring as they coasted to the National Two North title.

But promotion to the third tier and a return to a national schedule was a harsh reality check.

They lost their first five games before slowly getting to grips with the demands of the step up.

The 19-18 win over promotion-chasing Rotherham was their fifth in nine games to close the year.