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.

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.

Leeds Tykes head coach Pete Lucock wants his team to alter their mindset (Picture: Tony Johnson)

placeholder image — Leeds Tykes head coach Pete Lucock wants his team to alter their mindset (Picture: Tony Johnson)

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

As they begin 2026 under the lights at the Sycamores tonight with the visit of fourth-placed Sale FC, head coach Pete Lucock and the staff have been imploring their players to now believe that they belong at this level.

“The first half of the year was a big learning curve but that’s not an excuse any more,” he said.

“We’ve shown what we can do, in particular against Rotherham which was a memorable day at Headingley, and they’re the standards we’ve got to keep to.

“That’s got to be the focus going forward, we can’t afford to drop any more of these loose points or afford to not turn up one week.

“We’ve got confidence, we know exactly what to do.

“Sale is another big scalp that we’re looking to take.

“We’re no longer that newly promoted team that’s finding its feet, I think we’re playing some of the best rugby in the league.

“We’ve got to hit the ground running. We’ve had some good conversations about last year being last year, we’ve got to put our best foot forward and that’s got to be from Friday.

"There’s no more dipping our toe in.”

A glance at the league table only heightens the urgency. Despite some impressive wins from late October onwards, Leeds still sit second-bottom in a division in which even bottom club Leicester Lions have won twice.

The pace to climb away from danger is relentless.

And Lucock is hoping a change of game day, the chance to get a jump on their rivals on the first weekend of action, can inspire the Tykes to build on the win over Rotherham.

“The boys like a Friday night under the lights, it’s a different kind of atmosphere, a different kind of feeling,” he said.

“I’ve always preferred Friday nights. Under the lights brings out the best in people.”