Leeds Rhinos star Tom Halliwell insists the pressure is all on Halifax Panthers heading into Sunday's Wheelchair Super League Grand Final.

The decider at the National Basketball Performance Centre in Manchester is a repeat of the Challenge Cup final, won emphatically by the Rob Hawkins-inspired Panthers.

Halifax are one win away from back-to-back trebles but Halliwell believes Leeds are capable of spoiling the party.

"They have stars all over the park," said Halliwell.

“In the cup final, they found a way of getting the best out of Rob and exploited that to the best of their ability. But you can’t focus too much on Rob or someone else will get you.

"They are a great side and a great-run club – but the pressure is on them. They have won every trophy and are going for back-to-back trebles.

"We have just got to play our game, do our stuff and play some good rugby. If we do that, I think we can win."

Halliwell missed the entire 2025 season and most of this year with a shoulder injury.

Halifax and Leeds face off for the Wheelchair Super League title this weekend. (Photo: Allan McKenzie/SWpix.com)

placeholder image — Halifax and Leeds face off for the Wheelchair Super League title this weekend. (Photo: Allan McKenzie/SWpix.com)

Now, the England captain is back living the dream.

"When you are a kid, you want to play in Challenge Cup finals and Grand Finals so to have the opportunity to do this so soon after coming back, I'm so grateful," he added.

"As a team, we've gone through a lot of adversity in the last two years. To make it right in a Grand Final would be good. I'll definitely be shedding a tear if we do win."

Leeds got the better of Halifax in the 2024 decider but the Panthers have established themselves as the team to beat in the intervening period.

Tom Halliwell is relishing the chance to topple the Panthers. (Photo: Olly Hassell/SWpix.com)

Finlay O'Neill is relaxed about heading into this weekend's Grand Final with the favourites tag.

"It probably gives us more confidence than anything," said the Halifax youngster.

"A couple of years ago when Leeds beat us in the Grand Final, we had a very inexperienced team but since then we've been to two cup finals and now a second Grand Final.

"We've just built the experience as a team. We've got players still getting better and better and we should hopefully be experienced enough for the occasion not to disturb anything.

"We're one step away from the ultimate goal which is the treble-treble. We set that after the Grand Final last year and have put that pressure on ourselves. We're really going for it."