Leeds Rhinos old boy takes centre stage as city rugby league side bid for Grand Final glory

Forward Josh Jordan-Roberts made two substitute appearances for Rhinos in 2016-17 and later played for Bradford Bulls, York Knights, Hunslet in two spells, Rochdale Hornets and Midlands Hurricanes. He retired from professional rugby league last year because of a persistent knee injury, but linked up with Hunslet ARLFC at the start of this season and also featured for Keighley Cougars over the summer.

He is in the squad for the National League Premier Division title decider at Wakefield Trinity’s DIY Kitchens Stadium, Belle Vue (3pm) and Hunslet ARLFC coach Sam Thorpe explained: “He played for us in the last few games of the season and the play-offs. He has helped us out, bringing his knowledge from the professional game. He’s still a very good professional and a calming influence.”

The south Leeds club were founded three years ago following a merger between the

Hunslet Warriors and Club Parkside outfits. Under various names they were National Conference champions in 2018 and won three successive titles from 2022-24, but slipped down the table last year when West Hull succeeded them as Grand Final victors.

The first National League Premier Division season ended with Wests topping the table by six points from Hunslet and they dropped only three points during their 22-game campaign, one of those to their Grand Final rivals. “It should be a very good game,” Thorpe predicted.

“They’ve had a very good season, without a shadow of a doubt. We drew at their place and they got beaten the week after in the last game of the season against Wath Brow, but they had the season wrapped up and it’s hard to get motivated.

“But we can take a lot [out of the draw]. We had moments against them at our place, but we weren’t on it and that’s something you can’t do against West Hull. But we know what we are capable of.”

Though the league leaders will be favourites, Hunslet have a formidable reputation in crucial matches. Thorpe recalled: “In the previous finals we’ve played against them, they’ve never beaten us.

“We’ve never lost a Grand Final so when it comes to the big occasion we’ve got the upper hand on them, but if we are classed as underdogs I am sure our lads will take that, because it takes a bit of pressure off.”

Having finished a lowly seventh in 2025, Hunslet have already exceeded expectations. “Last year we started off really poorly and just missed out on a play-off spot at the back end of the year,” Thorpe added. “We’ve rebuilt this year, recruited a few players and we got the McShane brothers [Craig and Jack] back from Dewsbury Rams.

“They’ve come back due to work commitments and both of them having little boys half way through the season. It was a lot for them training three or four times a week and playing on a Sunday.

“They probably lost their enjoyment of it and they just wanted to be around their mates. They both decided to leave Dewsbury and come back and they were probably two of the best players in the Conference Premier. They have been a massive boost for us, they boost everybody around them.

“It is a pretty new team and we are trying to build something that’ll last in the future. On paper we have got a strong team, but it’s all about getting them to play together. Over the last six-eight weeks everybody has bought into it and we’ve looked like a real team.”

The Premier Grand Final will be played after the National League Division One promotion decider between East Leeds and Oulton Raiders (noon).