Rob Hawkins scored 72 points on his own as Halifax Panthers dismantled Leeds Rhinos 92-24 to retain the Betfred Wheelchair Challenge Cup at Robin Park Leisure Centre on Saturday 25 July.

Ten tries and 16 goals from Hawkins accounted for the lion's share of a final that was effectively settled by half-time, with Halifax leading 38-12 at the break. Jack Brown added four tries and Finlay O'Neill crossed once for the Panthers, who collected their sixth Wheelchair Challenge Cup title — and their second in succession — in a match featuring 19 tries in total (BBC Sport).

The final, the first piece of silverware on the wheelchair rugby league calendar this season (Rugby Football League), was played at Robin Park Leisure Centre in Wigan (Rugby Football League, 22 July). Leeds, led by Wayne Boyd-Ward and appearing in their first final since 2024 (Rugby Football League), could not match the Panthers' relentless scoring despite a four-try effort from Josh Butler and four goals from Collins.

For wheelchair rugby league, where points tend to flow more freely than in the running game because of the open-court nature of play and the reduced defensive lines, a 92-24 scoreline still stands out. Halifax's dominance was near-total across both halves, turning a commanding 26-point interval lead into a 68-point winning margin.

Halifax's grip on this competition now spans more than a decade. They won the first four editions from 2015 to 2018, and after last year's final victory over London Broncos, they have now lifted the trophy in back-to-back seasons. Leeds, three-time winners themselves, were unable to add a fourth.

The match was covered by the BBC, with programme coverage released on 25 July (BBC Programmes).

What makes this result resonate beyond the scoreline is Hawkins' individual contribution. In a sport where a single player can dominate the scoring chart through a combination of tries and conversions, his 72-point haul is the kind of performance that defines a tournament rather than merely a final. For Leeds, the gap between ambition and reality was laid bare on the court. The Rhinos have now lost in their most recent final appearance, and the Panthers look no closer to loosening their hold on the trophy they have made their own.