Warrington continued their impressive run in the Betfred Super League, notching a fifth straight triumph with a 34‑24 win over the Huddersfield Giants at the Halliwell Jones Stadium. The match opened with Huddersfield taking an early advantage when Sam Halsall gathered a loose ball and dived over the line, although George Flanagan missed the subsequent conversion. Warrington responded swiftly; Danny Walker crossed for a try, and Leon Hayes added the extra points, swinging momentum in the Wire’s favour.
The hosts built on that early pressure. In the 28th minute, James Bentley capitalised on a quick off‑load from James Harrison, sprinting to the try‑line. Just two minutes later Sam Powell followed suit, grounding a well‑worked ball. Hayes was flawless with the kicks, converting both scores and extending Warrington’s lead.
By the half‑time whistle the Wire were comfortably ahead, 22‑4, after a slick finish by George Williams down the left wing that capped a sustained period of dominance. The second half saw Huddersfield fight back.
Halsall, determined to make an impact, collected a high kick from Adam Clune, held it steady, and powered over for his second try of the evening. Flanagan finally found his rhythm and converted, narrowing the deficit. Warrington, however, answered with an Arron Lindop try and a further penalty from Hayes, pushing the margin back to double digits. Huddersfield’s resilience shone through when Sam Hewitt crossed for a try that was duly converted, and later Connor Wrench touched down in the corner, further reducing the gap and injecting fresh belief into the Giants’ supporters.
In the closing stages Warrington sealed the victory. Matty Ashton grounded a decisive try, and Hayes added the conversion, cementing a 34‑24 final score.
Huddersfield refused to surrender quietly; Jacob Gagai crossed for the Giants’ fifth try in the dying minutes, providing a spirited finish despite the loss. Across the country, Leeds reclaimed the top spot in the Super League after delivering a dominant 66‑16 demolition of the York Knights at the LNER Community Stadium. The Rhinos were relentless from the first whistle, with Riley Lumb exploding onto the scene.
Lumb notched a spectacular try in the corner within the opening minutes, which after a brief video‑referee review was upheld. Five minutes later he added a second try, this time leaping acrobatically to evade defenders and touch down. Leeds’ attacking arsenal was on full display.
Chris Hankinson contributed a brace of tries and successfully kicked four conversions, while Kallum Watkins, Mikolaj Oledzki, Lachie Miller, Matt Lodge, Ryan Hall, Brodie Croft and Ash Handley each crossed the line for their own scores. Jake Connor was the chief architect with a quartet of conversions, and Miller added an extra kick, ensuring the scoreboard reflected Leeds’ clinical execution. York, though heavily outmatched, managed to avoid a shut‑out thanks to the efforts of Sam Wood, Jon Bennison – who also converted two of Leeds’ tries – and David Nofoaluma.
Their contributions offered a brief respite for the home crowd. The first half saw Leeds surge to a 36‑0 lead, a lead built on Hankinson’s opening try, set up by Lumb’s earlier effort.
Watkins soon joined the party, followed by a close‑range finish from Oledzki and a brilliant pass from Cameron Smith that saw Miller dive over. The halftime whistle confirmed a comprehensive lead that left York with a mountain to climb.
The second half continued in a similar vein. Lodge celebrated his debut try just two minutes after the restart, while Wood finally got on the scoresheet for York, offering a glimmer of hope. Leeds, however, were relentless; Hall added his own try, and Lumb completed a hat‑trick, further demoralising the visitors.
Four minutes into the second half Lumb struck for a fourth time, showcasing his finishing prowess. York managed two additional scores through Bennison and Nofoaluma, but those points were merely a footnote in a match that underscored Leeds’ attacking depth and defensive solidity. Both fixtures highlighted the intensity and quality that characterize the Super League as the play‑offs loom. Warrington’s ability to weather early setbacks and respond with decisive scoring runs demonstrates why they remain a threat in the postseason.
Leeds, meanwhile, have signalled their intent to contend for the championship with a display of offensive firepower that few teams can match. Fans can look forward to further thrilling encounters as the league edges closer to its climactic knockout stages.