Warrington continued their impressive run in the Betfred Super League by notching a fifth straight win, edging out Huddersfield Giants 34‑24 at the Halliwell Jones Stadium. The match opened with Huddersfield taking an early lead when Sam Halsall collected a loose ball and sprinted over the try‑line, though George Flanagan missed the subsequent conversion.
Warrington responded swiftly; Danny Walker crossed for a try, and Leon Hayes added the conversion, pushing the home side into the lead. The momentum soon swung firmly in Warrington’s favour. In the 28th minute, James Bentley capitalised on a quick off‑load from James Harrison, diving over to score. Just two minutes later Sam Powell joined the tally, both tries being successfully converted by Hayes.
By the half‑time whistle, the hosts had built a comfortable 22‑4 advantage, with George Williams capping a fluid move down the left wing to further extend the lead. The second half saw Huddersfield fight back. Halsall, determined to make an impact, claimed his second try of the afternoon by gathering Adam Clune’s kick and grounding it in the corner, with Flanagan finally finding the posts. Warrington, however, answered back through Arron Lindop, and Hayes added a penalty goal to stretch the margin.
Huddersfield kept pressing, and Sam Hewitt’s try was converted, while Connor Wrench added a corner try that narrowed the deficit. In the closing stages, Warrington sealed the win. Matty Ashton grounded a late try, and Hayes converted once more, solidifying the 34‑24 scoreline.
Huddersfield refused to give up, and Jacob Gagai crossed for the Giants’ fifth try in the final minutes, but it was too little, too late. Across the country, Leeds reclaimed the top spot in the Super League after a dominant 66‑16 demolition of York Knights at the LNER Community Stadium.
The Rhinos were relentless, with Riley Lumb crossing the line three times and Chris Hankinson contributing two tries and four conversions. Leeds’ supporting cast also shone: Kallum Watkins, Mikolaj Oledzki, Lachie Miller, Matt Lodge, Ryan Hall, Brodie Croft and Ash Handley each added a try, while Jake Connor notched four successful conversions and Miller added another. York managed to avoid a shut‑out thanks to the efforts of Sam Wood, Jon Bennison—who also converted two of his own tries—and David Nofoaluma. Lumb’s opening try, initially subject to a video review, was eventually confirmed, and he demonstrated his athleticism by scoring a second try just five minutes later.
By halftime, Leeds had surged ahead 36‑0, thanks to an early Hankinson try set up by Lumb, followed shortly by a Watkins effort, an Oledzki close‑range score, and a Miller try that capped a brilliant pass from Cameron Smith. The second half continued Leeds’ onslaught. Matt Lodge celebrated his debut try two minutes after the restart, while York finally got on the board through Wood.
Leeds responded instantly, with Hall scoring before Lumb completed his hat‑trick. Lumb added a fourth try just four minutes into the second half, and Leeds kept the pressure on, ensuring that York’s subsequent scores from Bennison and Nofoaluma had little impact on the final outcome.
Both matches highlighted the attacking flair and defensive resilience of the winning sides. Warrington’s ability to absorb early pressure, regain composure, and finish strongly underlines why they remain a formidable contender as the play‑offs loom. Leeds, meanwhile, displayed a depth of talent across the backline and forwards, turning opportunities into points with clinical efficiency. Their comprehensive victory not only restores them to the summit of the table but also sends a clear message to rivals about the level of performance required to challenge for the championship.
As the Super League season progresses toward its climax, fans can look forward to more high‑octane encounters, with teams like Warrington and Leeds setting the benchmark for consistency and attacking prowess. The upcoming play‑offs promise to showcase the very best of rugby league, and the performances witnessed this weekend suggest that the competition will be as intense and unpredictable as ever.