Warrington continued their impressive run in the Betfred Super League by registering a fifth straight victory, edging out Huddersfield Giants 34‑24 at the Halliwell Jones Stadium. The match began with Huddersfield taking an early lead when Sam Halsall collected a loose ball and dived over the try‑line, although George Flanagan missed the subsequent conversion.
Warrington responded swiftly; Danny Walker crossed for the first try of the home side, and Leon Hayes added the conversion. Hayes then added a second try, pushing the Wire into the lead.
In the 28th minute, James Bentley capitalised on a quick off‑load from James Harrison, diving over to extend Warrington’s advantage. Just two minutes later, Sam Powell finished a sweeping move, with Hayes again successful with the kick. By the half‑time whistle, the home side had built a comfortable 22‑4 lead, the scoreline reflecting a series of well‑executed phases down the left flank that saw George Williams complete a try after a slick passing sequence.
The second half opened with Huddersfield showing resilience. Halsall, who had already crossed once, scored his second try after collecting a well‑timed kick from Adam Clune, and this time Flanagan managed to convert, narrowing the deficit.
Warrington answered with a try from Arron Lindop, and Hayes added a penalty goal to stretch the margin further. Huddersfield fought back, however, as Sam Hewitt crossed for a try that was successfully converted, and Connor Wrench added a corner‑grounded effort, bringing the Giants back within striking distance. In the closing stages, Warrington sealed the win. Matty Ashton grounded a try in the final ten minutes, with Hayes converting once more.
Huddersfield refused to surrender, and Jacob Gagai managed to cross for the Giants’ fifth try of the afternoon, but the result was already decided. The victory kept Warrington firmly in the mix as the play‑offs loom, showcasing their depth, attacking flair, and defensive solidity. Meanwhile, Leeds Rhinos reclaimed the top spot in the Super League with a commanding 66‑16 triumph over York Knights at the LNER Community Stadium.
The Rhinos displayed an all‑round performance, scoring ten tries and converting a host of them. Riley Lumb was the standout, crossing the line three times, while Chris Hankinson contributed two tries and slotted four conversions.
The scoring barrage continued as Kallum Watkins, Mikolaj Oledzki, Lachie Miller, Matt Lodge, Ryan Hall, Brodie Croft and Ash Handley each added a try for Leeds. Jake Connor and Miller each added four successful conversions, bolstering the total.
York Knights managed to avoid a shut‑out thanks to the efforts of Sam Wood, Jon Bennison—who also kicked two conversions—and David Nofoaluma, each of whom crossed for a try. Lumb’s opening try came in the seventh minute after a brief review confirmed his grounding in the corner; he then added a second try just five minutes later, demonstrating his aerial prowess and finishing ability. Leeds surged ahead to a 36‑0 lead by half‑time, a lead built on a combination of powerful forward drives and swift backline movements.
Hankinson’s first try, set up by Lumb’s incisive run, was followed three minutes later by a second try from the same duo. Watkins added his own try shortly after, Oledzki powered over from close range, and Miller completed a slick passing move from Cameron Smith to finish the first‑half on a high note. The second half saw Matt Lodge score his debut try for Leeds just two minutes after the restart, further extending the lead.
York finally got on the board when Wood crossed, but Leeds quickly responded with a try from Hall, followed by Lumb completing his hat‑trick. Lumb’s fourth try arrived four minutes after the hour mark, cementing his status as the day’s top scorer. York managed two consolation tries through Bennison and Nofoaluma, but they were little more than footnotes in a match dominated by Leeds. Both fixtures highlighted the contrasting fortunes of the two clubs as the season draws to a close.
Warrington’s ability to withstand a comeback attempt from Huddersfield and finish strongly underlines their resilience, while Leeds’ offensive fireworks and depth across the backline demonstrate why they sit atop the table. Fans of both sides will be eager to see how these performances translate into the upcoming play‑off battles, where consistency, composure under pressure, and the capacity to finish chances will be decisive.
The Super League’s final weeks promise further excitement as teams jockey for position and aim to secure their places in the decisive knockout stages.