Warrington continued their impressive run in the Betfred Super League, notching a fifth straight victory by defeating Huddersfield Giants 34‑24 at the Halliwell Jones Stadium. The match began with Huddersfield taking an early advantage when Sam Halsall collected a loose ball and dived over for a try, though George Flanagan missed the subsequent conversion.
Warrington responded swiftly; Danny Walker crossed the line, and Leon Hayes added the extra points, turning the tide and giving the home side the momentum. In the 28th minute, a quick off‑load from James Harrison found James Bentley, who sprinted forward and passed to Sam Powell.
Powell grounded the ball two minutes later, and Hayes again proved reliable with the conversion. By the half‑time whistle, Warrington had built a comfortable 22‑4 lead, thanks in large part to a well‑executed move on the left wing that saw George Williams finish the play.
The second half saw Huddersfield fight back. Halsall, determined to make an impact, scored his second try of the afternoon after catching Adam Clune’s kick and grounding it, with Flanagan finally converting. However, Warrington’s Arron Lindop answered with a try of his own, and Hayes extended the lead further with a penalty kick. Huddersfield continued to press, and Sam Hewitt’s try was successfully converted.
Connor Wrench then added a corner try, narrowing the deficit and injecting fresh hope into the Giants’ supporters. In the closing stages, Warrington sealed the win when Matty Ashton crossed for a try, with Hayes adding the conversion. Huddersfield’s Jacob Gagai managed to cross the line for a fifth try in the dying minutes, but it was too little, too late.
Meanwhile, Leeds 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 relentless attacking flair, with Riley Lumb achieving a hat‑trick of tries and Chris Hankinson contributing two scores of his own, plus four successful conversions. Their early dominance set the tone for a match that would see Leeds’ other try‑scorers—Kallum Watkins, Mikolaj Oledzki, Lachie Miller, Matt Lodge, Ryan Hall, Brodie Croft and Ash Handley—each cross the line, while Jake Connor added another quartet of conversions and Miller chipped in with a single conversion. York’s points came from Sam Wood, Jon Bennison—who also converted two of his own tries—and David Nofoaluma, ensuring the Knights were not completely shut out.
Lumb’s opening try, initially subject to a video‑referee review after he touched down in the corner, was eventually confirmed, and he followed it up with a spectacular second try just five minutes later, showcasing his agility and speed. Leeds surged ahead to a 36‑0 lead by halftime, a lead built on Hankinson’s early try—set up by Lumb—followed three minutes later by Watkins, Oledzki’s close‑range effort, and Miller’s finish after a pinpoint pass from Cameron Smith. After the break, Matt Lodge celebrated his debut try just two minutes in, while York finally got on the board through Wood.
Leeds answered immediately; Hall’s try came next, and Lumb completed his hat‑trick shortly thereafter. The second half continued in the same vein, with Lumb adding a fourth try four minutes after the hour mark, cementing his status as the day’s standout performer. Leeds kept the pressure relentless, and despite York’s late consolation scores from Bennison and Nofoaluma, the margin remained comfortably in Leeds’ favour.
Both matches highlighted the depth of talent across the league and underscored the importance of finishing strongly as the play‑offs approach. Warrington’s ability to recover from early setbacks and maintain composure under pressure bodes well for their upcoming fixtures, while Leeds’ offensive firepower and disciplined defense suggest they will be a formidable opponent in the knockout stages.
Fans can look forward to more high‑octane rugby league action as the season draws to its climax, with the play‑offs promising intense competition among the league’s elite teams.