Warrington Wolves secured a place in the Super League semi‑final by overwhelming Hull KR 35‑12 in the elimination match held at the Halliwell Jones Stadium. The victory not only propels the Wolves into a clash with Leeds Rhinos on September 25, but also marks their first appearance in a semi‑final since the 2024 campaign, after missing the playoffs entirely in 2025. The result also brings an end to Willie Peters' tenure as Hull KR head coach; his four‑year spell included a historic 2025 season in which he delivered the club’s first ever Super League title.
The turning point arrived early in the second half when Peta Hiku was shown a red card for a punch directed at George Williams. The dismissal left Hull KR with only twelve men, and Warrington quickly turned the numerical advantage into points, pulling away decisively.
The first half was a tightly contested affair. Warrington entered the break with a slender 12‑6 lead, thanks to a try from Ben Currie that was successfully converted, a penalty goal from Ewan Irwin, and a score from Matty Ashton. Hull KR responded with a spectacular effort from Joe Burgess, who finished a sweeping move that began with Arthur Mourgue’s incisive pass, narrowing the gap and giving the visitors a glimmer of hope.
After the halftime whistle, the atmosphere at the packed Halliwell Jones Stadium grew electric. Within minutes, Warrington’s momentum surged.
A mis‑handled grubber kick by Burgess was recovered by Currie, who darted under the posts for a try, and Irwin added the conversion, extending the lead to 6‑0 early on. Discipline issues began to haunt the Robins; an off‑side penalty was easily slotted by Irwin, pushing the score to an eight‑point cushion within the first fifteen minutes.
Both sides produced moments of brilliance that fell short of the try line. Ashton and Burgess each saw opportunities in the corners, only to be driven into touch before grounding the ball.
With just four minutes remaining in the half, Hull KR mounted a dazzling counter‑attack. Jack Broadbent fed Arthur Mourgue, who sliced through the defense and sprinted roughly 70 metres before offloading to Burgess, who completed the move with a try. Mourgue added the conversion, trimming the deficit to just two points.
The deadlock was short‑lived. On the stroke of halftime, Kelepi Tanginoa burst through the line and supplied Ashton, who surged forward to claim his 100th Super League try.
Irwin’s conversion struck the upright, leaving the scoreboard at 12‑6 in favor of Warrington at the interval. The second half began dramatically. Three minutes in, a suspected punch from Hiku to Williams resulted in a straight red card. Although the contact appeared light, it was enough to send Hiku to the sin bin and leave Hull KR with a reduced squad for the remainder of the match.
Warrington seized the opportunity immediately, spreading the ball wide to Ashton, who crossed for his second try of the night. The referee ruled the pass forward, but the decision stood, and the Wolves stretched their lead to 16‑6 with 35 minutes remaining.
Hull KR refused to capitulate despite the numerical disadvantage. Their persistence paid off in the 53rd minute when a breakaway by Burgess was finished by Dean Hadley, who powered over from close range. Mourgue’s conversion narrowed the score to 16‑12, reigniting tension inside the stadium.
With the game hanging in the balance, James Bentley produced a game‑changing interception. Ashton pounced on the loose ball, sprinted down the touchline, and secured his hat‑trick, pushing the Wolves ahead to 20‑12. The momentum had shifted decisively. Albert Hopoate then added a brilliant corner dive, touching down to make it 24‑12, while Irwin’s reliable boot extended the margin to 30‑12.
In the final minutes, Williams slotted a late drop goal for Hull KR, and Toby King capped the scoring with a try, bringing the final tally to 35‑12. The match concluded with an emotional tribute to outgoing Hull KR coach Willie Peters, whose four‑year spell saw the club achieve unprecedented success.
In the post‑match interview, Peters praised his players for their resilience, acknowledging that discipline had been a recurring issue but expressing pride in the memories created during his tenure. Warrington’s head coach Sam Burgess reflected on the performance, highlighting the team’s dominance in the first half and the importance of precision in finishing opportunities. He noted that the Wolves could have secured the win even earlier had they capitalised on a few missed chances.
Looking ahead, Warrington will travel to Leeds for the semi‑final on Friday, September 25, with an 8 p.m. kickoff on Sky Sports.
The winner of that encounter will advance to the Grand Final at Old Trafford on October 3. Meanwhile, Wigan Warriors will host Wakefield Trinity on Saturday, September 26, at 5.30 p.m.
on Sky Sports, completing the second semi‑final lineup. The Super League playoffs continue to deliver high‑stakes drama, with each match bringing teams one step closer to the coveted Grand Final. Fans can follow the action live on Sky Sports as the season builds to its climactic conclusion.