Warrington Wolves secured their place in the Super League semi‑finals with a convincing 35‑12 win over defending champions Hull KR in the elimination match at the Halliwell Jones Stadium. The victory not only puts the Wolves on a collision course with Leeds Rhinos on September 25, but also marks their first appearance in a semi‑final since the 2024 campaign, after missing the playoffs the previous year. The match began with Warrington taking an early lead. A well‑executed grubber from George Williams was gathered by Joe Burgess, who stumbled slightly, allowing Ben Currie to scoop up the ball and dive over for the opening try.
Ewan Irwin’s conversion gave the home side a 6‑0 advantage, and the packed stadium roared with approval. Discipline quickly became a theme. Early in the first half Irwin slotted a penalty for an off‑side infringement, extending the lead to eight points.
Both teams then saw chances denied when wingers Ashton's and Burgess’s tries were ruled out after they were driven into touch just before grounding the ball. Hull KR fought back before the break. A brilliant move saw Jack Broadbent thread a long pass to Arthur Mourgue, who sprinted 70 metres before off‑loading to Burgess for a spectacular try. Mourgue added the conversion, narrowing the gap to 12‑6 with only minutes left in the half.
However, on the stroke of halftime, Kelepi Tanginoa burst through the defence, finding Ashton, who crossed for his 100th Super League try. Irwin’s conversion struck the post, leaving the Wolves with a slender 12‑6 lead at the interval.
The second half opened dramatically when Peta Hiku was shown a red card for a punch on George Williams. The strike was relatively light, but it was enough to see Hiku dismissed, leaving Warrington with just 12 men for the remainder of the game. The Wolves responded immediately, spreading the ball wide and allowing Ashton to score his second try of the night. Although the decision was reviewed for a potential forward pass, it was upheld, putting Warrington 16‑6 ahead.
Hull KR, now a man down, refused to capitulate. In the 53rd minute a breakaway by Burgess culminated in Dean Hadley diving over from close range. Mourgue’s conversion trimmed the deficit to 16‑12, reigniting tension among the home crowd. Yet the Wolves soon re‑asserted control.
With about fifteen minutes left, James Bentley intercepted a pass and fed Ashton, who sprinted away to complete his hat‑trick, extending the lead to 22‑12. Albert Hopoate then added a dazzling corner dive, and Irwin’s reliable boot pushed the score to 28‑12. Hull KR managed a late consolation drop‑goal from Williams, followed by Toby King’s try in the final minute, but the result was already sealed at 35‑12.
After the final whistle, both sides reflected on the encounter. Hull KR head coach Willie Peters, who has been at the helm since the historic 2025 title‑winning season, expressed pride in his players despite the disciplinary setbacks: "Discipline has cost us a lot this year, and unfortunately it did again tonight, but I can't fault the players. I'm really proud of them. They kept fighting until the end." He also paid tribute to the Wolves, acknowledging their consistency throughout the campaign.
Warrington’s player‑coach Sam Burgess highlighted the team’s composure: "I'm proud of the group. It was a strange game, but we're pleased to come through and get another week together, which is what we came for. In the first half we felt really dominant and were disappointed with the scoreline. We left two or three tries out there and probably a couple more in the second half.
We've just got to understand how important precision is because, over the course of a game, those moments add up. We could have finished the game much earlier." The win sets up a semi‑final clash with Leeds Rhinos on Friday, September 25, at 8 p.m. on Sky Sports, with the victor earning a place in the Grand Final at Old Trafford on October 3.
Meanwhile, Wigan Warriors will host Wakefield Trinity the following day in the other semi‑final. In summary, Warrington’s blend of early aggression, disciplined defending, and the ability to capitalize on the opposition’s errors—particularly the red‑card incident—proved decisive. Their forward momentum, bolstered by Ashton's hat‑trick and Hopoate’s try, ensures they head into the semi‑finals with confidence and momentum, while Hull KR will reflect on missed opportunities and the impact of discipline on their playoff aspirations.