Warrington Wolves secured their place in the Super League semi‑finals with a commanding 35‑12 win over defending champions Hull KR in the elimination match at the Halliwell Jones Stadium. The victory not only guarantees a clash with Leeds Rhinos on September 25 but also marks the Wolves’ first appearance in a semi‑final since the 2024 campaign, after missing the playoffs the previous year.
The result also signals the end of Willie Peters’ tenure as head coach of Hull KR, a tenure highlighted by the historic 2025 season when he guided the club to its inaugural Super League title. The match turned on a dramatic incident early in the second half when Peta Hiku was shown a red card for a punch on Hull KR centre George Williams. The dismissal left the Robins with just twelve men and shifted the momentum decisively in Warrington’s favour. Before the sending‑off, the teams had entered halftime level at 12‑6, a scoreline built on a Ben Currie try converted by Ewan Irwin, a penalty from Irwin, and a Matty Ashton try.
Hull KR had briefly clawed back with a spectacular effort from Joe Burgess, set up by Arthur Mourgue, but the Wolves soon re‑asserted control. Following Hiku’s ejection, Ashton added two more tries to complete a hat‑trick, while Albert Hopoate also crossed the line, extending the lead. Hull KR managed a consolation try from Dean Hadley, but a late drop‑goal from Williams and a final try by Toby King sealed the 35‑12 scoreline.
The Wolves will now travel to Leeds for the semi‑final, kicking off at 8 p.m. on Sky Sports, while Wigan Warriors host Wakefield Trinity the following day in the other semi‑final. The opening stages of the game featured a textbook example of opportunistic rugby. After an early repeat set, Warrington’s Williams produced a clever grubber kick that Burgess gathered but half‑fumbled, allowing Currie to recover the ball and dive over under the posts.
Irwin’s conversion put the home side 6‑0 ahead, sparking cheers from the packed Halliwell Jones crowd. Discipline, however, proved costly for Hull KR; a penalty for off‑side gave Irwin another two points, establishing an eight‑point cushion within the first fifteen minutes.
Both teams came close to scoring additional tries in the first half. Ashton and Burgess each produced dazzling runs into the corners, only to be driven into touch before grounding the ball. With four minutes left before the break, Hull KR mounted a breathtaking counter‑attack: Jack Broadbent’s pass found Mourgue, who sliced through the defense, sprinted roughly 70 metres, and set up Burgess for a length‑of‑the‑field try. Mourgue successfully converted, narrowing the gap to just two points.
The dead‑lock was short‑lived. On the stroke of halftime, Kelepi Tanginoa burst through the line, delivering the ball to Ashton, who sprinted in for his 100th Super League try. Irwin’s conversion struck the post, leaving Warrington ahead 12‑6 at the interval. The second half began with the pivotal moment that would define the contest.
Three minutes after the restart, Hiku’s ill‑timed punch on Williams earned him a straight red card. Though the blow lacked significant force, the referee deemed it sufficient to dismiss the player, reducing Warrington to twelve men.
The Wolves responded immediately, swinging the ball wide to Ashton, who scored his second try of the night. The try was controversially allowed despite questions of a forward pass, pushing the Wolves’ lead to 16‑6 with 35 minutes remaining. Hull KR, now down a player, refused to capitulate. Their perseverance paid off in the 53rd minute when Burgess broke away, only to be tackled short of the line, allowing Dean Hadley to dive over from close range.
Mourgue’s conversion trimmed the deficit to 16‑12, reigniting hopes for a comeback. Tension mounted inside the stadium, but Warrington restored control with a game‑changing interception by James Bentley. Ashton collected the turnover and sprinted away to complete his hat‑trick, a try that swung momentum firmly back to the Wolves. Shortly thereafter, Albert Hopoate dived over in the corner, and Irwin added the conversion, stretching the lead to 22‑12.
Williams added a late drop‑goal for Hull KR, and with a minute left, Toby King crossed for the final try, sealing the 35‑12 victory. The match concluded with a standing ovation for departing Hull KR coach Willie Peters, whose four‑year spell produced a period of unprecedented success for the club. In contrast, Warrington’s captain Sam Burgess celebrated on the field with his family, looking forward to the next challenge.
In post‑match interviews, Peters addressed Sky Sports, acknowledging the discipline issues that plagued his side: "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. Warrington played really well and have been a very good team all year. I wish them all the best, but I'm really, really proud of this group and what they've achieved over the last four years.
We've made a lot of beautiful memories. When you're down to 12 men it makes things difficult, but we still put ourselves in the game. We scored at the other end, went two points ahead and then, against the run of play, they scored. Fatigue always creeps in and it did towards the back end of the game.
Peta has been great for us for three years. What he did was probably the wrong thing, but he's been outstanding for me throughout that time." Warrington head coach Sam Burgess also reflected on the performance: "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 upcoming semi‑final schedule sees Leeds Rhinos host Warrington Wolves on Friday, September 25 at 8 p.m.
on Sky Sports, while Wigan Warriors meet Wakefield Trinity on Saturday, September 26 at 5:30 p.m., also on Sky Sports. The Super League playoffs continue to unfold, culminating in the Grand Final at Old Trafford on October 3.