Super League: In-form Leigh close in on top four with victory against Warrington as Huddersfield end 12-game wait for win | Rugby League News


In-form Leigh saw off Warrington 28-12 to close in on the top four in the Betfred Super League.

The Leopards, chasing a fifth straight win, made a fast start at Leigh Sports Village as David Armstrong stretched over in the corner and Lachlan Lam then finished off a sweeping counter-attack to touch down under the posts and give the home side a 10-0 lead after 15 minutes.

Adam Cook slotted over a 27th-minute penalty following an obstruction before the Wolves responded when Toafofoa Sipley powered through to reduce the deficit just after the half-hour.

Cook pulled another penalty attempt wide from the right, but Leigh then added a third try when Innes Senior was sent over in the corner down the left to take a 16-6 lead into the break.

Leigh saw Josh Charnley sent to the sin bin early in the second half following a high tackle on Toby King. Warrington then had Leon Hayes shown a yellow card in the 51st minute for a dangerous challenge on Owen Trout.

Joe Ofahengaue barged through to give Leigh a fourth try in the 53rd minute, with Cook kicking the extras and then landing another penalty to make it 24-6.

Umyla Hanley cut through the visiting defence to further extend the lead on the hour before winger Albert Hopoate got in down the right corner for Warrington’s second try with 10 minutes left.

Leigh, though, saw out the closing stages, with Senior’s late score in the corner chalked off for a forward pass, to continue their push towards the top four. They are now level on 26 points with Warrington, who have played a match less.

Leopards head coach Adrian Lam praised the way his side came through, despite having to make changes during the match because of injuries.

“I thought we were resilient today and hung in there and played really well,” said Lam, who confirmed Frankie Halton suffered a suspected torn pectoral muscle which could rule him out for the rest of the season.

“The first half was awesome and we left some tries out there as well, but I though we were physical and we were up for it.”

Warrington boss Sam Burgess felt his team deserved more.

“It is one of those games. I thought the scoreline probably didn’t reflect the game or how tight the game was,” Burgess said on Sky Sports.

“In that second half I thought we started with great spirit. We just couldn’t get any points.”

Lolohea inspires Giants to rare victory

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Highlights of Huddersfield Giants’ 24-22 victory over York Knights as they survived a dramatic late fightback to end a 12-match losing run

Tuimoala Lolohea starred as bottom-of-the-table Huddersfield ended their 12-game wait for a Super League victory with a nervy 24-22 win at York.

The sides cancelled each other out in a tight opening at a blustery LNER Community Stadium, although Tom Inman thought he had given the Knights an eighth-minute lead after Cody Hunter’s show and go and delayed pass, but a review showed he had grounded the ball short under pressure from George Flanagan.

However, they did go ahead within two minutes when Paul McShane’s speculative kick was allowed to bounce in goal and David Nofoaluma pounced to touch down, Jon Bennison adding the conversion.

Mathieu Cozza passed up an opportunity to drag the Giants back into it with 20 minutes gone when he spilled the ball over the line, but winger Lewis Jagger’s neat footwork and strength took him over within six minutes to reduce a deficit which Flanagan eradicated with the conversion.

Flanagan saw a 34th-minute try chalked off for obstruction by Connor Wrench on Nikau Williams during the build-up and the half finished all square at 6-6.

The visitors went in front seven minutes into the second half when Lolohea chased down his own kick ahead and got the touch as he and defender Toa Mata’afa dived in, Flanagan’s kick making it 12-6.

York were back in it again when Scott Galeano forced his way over in the corner for an unconverted try, but Lolohea put Wrench in and Flanagan added the two points to give Huddersfield breathing space.

They increased their lead to 24-10 when Flanagan converted a sniping Zac Woolford score, but Jordan Thompson and Inman both crossed in quick succession, with Bennison taking the home side to within two points as a dramatic fightback came up just short.

Catalans hold on for derby win away to Toulouse

Tommy Makinson scored two tries as Catalans Dragons ended a four-match losing run with a scrappy 18-16 win away to Toulouse.

On a rain-soaked evening at Stade Ernest-Wallon, John Cartwright’s side turned the tables on their French rivals following a 60-18 drubbing on Magic Weekend.

Makinson collected a high kick a Toby Sexton and used the soggy conditions to skid over the line in the 14th minute after Toulouse took an early lead through Jake Shorrocks’ penalty.

Guillermo Aispuro-Bichet then weaved his way over on the stroke of half-time before adding his second conversion to move the visitors 12-2 in front.

In-form Toulouse had won their previous three fixtures this month.

The hosts hit back 11 minutes into the second period when Romeo Tropis raced on to Benjamin Laguerre’s pass to cross wide on the left.

Makinson claimed his second with 13 minutes remaining following another fine assist from the impressive Sexton.

Shorrocks’ second penalty of the game cut the deficit before Aispuro-Bichet’s late penalty at the other end kept the home team at arm’s length, prior to a last-gasp converted try from Toulouse’s Joe Cator.

2026 Super League – key dates and what to look out for

  • Rivals Round reversed: July 23-July 26
  • Elimination Play-offs: September 19-September 20
  • Play-off semi-finals: September 26-September 27
  • Grand Final: October 3, Old Trafford

Sky Sports will again show every game of the Super League live this season – including two matches in each round exclusively live, with the remaining five matches each week shown on Sky Sports+

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