Yorkshire | Huddersfield dent Warrington's play-off hopes

Huddersfield Giants 23 - 10 Warrington Wolves

Warrington Wolves' hopes of reaching the Super League play-offs were dealt a serious setback as they lost at Huddersfield Giants.

Author | Paul Howarth

Stadium | Accu Stadium

The match, marked by a series of dramatic turns, saw the hosts take an early lead through a try from Aidan McGowan. Warrington fought back, with Connor Wrench and Toby King putting them 10-6 ahead at half-time.

Huddersfield responded in the second half, with Jacob Gagai and a brace of tries from George Flanagan, supplemented by an Oliver Russell drop-goal, securing the win.

The defeat leaves Warrington five points adrift of sixth-placed Hull FC, who occupy the final play-off spot, with only four regular-season games remaining.

A closer look at what happened 

Huddersfield Giants overcame early pressure to take the lead when Aidan McGowan crossed in the corner. The video referee overturned an initial no-try decision, ruling that the ball had been grounded fairly following clever work by George Flanagan, who converted from a difficult angle.

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Warrington responded quickly when Flanagan lost possession to Connor Wrench on the line after a forward kick from Marc Sneyd. The video referee confirmed the try, though Sneyd was unable to add the conversion from close range.

The match shifted when Matt Dufty, returning to the Wolves side after a disciplinary issue, set up Toby King to score in a fifth consecutive game against Huddersfield, with Sneyd adding the extras.

Warrington faced sustained pressure from the hosts early in the second half but held firm in defence. Wrench produced a fine intervention to cut out Russell’s searching kick on the line as Jacob Gagai waited in support.

The combination eventually paid off 15 minutes from time, with Gagai crossing for his tenth try of the season after some clever improvisation. Flanagan missed the conversion, forgoing the chance to put Huddersfield ahead.

The miss seemed only to intensify the Giants’ determination. They seized the opportunity when Gagai fed Flanagan, who powered over the line and added his own conversion. Any remaining Warrington resistance was undone when Russell kicked a drop-goal and Flanagan completed the day with another converted try.