London Broncos bounced back from their first defeat of the Championship season with a comfortable win over Halifax Panthers that secured them the League Leaders Shield.
It had been a forgone conclusion for much of the season that the Broncos would race away and claim silverware given their squad but last week’s loss to Oldham was a reminder that London are human, however, there was no slipping up for a second week with Neil Tchamambe one of two to score a hat-trick.
As for the play-off picture below London, the top ten are now locked in as Batley Bulldogs defeated Dewsbury to end any slim hope that the Rams held of making the play-offs.
That 48-26 win pushed Batley to ninth with ex-Super League man Ben Reynolds starring as he kicked all eight goals, whilst Robbie Butterworth scored a hat-trick.
Batley locked in their top 10 spot with that win but they also moved ahead of Whitehaven, who lost to Barrow who keep the pressure on Widnes as they sit joint sixth. The Vikings had also beaten Cumbrian opposition, seeing off Workington ahead of their midweek game against Sheffield Eagles.
Newcastle kept the pace in second as they beat eighth-placed Midlands in good fashion, whilst Oldham backed up last week’s strong win over London with a scrappier one against Salford.
North Wales’ misery continued as Keighley put 90 on them whilst Hunslet defeated Rochdale and Goole beat Swinton in other games that feature those outside the top 10.
The final round of the Championship will take place this coming weekend before the play-offs begin on the first weekend of September with London and whoever finishes second on bye, albeit London will actually play their round 26 game that has been delayed.
Seventh will place tenth in an eliminator, as will eighth and ninth, whilst third hosts fifth in a qualifying semi-final, with fourth facing sixth in the same format before week two of the play-offs begin.
St Helens’ new coach, World Cup fail and Hull KR’s top six chances – Click here to watch this week’s episode of the Serious About Rugby League Show
Championship round 25 results
Newcastle Thunder 56-20 Midlands Hurricanes
Goole Vikings 32-28 Swinton Lions
Oldham RLFC 36-28 Salford RLFC
Barrow Raiders 42-20 Whitehaven
Dewsbury Rams 26-48 Batley Bulldogs
Hunslet RLFC 28-18 Rochdale Hornets
London Broncos 58-12 Halifax Panthers
North Wales Crusaders 6-90 Keighley Cougars
Widnes Vikings 40-12 Workington Town
The Top 10 teams in the @Betfred Championship 🙌
These ten sides will compete in the 2026 Play-Offs, but what do you think the final league standings will look like at the end of the regular season? 🤔 pic.twitter.com/epnReaHKmJ
— Rugby Football League (@TheRFL) August 23, 2026
