Warrington Wolves travelled to the Leigh Sports Village to take on the Leopards with Sam Burgess’ side in desperate need of a win to keep their chase for the top six on track.
For long periods in the game, it looked like Warrington would manage that but Leigh launched what Dave Woods on commentary described as the ‘biggest smash and grab win of the season’. He probably wasn’t wrong either as they overcame a 14-2 deficit to win 20-16.
Having lost to Castleford ahead of the split round, Wire were three points back from the top six and facing a tough gauntlet of fixtures, whilst Leigh Leopards were looking to close their own three-point gap on second place Wigan.
It was an unchanged side for Adrian Lam whilst Sam Burgess was able to welcome Danny Walker back whilst NRL loanee Ryan Matterson added some bulk in the pack.
Here are our talking points after Leigh Leopards defeated Warrington Wolves.
Leigh Leopards v Warrington Wolves talking points
Smash and grab win
Warrington Wolves looked well on their way to reviving their Super League play-off hopes with Sam Burgess’ side leading 14-2 midway through the second half, however, Adrian Lam’s side proved exactly why they’re right in the mix at the top of the table.
Two Umyla Hanley tries and an Owen Trout crashover in the 78th minute secured the win for Leigh who now move just one point behind Wigan Warriors, whilst Wire still languish three points outside of the top six.
Their performance looked like that of a side who could go about a play-off charge, however, the inability to win these gritty games has hindered them all season and it proved their downfall tonight.
Try of the season
There’s been plenty of shouts for the try of the season in Super League but it’s fair to say that you can now end the debate with Matt Dufty’s score in the first half sure to rank as the best this year.
Ironically, Dufty did very little bar run a supporting line for Josh Thewlis who beat almost the full Leigh Leopards defence after starting his weaving run deep in his own half on the right wing.
Ryan Matterson’s strong carry took Wire up field but the Australian managed to get a speculative offload out which Danny Walker then batted down to George Williams. He shifted it to Ben Currie, playing centre after Connor Wrench’s HIA, and from there Currie set Thewlis off.
The winger broke one, two, three, and even more tackles as he danced back inside and broke through the middle before teeing up Matt Dufty for a walkover to make it 8-2.
One of the greatest assists you’ll ever see 😲
Josh Thewlis, take a bow 👏#SuperLeague pic.twitter.com/lLoYSQ8o1q
— Betfred Super League (@SuperLeague) August 1, 2025
Milestones reached
It was a game full of milestones at the LSV with plenty of individual landmarks hit in a game that was one of real quality.
Both Jack Hughes and Paul Vaughan played their 300th career games with Hughes playing his 62nd for the Leopards and Vaughan donning the primrose and blue for the 77th time in his career.
Owen Trout also made his 100th Super League appearance, 48 of which have come for Leigh and he crowned it with a game-winning try, but it was Marc Sneyd who hit the biggest milestone.
Sneyd’s been climbing the goal-kicking and points record for a number of years and tonight was the game which saw him draw level with Paul Deacon as third all-time in Super League goal-scorers, with 1,043.
Leigh’s stadium gimmicks
Derek Beaumont has done wonders for Leigh Leopards, that is undeniable. He’s generally considered marmite but you cannot deny his love for rugby league and the impact he’s had with the Leopards.
The pre-game experience at the LSV is generally unrivalled as well with Hull KR’s Craven Streat perhaps the only challenger, however, there are some clear gameday issues.
Pyrotechnics often take so long to clear that games are heavily delayed, meanwhile constant sound effects are blared through the stadium PA. Buzzer sounds when opposing teams miss conversions is cringe worthy and unnecessary. It is however an improvement on when they would blare that same noise when their own team missed kicks earlier in the year.
So much is done so right at Leigh but these gimmicks simply don’t add to the experience.
Leigh Leopards XIII: Bailey Hodgson; Keanan Brand, Tesi Niu, Umyla Hanley, Josh Charnley; Gaz O’Brien, Lachlan Lam; Owen Trout, Edwin Ipape, Joe Ofahengaue; Frankie Halton, Jack Hughes, Isaac Liu
Interchanges: Alec Tuitavake, Matt Davis, Andy Badrock, Ben McNamara
Warrington Wolves XIII: Matt Dufty; Jake Thewlis, Connor Wrench, Toby King, Josh Thewlis; George Williams, Marc Sneyd; Luke Yates, Sam Powell, Paul Vaughan; Sam Stone, Lachlan Fitzgibbon, Ben Currie
Interchanges: Joe Philbin, Danny Walker, Ryan Matterson, Max Wood
