Warrington Wolves hosted Catalans Dragons with Sam Burgess’ side desperate for a win to keep their play-off hopes alive.
Sam Burgess’ side got that first win in four as they came from 22-6 behind to win 30-22, putting the foot down in the second-half to grit out the win.
The major talking point before the game was that Warrington Wolves full-back Matt Dufty was left out for a second week in a row with last week’s omission based on an ‘international discipline’ issue. As well as Dufty, York-bound Paul Vaughan was also missing meaning Ryan Matterson earned a first start since arriving from the NRL. As for Les Dracs, they recalled Reimis Smith and Nick Cotric to bolster their outside backs.
Catalans had won just one game in twelve with Joel Tomkins yet to win a game since being confirmed as the permanent head coach but the form wasn’t much better for Warrington either who had lost their last three heading into tonight.
A win for Warrington means they’re within three points of the top six, however, Hull FC and Wakefield Trinity are yet to play with the latter set to face a toiling Salford Red Devils and near certain to pick up two points.
Here are the key talking points after Warrington Wolves beat Catalans Dragons 30-22.
Warrington Wolves v Catalans Dragons talking points
Wire finally find a way to win
At 22-6 down after half an hour and with boos ringing around the Halliwell Jones Stadium, it looked a very long way back for Warrington Wolves but they did manage to find that way back.
Jake Thewlis’ score just before the half gave them hope and Sam Stone’s score five minutes after the half got them well on track. Both Thewlis brothers would score again with Jake’s score in the corner the go-ahead before Josh punished a Catalans mistake to secure the win.
Sam Burgess has recently lamented his side for ‘finding ways to lose’ but tonight he saw that they can step up to the pressure when needed. He sent his side out early for the second-half and they seriously stepped it up, however, it still looks far too late for a play-off push.
As for Catalans, that’s now one win in thirteen which makes for grim reading.
Captain’s challenge issues
Once again, a good Super League game is marred by some element of either video referee of the Captain’s Challenge. This time it was the latter.
Catalans Dragons were well and truly under the pump approaching the hour as they defended set after set and that looked to ease when Theo Fages collected a kick and began to race off, however, Tom Grant ruled it a knock on.
An incensed Fages immediately called for it to be challenged, however, the camera angles and quality of footage simply wasn’t good enough to prove conclusively that he did not knock on. Numerous angles were used, most of which were incredibly poor quality, and the result was ‘inconclusive’.
Regardless of whether it was or was not a knock on, either Catalans were unfairly punished or Warrington saw all the pressure they’d build drain as the Dragons could recover during the two-and-a-half minute delay – a delay which only serves to frustrate fans.
That camera quality potentially favoured Warrington with their game-winning try from Jake Thewis with the video referee unable to overturn the initial decision as it was unclear if there was ‘clear separation’ between the ball and Thewlis’ hand.
Magic Makinson
Tommy Makinson brought up his 197th, 198th and 199th Super League tries, going past Jermaine McGillvary and moving to joint fourth all-time in the competition for tries.
Unfortunately for him and for Catalans, he couldn’t push on for try number 200 and beyond both Keith Senior and Paul Wellens as he injured himself when scoring try number 199.
That marked his hat-trick with the 33-year-old leaping high to claim Luke Keary’s kick and grounding underneath himself before he flew in touch. His awkward landing looked to cause a shoulder injury which could rule him out for some time.
Matt Dufty future?
Despite Sam Burgess’ assertion last week that Matt Dufty will ‘be back’ for the game against Catalans, the Aussie full-back was left out once again despite being fit.
It’s believed that he will play for the reserves this weekend meaning it looks like Burgess is still laying down the law after the full-back was late to training last week, the act that saw him dropped for the Wigan Warriors game.
With young star Cai Taylor-Wray waiting in the wings and a clear rebuild on the cards for Warrington given that George Williams will leave for the NRL after the end of the 2026 season, it begs the question what happens with Matt Dufty?
The ex-NRL man is contracted until the end of the 2026 season meaning he’s free to leave the Halliwell Jones Stadium at the end of next year anyway.
Teams
Warrington Wolves XIII: Stefan Ratchford; Josh Thewlis, Zack Gardner, Connor Wrench, Jake Thewlis; George Williams, Marc Sneyd; Luke Yates, Danny Walker, Ryan Matterson; Sam Stone, Lachlan Fitzgibbon, Ben Currie
Interchanges: Sam Powell, Joe Philbin, Luke Thomas, Adam Holroyd
Catalans Dragons XIII: Guillermo Aispuro-Bichet; Tommy Makinson, Matthieu Laguerre, Reimis Smith, Nick Cotric; Luke Keary, Theo Fages; Franck Maria, Alrix Da Costa, Chris Satae; Benjamin Garcia, Bayley Sironen, Oliver Partington
Interchanges: Tevita Pangai Jr, Romain Navarette, Jordan Dezaria, Denive Balmforth
Warrington Wolves come from behind to beat Catalans Dragons 🚨🐺 pic.twitter.com/yRO7XNdacc
— Sky Sports Rugby League (@SkySportsRL) August 14, 2025
