Warrington Wolves winger Matty Ashton has set out his goal of finishing as Super League’s top try-scorer in 2026 after bagging a hat-trick on his return from injury in Wire’s 72-6 win over Castleford Tigers.
Ashton took to the field for the first time since May of last year with the England international showing no signs of needing to get up to speed, despite having not played for 314 days.
His first carry saw him earn a penalty and it wasn’t long until he was in the corner for his first try, with his second following soon after. He’d have to wait a while for his third with his second-rower Kelepi Tanginoa stealing the limelight by scoring four, however, Ashton was a worthy Man of the Match.
Speaking post-match to the BBC, the winger beamed: “I really enjoyed that one. Playing rugby league with a smile on my face, that’s what it’s all been about today.
“It’s been a long ten months but I’m really satisfied with the performance and the win today.”
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Warrington Wolves star ‘confident’ of catching up on try-scoring chart
Ashton is a player who Warrington have missed massively with his incredible pace and finishing ability offering so much going forward, as well as his defensive reads of which he made a few.
Asked how he had coped with being sidelined for over 10 months, he admitted: “That’s the hardest thing about it, watching week in week out and knowing you can’t be out there and helping the boys.
“We’ve got a good support staff here at Warrington and I’ve got good family around me so they’ve got me through it and it’s all worth it for days like today.”
He’ll need more days like that if he’s to catch up in the try-scoring charts with Leeds Rhinos’ Maika Sivo out on front with nine at the moment, however, Ashton has backed himself for the title.
“I was a bit annoyed with Sam for not starting me at the start of the year because that’s what I’m aiming for every year,” he said.
“I’m a bit behind but I’m confident that I’ll catch up at some point.”
It was an ACL injury that ruled Ashton out for almost a year and when asked how he felt testing his knee out in a game, the winger admitted that reservations will always circle in the back of his head.
He said: “There is always that bit in the back of your head but I think all the training that Ady Gardner did with me and the physios that have been training me day in and day out to get me where I am today, so it’s really good.”
Wire look to continue their unbeaten start to the season next week when they travel to face Leeds Rhinos, where Ashton is set to face the man he is chasing down in the try-scoring charts, Maika Sivo.
