George Williams scores as Warrington beat Hull KR in rearranged Super League tie

George Williams scored as Warrington Wolves defeated defending Super League champions Hull KR in a rearranged fixture at Hull KR on 18 August 2026, Williams' first try since returning from neck surgery. The England half-back had only resumed playing five days earlier against York after an almost four-month layoff following the injury sustained against Catalans Dragons in April.

Williams is in his final season with Warrington before returning to Australia to play in the NRL, and his match-defining try capped his comeback from the neck operation. Mikey Lewis returned for Hull KR after serving a four-game ban but was later sin-binned for a dangerous attempt to block a kick. The game featured multiple lead changes and a number of stoppages, including a head injury assessment for James Bentley.

Rhyse Martin opened the scoring for Hull KR with an early penalty, but Warrington struck first for a try through Albert Hopoate after the Robins were stretched defending successive sets. James Bentley returned after being checked over for a head injury assessment to touch down his side's second try just before the half-hour mark. A head-high hit from Sam Stone on Arthur Mourgue produced a penalty near the line, with Jez Litten's grubber allowing Mikey Lewis to score for the Robins.

Karl Lawton powered over under the sticks to put Hull KR 14-10 in front just before half-time, overturning a slender Warrington lead. Toafofoa Sipley scored immediately after the interval to reclaim the advantage for Warrington and Arthur Mourgue later landed a penalty to level the match. Ewan Irwin then kicked, Liam Byrne scored on his 27th birthday, Williams finished his try and Hopoate grabbed a second score that put Wolves beyond reach.

Warrington's second-half surge was tempered by the loss of full-back Josh Thewlis to a hamstring injury. Late tries from Dean Hadley and Tevita Pangai Jr for Hull KR did little more than add respectability to the scoreline after the Robins were outplayed at home. Mikey Lewis was sin-binned late in the game for the charge down that drew the penalty.

Hull KR head coach Willie Peters told BBC Radio Humberside: "I thought we were brave in large parts of that game, but we were silly. "We lost some vital moments and it snowballed off the back of that. "I thought Warrington were exceptional in terms of their last plays and building pressure and putting us in vulnerable positions. I don't think we did that enough to them." On Mikey Lewis' performance and sin-binning he added: "He has had four weeks off, I thought he did some good things and then he gets 10 minutes for the charge down. "I need to look at it, but I don't think there was malice in it. Mikey has done some silly things this year, and that one there he was definitely going to put kick pressure on. From what I saw, I don't believe there was malice to go and hurt the player."

Warrington head coach Sam Burgess told BBC Radio Merseyside: "I thought George [Williams] was magnificent tonight. In the second half he grabbed the game by the scruff of its neck. He has been itching to play for a number of months and we saw a little bit of that tonight. "Last week he was finding his groove a little bit, but this week we saw his pure quality. "I'm happy with the game. I thought at half-time we had control of the game, and the scoreline wasn't a fair reflection. It was important to be calm in there at half-time. "And again at full-time, I don't think it quite reflected the full performance, but I'm very happy and proud of the team again."

Hull KR: Mourgue; Davies, Hiku, Broadbent, Burgess; Lewis, May; Sue, Litten, Hadley, Whitbread, Martin, Minchella. Interchanges: Amone, Luckley, Lawton, Pangai Jr.

Warrington Wolves: J Thewlis; Hopoate, Lindop, King, Ashton; Williams, Irwin; Byrne, Walker, Harrison, Bentley, Stone, Currie. Interchanges: Tanginoa, Sipley, Wood, Crowther.

The win moved Wolves to within two points of competition pacesetters Leeds Rhinos and Wigan Warriors - who are only second on points difference - after 23 games, while the loss leaves Hull KR fifth and still battling to secure a play-off spot.