Irwin penalty sends Warrington to Grand Final after Headingley semi
Warrington Wolves defeated Leeds Rhinos in the Super League playoff semi-final at Headingley on 25 September 2026 when Ewan Irwin’s late penalty put the visitors ahead and secured their place in the Grand Final at Old Trafford.
The victory takes Warrington to their first Grand Final appearance since 2018 and moves Sam Burgess’s side one win away from their first league title since 1955. Leeds, who had lost their last two home games and surrendered top spot in the table to Wigan Warriors, exited at the semi-final stage in what the club will regard as a missed opportunity.
The match was locked at 12-12 before a contentious decision saw Warrington awarded a penalty after George Williams was taken out off the ball; Irwin’s kick from that award put the visitors ahead and Warrington then held out to book their Old Trafford trip. The penalty drew a Leeds challenge that was overruled, and Warrington’s defence withstood the final Leeds attacks.
Leeds’ build-up to the semi-final was disrupted when Chris Hankinson, who had been deputising for Rhinos captain Ash Handley, withdrew with an injury in the warm-up and Ned McCormack was brought in for only his seventh Leeds appearance. McCormack and his younger brother Fergus — the latter playing only his third game for the club — were prominent in the first half.
The opening exchanges produced contrasting styles: Warrington favoured direct running while Leeds looked dangerous from Jake Connor’s kicking game. Warrington struck first when Matty Ashton out-jumped Ryan Hall to set up James Bentley’s try against his former club, before a period of Leeds pressure produced points via Brodie Croft’s cut-out pass to Ryan Hall, converted by Connor.
Connor then produced a kick from halfway that caught the Warrington defence cold, allowing Ned McCormack to gather and return the ball inside for a supporting Connor to score, giving Leeds a six-point lead. Warrington weathered late first-half pressure and responded when George Williams’ pass put Luke Yates over by the posts; Irwin’s conversion made it 12-12 at the interval.
The second half became increasingly attritional, with both sides failing to capitalise on gilt-edged chances — Connor was unusually off-target with a kick as Leeds probed, and Warrington repeatedly entered Leeds territory without breaching the defensive line. With around 15 minutes remaining a penalty was awarded against Leeds after Williams was ruled to have been checked off the ball by James McDonnell; Irwin’s successful kick from that decision nudged Warrington in front by two.
Late in the contest Connor appeared to have produced a 40-20 but replays showed Keenan Palasia had been tackled before offloading to the half-back, and his final penalty attempt from 60 metres came up short, allowing Warrington to progress. Warrington will face either Wigan Warriors or Wakefield Trinity next Saturday in the Grand Final at Old Trafford.