Leeds host Warrington at Headingley in play-off semi-final for Grand Final place
Leeds Rhinos will host Warrington Wolves at Headingley on Friday in the first of two Super League play-off semi-finals as the 2026 season moves into its final phase, with the winners contesting a place in the 3 October Super League Grand Final.
Leeds and Warrington finished level on 40 points at the end of the regular season, leaving four teams — Leeds, Warrington, Wigan Warriors and Wakefield Trinity — to contest the post-season. Leeds had a week off after securing second place to begin their play-off campaign, while Warrington reached the semi-finals after progressing through an eliminator. The article notes the final stages of the 2026 Super League season approach with that semi-final pairing the opening knockout match.
Leeds arrive following back-to-back home defeats to Wigan and Hull FC and closed their regular campaign with three losses in five matches; a highlighted scoreline from their recent fixtures reads Leeds 12-18 Hull FC. Manager Brad Arthur said form earlier in the year matters less now and called for a return to their best, adding: "[We have to be] the best version of us. We've seen that plenty of times this year and we've played a lot of good footy," he told BBC Radio Leeds. "Our past couple of weeks haven't been ideal but it doesn't really count for much right now. It doesn't mean anything. All those past two games showed was a couple of things that we need to tidy up which we've done during the week around execution. But like the first 27 rounds, all that's done is put us in a position where we're 80 minutes away from Old Trafford so that's all we got to focus on."
Leeds face selection issues with captain Ash Handley ruled out of the play-off and Lachie Miller sidelined by a hamstring injury sustained in the defeat by Wigan earlier this month; Man of Steel nominee Miller "has been ruled out ever since he picked up a hamstring injury in Leeds' defeat by Wigan earlier this month." Centre Jack Bird is also absent with a hamstring problem, which hands 20-year-old Fergie McCormack a fourth career start. Reflecting on preparation during the enforced break, Arthur said: "We had a big session on Friday try to simulate a game as close as we could and then on Monday they bounced in and nice and fresh and looked fast," he continued. "We've made the most of it and only time will tell. We need to make sure that we cash in on the opportunity that we've been given to have the 14 days."
Warrington reached Headingley after defeating reigning champions Hull KR 35-12 in their eliminator, a match in which Matty Ashton scored a hat-trick of tries. The Wire finished third on points difference and recorded nine wins from their last 11 matches of the regular season. Coach Sam Burgess attributed part of that run to a hands-off coaching approach, saying: "As coaches we just stay out of the way. We don't need to overdo anything, we leave them to it," and added: "We're staying pretty humble now. Hard work will get us where we'd like to go." On preparing to face a Leeds side they have lost to twice this season Burgess said: "They will be aware of that, they can't hide from it," and "For us it's about going there and not giving them too much space and being clinical and playing our game."
The article places the Leeds–Warrington semi-final in the wider context of a period of domestic dominance by St Helens, Wigan and Hull KR, and poses whether Leeds and Warrington can claim one of the two spots in the Grand Final on 3 October. It also references Leeds' recent Grand Final history, noting they last reached the showpiece in 2022 after a mid-season coaching change when Rohan Smith guided them to Old Trafford following an 11-win run from 13 matches, where they were defeated by St Helens.
Keighran, O'Neill & Miller are listed among the Man of Steel shortlist, and the piece states that Leeds players feature prominently in the 2026 Super League Dream Team. The semi-final at Headingley on Friday will decide which side moves a step closer to a place in the 3 October Super League Grand Final.