Warrington Wolves continued their flawless home form with a commanding 26-12 victory over Bradford at the Halliwell Jones Stadium, propelling them to second place in the Betfred Super League table. The win puts them level on 18 points with leaders Leeds, trailing only on points differential, and with a game in hand.
The Wolves wasted no time asserting dominance, with full-back Josh Thewlis crossing in the fifth minute after Bradford winger Jayden Okunbor was sin-binned for a high tackle. Prop Luke Thomas and centre Albert Hopoate added further tries in the 11th and 30th minutes, giving Warrington a comfortable 14-0 cushion. Bradford finally responded through prop Jamie Gill in the 36th minute, but a disallowed try from Connor Wynne just before halftime kept the visitors trailing 14-6 at the break.
Warrington extinguished any hope of a Bradford comeback early in the second period. Teenage half-back Ewan Irwin touched down in the 50th minute, successfully converting his own try, before winger Matty Ashton raced clear for a fifth try on the hour mark to extend the lead to 26-6. Bradford managed a late consolation through stand-off Jayden Nikorima in the 69th minute, but the outcome was never in doubt.
Discipline proved costly for Bradford. Okunbor's early sin-binning handed Warrington an immediate numerical advantage they exploited ruthlessly. Additionally, a green card incident left the Bulls temporarily down to 11 men, a situation coach Kurt Haggerty later described as "bizarre." The video referee's decision to disallow Wynne's score further compounded Bradford's frustrations, as it would have narrowed the gap to just four points heading into the sheds.
After the match, Haggerty acknowledged the challenge of slow starts at this level. "If you don't start well at this level you can get hurt and concede points," he said. "I thought we went down to 12 and then went down to 11 with the green card, which was a very bizarre situation. But ultimately, the effort and determination to keep working to stay in the game is pretty incredible, and I think it is just a sign of the group that we have." The defeat marks Bradford's eighth of the season, leaving them in a precarious position.
Warrington centre John Smith, an Australian import, acknowledged his side had not been at their recent best but praised the team's resilience. "It was a pretty big game. We've gone away from our form in the last few weeks, definitely haven't played how we wanted to play," he admitted. "Bradford came to play some footy today, great conditions and the fans turned out so it was mad. I'm Australian, and I'll say the English heat is no joke. You saw a few boys cramping, and we definitely had to drink a lot of water and Hydralyte." Smith also stressed the importance of consistency as they chase silverware: "We'd love to be playing next week in the Challenge Cup final, but we're really trying to focus on being consistent and every day getting better and trying to make our performances add up. If we do that, our performances will stack up."
The result extended Warrington's perfect home record to nine wins from nine across all competitions this season—a testament to their fortress-like setup at the Halliwell Jones Stadium. Their rise to second spot, with a game in hand over Leeds, positions them as genuine title contenders. However, a tough run looms, with fixtures against Hull FC, St Helens, and Leeds Rhinos in the next three weeks. This victory provides crucial momentum heading into that challenging stretch.
One of the brightest sparks for Warrington was the continued emergence of young half-back Ewan Irwin. Since debuting against St Helens in April 2025, the teenager has made nine Super League appearances, booting 15 goals and setting up five tries. Against Bradford, he not only scored but also converted three of his attempts. Coach Burgess was full of praise for the youngster's temperament. "He's a wonderful player, we all know that, but this level requires him to develop and improve and we'll see that over the next 18 months," Burgess said. "The great thing about Ewan is there's a lot of noise around him, you're all talking about him which is rightly so and he's very balanced. He comes from a wonderful family and he's very humble. At times, I've tried to push him to be a bit more assertive, but that will come as time goes on."
For Bradford, the loss further hampers their survival hopes in the top flight. Newly promoted, they have now suffered eight defeats, and while their second-half efforts showed fight, the inability to start strongly remains a glaring weakness. Haggerty's men must quickly address their disciplinary issues if they are to avoid an immediate return to the Championship. The sin-binning and green card incident disrupted any rhythm they might have built.
Warrington's upcoming schedule will test their mettle. If they can navigate the Hull FC, St Helens, and Leeds gauntlet successfully, they will firmly establish themselves as the team to beat. For now, the Wolves can celebrate a professional performance that kept their home record unblemished and threw down a marker to their rivals. The depth of their squad and the emergence of talents like Irwin suggest a bright future.
Smith summed up the mood in the camp, reflecting on his experience in the English game. "It's been mad. I can't speak highly enough of the competition and the people I've got at the club. Both on and off the field, Warrington are really looking after me." As Super League heads into a critical phase, Warrington have sent a clear message: they are in this title race for the long haul. Based on reporting from Sky Sports.