Irwin penalty sends Warrington past Leeds into Super League Grand Final

Warrington Wolves reached the Super League Grand Final with a 14-12 victory over Leeds Rhinos at Headingley on Friday, September 25. According to Sky Sports' match report, Ewan Irwin kicked the decisive penalty in the 66th minute after James McDonnell was penalised for obstructing George Williams.

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Leeds challenged the decision, but it stood. The teams had been level at 12-12 at half-time, with James Bentley and Luke Yates scoring Warrington's tries and Ryan Hall and Jake Connor crossing for Leeds. Irwin's penalty supplied the only points after the interval, sending Warrington to their first Grand Final since 2018.

Connor had one final opportunity to force extra time, attempting a long-range penalty with the clock expired, but his kick fell short. Leeds coach Brad Arthur told Sky Sports he was proud of his players' effort while expressing frustration that the disputed penalty had determined the result.

The result reversed the pattern of the teams' regular-season meetings. Warrington's official pre-match briefing recorded Leeds victories of 26-22 at Headingley in March and 34-6 at the Halliwell Jones Stadium in June. Leeds had also finished second in the table, ahead of third-placed Warrington on points difference despite both collecting 40 points. That position gave the Rhinos home advantage and a week off before the semi-final.

Warrington had taken a longer route, beating reigning champions Hull KR 35-12 in their eliminator the previous weekend. The club's report of that match recorded a hat-trick for Matty Ashton, alongside tries from Ben Currie, Albert Hopoate and Toby King. Irwin kicked five goals and Williams added a drop-goal as Sam Burgess' side secured the trip to Leeds.

Warrington will now face either Wigan Warriors or Wakefield Trinity at Old Trafford on October 3. Super League's published playoff schedule places the remaining semi-final on Saturday, September 26. Wigan entered the playoffs as the top-ranked side and Wakefield as the fourth, leaving Warrington awaiting the outcome of the other half of the draw.