Leeds Rhinos strengthened their position at the top of the Super League table with a commanding 34-6 victory over Warrington Wolves on Thursday, moving two points clear of their title rivals. The clash, featuring the league’s best defence against its most potent attack, ended in a one-sided affair as Leeds handed Warrington their first home defeat of the season.

Leeds, coached by Brad Arthur, showcased a cohesive and clinical performance that underlined their ambitions for a first Super League title since 2017. The Rhinos’ attacking threat was spearheaded by Maika Sivo, who scored a hat-trick of tries to reach 25 for the campaign, edging closer to Denny Solomona’s club record of 40 in a season, set in 2017. Sivo’s tries were punctuated by two key assists from scrum-half Jake Connor, who was recalled to the England squad this week and delivered another impressive display to reinforce his status as the national team’s preferred playmaker.

Warrington, coached by Sam Burgess, started strongly, with Ewan Irwin converting an early penalty to give the Wolves a 2-0 lead. The home side maintained momentum in the opening 20 minutes, matching Leeds’ intensity. However, as the first half progressed, Leeds began to assert control. Ash Handley, the visiting captain, set up Sivo’s opening try following a precise kick from Lachie Miller. Moments later, Handley linked with Brodie Croft, currently set to join Warrington next season, to extend Leeds’ lead.

Leeds’ defence, renowned as the best in the competition, was repeatedly breached, highlighted by Harry Newman’s acrobatic try under the posts following a towering kick from Connor. By halftime, Leeds had taken a commanding 16-2 advantage.

The second half saw Leeds continue their dominance. Miller’s creative flair was on full display with a cut-out pass that freed Chris Hankinson to score. Connor extended the lead with a touchline conversion and a penalty goal, despite jeers from the home crowd. Rather than easing their intensity, Leeds relentlessly pursued further rewards. Connor provided two more assists as Sivo completed his treble, effectively sealing the game.

Warrington managed a late consolation try through Matty Ashton, but by then the result was beyond doubt. The defeat raised questions about Warrington’s capacity to sustain their early-season title challenge and underscored Leeds’ growing stature as front-runners in the 2026 Super League campaign.