Warrington Wolves made it nine straight home wins across all competitions on Saturday, turning their fortress at Halliwell Jones Stadium into an impenetrable fortress as they beat Bradford Bulls 26-12 and climbed to second place in Super League.
The victory matters because it tightens the title race at the top of the table. Warrington now sit just behind leaders Leeds Rhinos on points difference, and crucially, they have a game in hand—meaning they could overtake Leeds with a win. For a club that has maintained a perfect home record this season, it signals both consistency and momentum heading into the crucial phase of the campaign.
The match itself was shaped by Bradford's undisciplined opening. Jayden Okunbor's early high tackle on full-back Josh Thewlis resulted in a sin-binning, and Thewlis made them pay immediately, dummying inside to open the scoring in the fifth minute. Minutes later, Chris Atkin received a green card for another infringement, and with Bradford reduced to 11 men, Luke Thomas powered over to extend Warrington's lead to 10-0 by the 11th minute. The die was cast early.
Eighteen-year-old Ewan Irwin, the half-back, emerged as the standout performer for Warrington. Beyond his try-scoring contribution—a dummy play that saw him ground the ball under the posts in the 50th minute—Irwin kicked six additional points, demonstrating the composure of a player well beyond his years. Josh Thewlis, Albert Hopoate, and Matty Ashton also crossed the line for Warrington, with Ashton's effort particularly eye-catching as he raced from the halfway line down the left flank and under the posts to seal victory at 26-6 on the hour.
Bradford's challenge flickered briefly before half-time. Twenty-year-old Jamie Gill, on only his fifth Bulls appearance, powered over between the posts three minutes before the interval to give the visitors hope at 14-6. But what could have been a pivotal moment came just seconds later when Connor Wynne thought he had scored to close the gap further. Video referee Liam Rush controversially disallowed the try, ruling that Waqa Blake had committed a foul in the build-up—a decision that stung Bradford's momentum. Had it been allowed, the score would have been 14-10 at half-time, a very different narrative for the second half.
Instead, Warrington controlled the remainder of the contest. Jayden Nikorima did score a late try for Bradford in the 69th minute, weaving through the Warrington defence, but it only made the scoreline respectable rather than changing the outcome. The loss leaves Bradford without a win on the road; they have now lost all six of their away games this season.
For Warrington, the consistency is remarkable. A perfect home record, nine wins from nine in all competitions at their own ground, and a squad now hunting the league leaders. With Leeds Rhinos in their sights and a game in hand, Warrington's momentum is building at precisely the right moment in the season.