Warrington Wolves overcome injuries to edge Catalans Dragons in Super League clash
Wolves secure victory despite setbacks
The Warrington Wolves secured an 18-16 victory over Catalans Dragons at the Halliwell Jones Stadium, moving them level on points with Super League leaders Leeds Rhinos. The win came despite the team facing multiple injury concerns throughout the match.
Matty Ashton opened the scoring for the Wolves in the 15th minute, collecting a pass from Ben Currie. Ewan Irwin successfully converted the try. However, the Dragons quickly responded with a try from Zac Lipowicz, converted by Guillermo Aispuro-Bichet. Nick Cotric then put the Dragons ahead after a setup from Lewis Dodd, resulting in a 10-6 lead for Catalans at half-time.
The Wolves rallied in the second half, with Albert Hopoate scoring a try seven minutes in, and Irwin’s conversion restoring Warrington’s lead. James Bentley further extended their advantage with a try in the corner. The Dragons, however, kept the pressure on, with Lewis Dodd scoring a try and Aispuro-Bichet converting off the post, setting up a tense finish.
A crucial moment in the closing stages saw stand-in full-back Ewan Irwin make a try-saving tackle to prevent Aispuro-Bichet from snatching a late victory. The Dragons’ captain, Benjamin Garcia, was later sin-binned for dissent, impacting their opportunity to boost their play-off hopes. Catalans currently sit eighth in the table with 16 points from an equal number of matches.
Injury concerns for Warrington
The victory was marred by several injury setbacks for the Warrington Wolves. Arron Lindop was forced off the field with a left knee injury just 26 minutes into his second game back from an Anterior Cruciate Ligament (ACL) injury. He had only recently returned to play against Leeds Rhinos in Round 15 after a year on the sidelines.
Josh Thewlis also left the game at half-time due to an ankle injury sustained just before the hooter. He did not return for the second period. Following Thewlis’ withdrawal, Ewan Irwin moved to full-back, Danny Walker shifted into the halves, and Sam Powell was introduced from the interchange bench.
Additionally, Jordy Crowther was observed limping from the field during the second half. These injuries add to Warrington’s existing list of sidelined players, which includes Toby King, who is recovering from a syndesmosis injury.
Impact of substitutions and fan reactions
The early injuries led to strategic changes for the Wolves. The incident involving Arron Lindop was placed on report, allowing Adam Holroyd to be activated as the 18th man. Holroyd, making his first appearance of the season after recovering from a long-term shoulder injury, entered the action just before half-time, replacing James Harrison when the scores were level at 6-6.
Max Wood, who was recalled early from a loan spell at Hull FC, also made an impact from the interchange bench. He contributed to the team’s efforts, including a long-range break in the second half.
Despite the eventual victory, sections of the Warrington South Stand expressed frustration at half-time, particularly after the team opted for a penalty goal with just over two minutes remaining in the first half, while trailing 10-6. However, the Wolves’ strong second-half performance secured the win, despite a late try from Lewis Dodd threatening a comeback.
The Super League 2026 season continues with key upcoming dates including Magic Weekend from July 4-July 5, and the Grand Final scheduled for October 3.
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Source: skysports.com
As NewsUK's Senior Football Correspondent, Thomas Beckwith reports on the Premier League, the EFL and the England national side for readers across the country. He reported on three World Cups for a national news agency. He holds a degree in Sports Journalism from Sheffield Hallam University and completed an NCTJ diploma. Thomas lives in Sheffield, where he watches lower-league football most weekends. “Football writing is about the decisions, not just the result.”
