Leeds v Warrington: Headingley semi-final kicks off race for Grand Final

Leeds Rhinos host Warrington Wolves at Headingley on Friday night for the first place in the Super League Grand Final.

The winners go through to the title decider on 3 October. The losers go home. It is the first of two play-off semi-finals, the knockout ties that decide the champions, and only four teams are still standing: Leeds, Warrington, Wigan Warriors and Wakefield Trinity, according to BBC Sport.

Leeds have had a week to prepare. They finished second in the regular season and earned a bye straight to the semi-final. Warrington finished third on points difference and had to play last week.

Form points in opposite directions.

Leeds closed the regular campaign with three defeats in five matches. That run included home losses to Wigan and Hull FC. Warrington arrive with momentum. They have nine wins from their last 11 matches, and they knocked out reigning champions Hull KR in their eliminator.

That 35-12 win was emphatic. Winger Matty Ashton scored a hat-trick of tries — three touchdowns in one game — to sink Hull KR. Yet Warrington lost twice to Leeds earlier in the season, so recent history favours the home side.

Leeds will have to win without key men. Captain Ash Handley misses out with a back injury. Full-back Lachie Miller is ruled out after picking up a hamstring injury in the defeat by Wigan earlier in the month. Centre Jack Bird will also miss the semi-final.

What makes this stand out is the wait. Leeds, coached by Brad Arthur, last reached a Grand Final in 2022, when they were beaten by St Helens. A home semi-final at AMT Headingley Stadium is their clearest route back since.

For fans, this means a sharp contrast in styles. League is about the six-tackle arithmetic — each team gets six tackles to make ground before handing the ball over — so completion rates and field position matter. Expect Leeds to lean on territory and their noisy home crowd. Expect Warrington to play fast and feed Ashton early ball out wide.

Kick-off for Leeds against Warrington is Friday 25 September at 8pm, according to Super League. The tie will be shown live exclusively on Sky Sports, with all play-off games on the channel. Tickets are on sale now.

The second semi-final follows on Saturday 26 September at 5:30pm. The Grand Final will then be staged at Old Trafford on 3 October.