RESULTS: 2023 Betfred Super League Round 23

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A wrap of Round 23 with AJ Lucantonio and Rugby League Project.

All listed times are AEST (NSW/QLD/VIC/ACT).

RELATED: See the full list of 2023 Betfred Super League Draw and Results.

Salford Red Devils 20
Wakefield Trinity 0

Venue: Salford Stadium, Barton-upon-Irwell
Crowd: 3836
Date: Saturday 26 August 2023 at 4:45am

Salford Red Devils (20)
Tries: Ryan Brierley 2, Andy Ackers
Goals: Marc Sneyd 4/4

Wakefield Trinity (0)

Salford: Brierley, Sio, Cross, Lafai, Burgess; Croft, Sneyd; Singleton, Ackers, Partington, Watkins (C), Stone, Addy. Int: Ormondroyd, Vuniyayawa, Atkin, Hellewell.
Wakefield (Trinity): Jowitt, Senior, Griffin, Lyne, Lineham; Lino, Gale; Bowden, Hood, Whitbread, Ashurst (C), Pitts, Kay. Int: Dagger, Fifita, Atoni, Proctor.

Salford have given Wakefield's relegation hopes a slight bite of reality, thrashing the Wildcats by 20-0 tonight. 

It was a game that only the purists would enjoy and a game that would be quickly forgotten about by both sides. However, it was Salford that opened the scoring after just three minutes. Ryan Brierley crossed under the posts beating some sloppy defence on his way to the line. Marc Sneyd added the extras for a 6-0 lead

A penalty for offside gave Sneyd an opportunity to add a gift two points which was converted for an 8-0 cushion going into the sheds for half-time. 

Nine minutes into the second half, Andy Ackers eventually grabbed the second try after Trinity had attempted a short drop-out from their own line which bobbled kindly for the hooker to stroll through. 

With the score now at 14-0 and Wakefield's fluttering attack again stuttering, it appeared Salford were going to be safely home. Brierley's second try with a few minutes to go sealed a comprehensive home victory for the Red Devils. Tonight's result saw Wakefield held to nil for an incredible 6th occurrence this season.

Hull KR 52
Leigh Leopards 10

Venue: Sewell Group Craven Park, Hull
Date: Saturday 26 August 2023 at 5:00am

Hull Kingston Rovers (52)
Tries: Ryan Hall 2, Kane Linnett 2, Mikey Lewis 2, Shaun Kenny-Dowall, Elliott Minchella, Louis Senior
Goals: Brad Schneider 8/11

Leigh Leopards (10)
Tries: Josh Charnley, Edwin Ipape
Goals: Zak Hardaker 1/2

Hull KR: Walker, Senior, Opacic, Kenny-Dowall, Hall; Lewis, Schneider; Kennedy, Parcell, King, Batchelor, Linnett, Minchella. Int: Litten, Storton, Hadley, Luckley.
Leigh: O'Brien, Briscoe, Hardaker, Gildart, Charnley; Reynolds, Lam; Nakubuwai, Ipape, Mulhern, O'Donnell, Hughes, Asiata. Int: Amone, Davis, Mellor, Wardle.

Hull KR have atoned their Challenge Cup heartache by thrashing the same opposition by 52-10 to kick-off Round 23 of the Super League.

Rovers opened the scoring with a penalty goal to Brad Schneider in the seventh minute. Four minutes later, Shaun Kenny-Dowall crossed for the first try crashing onto a lovely pass and began the Hull KR onslaught. Another five minutes passed before Elliot Minichella crashed over from short range to keep Leigh shell-shocked. 

Rovers were scoring at will and it was Ryan Hall who continued the fun with an acrobatic finish in the 20th minute. Two further tries in the first half through Louis Senior and Mikey Lewis capped off a comprehensive opening half. This saw Rovers lead 30-0 at half-time and the hope Leigh had of a top 3 finish was fading away.

The second half began just the way the first had gone. Lewis crossed for his second try in what was the best individual effort of the game beating four defenders on his way to the line. Leigh got on the board in the 55th minute when Lachie Lam provided a lovely pass to Josh Charnley to cross in the left corner. 

But Rovers continued running riot with three tries in the final twenty minutes of play. Hall collected his second just after the hour mark. Kane Linnett finished off a great team effort with 10 minutes to play before Jez Litten brought up the half-century with a few minutes to play. Edwin Ipape collected the last try as consolation for what was a poor Leigh performance as Rovers charged towards the play-offs emphatically. 

Castleford Tigers 4
St Helens 34

Venue: Mend-A-Hose Jungle, Castleford
Crowd: 6868
Date: Saturday 26 August 2023 at 5:00am

Castleford Tigers (4)
Tries: Jordan Turner

St Helens (34)
Tries: Thomas Makinson 2, Jonny Lomax, Mark Percival, Joe Batchelor, Jon Bennison
Goals: Mark Percival 5/6

Castleford: Widdop, Wallis, Tasipale, Turner, Tate; Westerman (C), Miller; Watts, Horne, Griffin, Mellor, Edwards, Lawler. Int: Hall, Johnstone, Foster, Tsikrikas.
St Helens: Welsby, Makinson, Percival, Davies, Bennison; Lomax, Dodd; Knowles, Roby (C), Delaney, Batchelor, Mata'utia, Bell. Int: Royle, McCarthy-Scarsbrook, Norman, Mbye.

St Helens have thrashed Castleford by 34-4 to keep their top 3 hopes alive.

The Saints opened the scoring after just 11 minutes. A move down the right edge saw the ball moved through the hands as Jonny Lomax found Mark Percival who shifted it to Tommy Makinson who got it back inside to Percival for the first try. Seven minutes later, Saints were at it again when Makinson burrowed over from close range and it was soon 12-0 to the visitors.

Six minutes later, the first half rampage continued. Saints shifted to the left where Jon Bennison was on the end of a well-worked set play to cross and run it round under the posts. Percival's conversion made it 1000 points as a Saint for the man and an 18-0 lead.

Two minutes later, Joe Batchelor was on the end of a break from Jack Welsby to score. Makinson completed his double in the shadows of half-time when Welsby delivered a peach of a pass to his right winger to cross out-wide. Just like that, it was 30-0 at the break.

It took the Saints just 5 minutes to add to their half-time lead when Lomax was on the end of another well-worked move down the right which sent Makinson away. The jolly half just had to accept the pass to score and make the margin 34-0.

Despite the warning of more points, Castleford's defence held firm and didn't concede again. They did add their one try of the game just on the hour mark. Former Saint Jordan Turner crossed out-wide for a rare bit of consolation for the home side and it's where the score finished at 34-4.

Hull FC 4
Warrington Wolves 18

Venue: MKM Stadium, Hull
Crowd: 11624
Date: Sunday 27 August 2023 at 12:00am

Hull FC (4)
Tries: Adam Swift

Warrington Wolves (18)
Tries: George Williams, Matthew Ashton, Matt Dufty
Goals: Stefan Ratchford 3/3

Hull FC: Litten, Swift, Sutcliffe, Scott, McIntosh; Trueman, Clifford (C); Fash, Dwyer, Satae, Lane, Savelio, Cator. Int: Brown, Gardiner, Lovodua, Shaul.
Warrington: Dufty, Thewlis, Mata'utia, Ratchford (C), Ashton; Williams, Drinkwater; Mikaele, Walker, Vaughan, Currie, Nicholson, Harrison. Int: Clark, Kasiano, Philbin, Crowther.

Warrington have given incoming coach Sam Burgess something to think about, with their first league win since June recording an 18-4 win over Hull FC.

The Wire conceded early when Adam Swift crossed for Hull after just 15 minutes of play. Swift scooped up a loose George Williams pass and sprinted 90 metres for the opening try. Hull couldn't build on the lead and were dealt a major blow losing half Jake Trueman to a season ending Achillies injury in the first half.

Wire capitalised on the lack of organisation in the home team's ranks, keeping the ball alive, with a couple of offloads seeing Williams make amends for his earlier blunder by diving over under the sticks after good work from Josh Thewlis to cut back inside.

Matt Dufty broke away in the shadows of half-time sprinting away to score. Stefan Ratchford added the extras to give the Wire a 12-4 lead at the break.

There was just one try in the second half, and it was scored nine minutes into the final period. Williams turned provider for Matty Ashton to finish in the corner after a miraculous spiralling pass. Williams added the extras as Warrington celebrated their first SL win since early June.

Catalans Dragons 0
Wigan Warriors 34

Venue: Stade Gilbert Brutus, Perpignan
Crowd: 10614
Date: Sunday 27 August 2023 at 3:00am

Catalans Dragons (0)

Wigan Warriors (34)
Tries: Abbas Miski 3, Toby King, Jacob Wardle, Bevan French
Goals: Harry Smith 5/6

Catalans: Tomkins, Davies, Romano, Keighran, Johnstone; May, Pearce; McMeeken, McIlorum, Navarrete, Whitley, Séguier, Garcia (C). Int: Mourgue, Bousquet, Taukeiaho, Ma'u.
Wigan: Field, Miski, King, Wardle, Marshall; French, Smith; Ellis, O'Neill, Byrne, Pearce-Paul, Farrell (C), Smithies. Int: Powell, Mago, Nsemba, Dupree.

Wigan have thrashed Catalans by a remarkable 34-0 score-line away from the DW Stadium, putting Catalans title hopes in serious jeopardy.

Wigan dominated from start to finish and begun their scoring adventure in the first ten minutes. Abbas Miski crossed for the first of his three tries after the video referee confirmed he grounded the ball first. Catalans did have their chances with Tom Johnstone denied by some brilliant Wigan defence.

Wigan struck back immediately when Miski turned provider to put centre Toby King over in the 25th minute, Harry Smith was on target with the conversion from wide to give the Warriors a 10-0 advantage.

Bevan French capitalised on some poor Dragons defence with an incredible individual try to go up 16-0. Miski added his second on the stroke of half-time and the game was quickly getting away from the Dragons down 22-0 at the break and would need yet another great escape.

However, Steve McNamara's men wouldn't even trouble the scorer in the second half as Wigan continued to run riot away from home. Another cheap turn-over allowed the visitors to strike and again it was Miski who crossed for a hattrick finishing off a set move to lead by 28.

Jake Wardle poured on the misery for home supporters with a try five minutes from time and Smith finished off the scoring with the conversion from in front of the posts.

Huddersfield Giants 21
Leeds Rhinos 12

Venue: John Smith's Stadium, Huddersfield
Crowd: 6621
Date: Monday 28 August 2023 at 12:00am

Huddersfield Giants (21)
Tries: Kevin Naiqama, Tui Lolohea, Sam Halsall
Goals: Oliver Russell 2/3, Will Pryce 2/2
Field Goals: Jake Connor

Leeds Rhinos (12)
Tries: Ash Handley, Luke Hooley
Goals: Rhyse Martin 2/2

Huddersfield: Connor, Marsters, Naiqama, Bibby, Halsall; Russell, Lolohea; Hill, Milner, Ashworth, Cudjoe, McQueen, Yates (C). Int: Greenwood, Ikahihifo, Hewitt, Pryce.
Leeds: Hooley, Olpherts, Roberts, Newman, Handley; Martin, Sezer; Oledzki, O'Connor, Holroyd, Bentley, Walters, Smith (C). Int: Gannon, Lisone, Donaldson, Ruan.

The Huddersfield Giants have kept their Super League finals hopes alive with a 21-12 victory over the Leeds Rhinos at home.

It was a game played at a frantic pace and the Giants crossed three times in the first 25 minutes. Sam Halsall crossed after 11 minutes after being on the receiving end of a lovely cut-out pass from Jake Connor. Olly Russell landed the conversion from touch for 6-0.

Play was stopped for a lengthy period after James Bentley went down following a heavy collision with Connor and he was stretchered from the field. The Rhinos forward was put in a neck brace and taken in an ambulance to hospital.

When play resumed, Huddersfield took full advantage. Kevin Naiqama crossed from short range. Russell added the extras for a 12-0. Four minutes later and they were in again, this time Lolohea swooping on the ball after Leeds fumbled his kick, but Russell was unable to convert.

Leeds took advantage of limited possession and crossed in the shadows of half-time. But with seven minutes left a nice interchange of close passing between saw Luke Hooley score, with the try converted by Rhyse Martin, in his 100th appearance for the club, to reduce the lead to 16-6.

Then right on half-time Sam Lisone brushed through some weak tackling to put Ash Handley over in the left-hand corner. Martin's conversion putting the Rhinos right back in it at the interval only trailing by 16-12 at the main change.

In a try-less second half. Huddersfield knocked over two penalty goals through Russell to extend the margin out to 8 points. Connor's field goal with limited time remaining sealed a 21-12 victory for the home side in this contest.

Table after Round 23

RELATED: Click here to view the current Betfred Super League ladder.

RLP stats leaders

Top tries

Top points

Thanks to Rugby League Project