Betfred Super League Round 27
Friday 19 September 2025
Leopards Den (8pm)
Leigh Leopards 30-16 Huddersfield Giants
Leopards rounded off a memorable Super League season with victory over the Giants that clinched third place, their best finishing position since 1982 and the third best finish in club history.
Wakefield Trinity awaits next Friday at the Leopards Den for the club’s first home playoff tie in Super League.
Leopards completed the 27 rounds with an incredible 39pts, their best haul since 1982.
The crowd of 8,317 saw the average for the season at the Leopards Den finish at 8,822, the highest since the 1953-54 season when the average was 9,222.
Giants have endured a terrible season judged by the playing talent on their roster. They also bring a very small travelling support. So in the circumstances the attendance was excellent.
In truth it was a typical Round 27 game, scrappy and disjointed at times.
Leopards knew a win would secure third spot irrespective of how Leeds went on at Wigan. In the event they lost anyway.
With a slightly changed team, Keanan Brand rested, Leopards started well, dominating the opening quarter and scoring slick, well-worked tries by AJ Towse and Josh Charnley.
Giants gave it a dig, future England fullback George Flanagan outstanding.
Former Academy player Lewis Jagger marked his Super League debut with a smart finish in the left corner, and it was only 8-4 at the break. Then Giants hit the front as Jake Bibby marked his final game for the club with a try converted by Flanagan.
Once again Bailey Hodgson was Leopards’ best man, and he got his side back on track with a clinical close-range finish from Brad Dwyer’s clever assist.
Frankie Halton fought his way over in Flangan’s tackle to extend Leopards’ lead.
Dwyer again perked up Leopards upon his arrival and went on to celebrate his 250th Super League game in style with two typically astute finishes sandwiched by a Tom Burgess try for the Giants.
Gareth O’Brien was the victim of a late challenge late on and taken away for eight stitches in a serious hand injury.
But he was the only serious casualty as Leopards now prepare to end a record-breaking season in style.
On a day of milestones local official Warren Turley celebrated his 300h Super League game on the touchline, a great achievement.
While Leroy Cudjoe finished his long and distinguished career with his hometown club, marked by over 400 Giants appearances and 10 England caps.
Leopards
Bailey Hodgson; AJ Towse, Umyla Hanley, Tesi Niu, Josh Charnley; Gareth O’Brien, Lachlan Lam; Joe Ofahengaue, Ben McNamara, Robbie Mulhern, Frankie Halton, Owen Trout, Isaac Liu
Bench:
Aaron Pene, Jack Hughes, Matt Davies, Brad Dwyer. 18th player Alec Tuitavake (not used)
Tries:
Towse (3), Charnley (19), Hodgson (49), Halton (56), Dwyer (61, 78)
Goals:
O’Brien 2/ 5, McNamara 1/ 1
Giants
George Flanagan; Jake Bibby, Taane Milne, Jacob Gagai, Lewis Jagger; Kieran Rush, Oliver Russell; Tristan Powell, Zac Woolford, Thomas Burgess, Joe Greenwood, Harry Rushton, Leroy Cudjoe
Bench:
Ashton Golding, Matty English, George King, Fenton Rogers. 18th player Marshall Land (not used)
Tries:
Jagger (34), Bibby (46), Burgess (64)
Goals:
Flanagan 2/ 3
Scoring sequence: 4-0, 8-0, 8-4 (ht) 8-10, 14-10, 18-10, 24-10, 24-16, 30-16
Attendance: 8,317
Penalty count: 3-3
GLDO: 2-1
Referee: Marcus Griffiths
Touch judges: Warren Turley & Tara Jones; Reserve referee: J Pemberton
Video referee: Tom Grant; Timekeeper: A Smith; M Com: Peter Taberner
Main Match sponsor: Trojan Mechanical Services
Player of the Match sponsor: Price & Pierce, Forest Products Limited
Match Ball sponsor: Clare Davies
Champagne Moment sponsor: Vaylia Integrated Security- awarded to Bailey Hodgson for his try
Official Kit & Retail Sponsor: Reebok
