Former Wests Tigers winger Pat Richards finished with an 18-point haul as Wigan crushed Super League title rivals Huddersfield 46-12 to turn up the heat on leaders Warrington.

The 29-year-old kicked seven goals and grabbed a first-half try to ensure the Warriors kicked on from last week's defeat of St Helens to sit one point behind Warrington with a game in hand.

New Zealanders Thomas Leuluai and George Carmont got in on the act with first-half tries of their own and England international Sam Tomkins grabbed a hat-trick to make it three defeats in four games for the Giants.

Huddersfield struck first through winger David Hodgson but were soon staring down the barrel of a heavy defeat after Leuluai burst through following two Tomkins tries.

Ex-Newcastle Knights wing Carmont and Richards both crossed the whitewash to extend the lead to 28-6 at the break - an advantage the Warriors, coached by future South Sydney Rabbitohs boss Michael Maguire, never looked like surrendering.

Elsewhere, former Manly hooker Michael Monaghan set the tone with an early try to set leaders Warrington on their way to a thrilling 35-28 defeat of St Helens.

Australia international Matt King, who has been heavily linked with a switch back home, showed the speculation over his future was having no ill-effect by following Monaghan over the tryline to put the Wolves 18-0 up in 13 minutes.

Saints battled back to lead 22-18 at the break with Tony Puletua, the former New Zealand and Samoa international second row, grabbing the first of his two tries to spark the visitors into life.

However, Warrington were not to be denied their first double over St Helens in 18 years and ex-Wests Tigers full-back Brett Hodgson crossed in the second-half and kicked five goals to seal the win.

Former Sydney Roosters prop Lopini Paea's double inspired Catalan Dragons to a 54-20 defeat of Castleford - extending their unbeaten home run to six games.

Australian trio Steve Menzies, Damien Blanch and Scott Dureau finished off with a try each, while 24-year-old former Newcastle half-back Knights Dureau also slotted seven conversions.

Patrick Ah Van was the toast of Bradford after the ex-New Zealand Warrior kicked the Bulls to a 18-12 derby triumph over Leeds.

Twice the Rhinos took the lead and twice Bradford responded but in torrential rain it was Ah Van who handled the conditions - kicking five goals to hand the Bulls their first win at Headingley in nearly four years.

Two tries from ex-New Zealand international Jake Webster helped Hull KR bounce back fr om two heavy defeats to whitewash fellow strugglers Harlequins 34-0.

After conceding over 40 points to Warrington and Leeds in consecutive weeks Aussie coach Justin Morgan's men responded in style with former Bulldogs halfback Blake Green, ex-Melbourne and Newcastle secondrower Clint Newton and Michael Dobson, who spent a season with Canberra Raiders, all getting on the scoresheet.

Former Sydney Roosters and Bulldogs prop Mark O'Meley was one of nine Hull FC players to cross the line in the 52-18 victory at Wakefield.

A last-gasp try from Adam Sidlow and three goals from the boot of former Bulldog Daniel Holdsworth secured Salford an 18-22 triumph over rock-bottom Crusaders.

Brought to you by AAP © 2024 AAP