Three of the best: Record-winning Super League margins

Michael Monaghan of Warrington Wolves in action during the Super League match between Warrington Wolves and St Helens at The Halliwell Jones Stadium on February 13, 2014
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Following Warrington's thrashing of Wakefield this weekend, Sports Mole takes a look back at the previous record Super League winning margins.

Warrington Wolves's 80-0 thrashing of Wakefield Trinity Wildcats on Saturday afternoon saw them place their name firmly in the record books in what was one of the most one-sided affairs in Super League history.

Having led 30-0 at the interval, Wolves did not look back by crossing over a total of 14 times to become just the eighth side in history to reach the 80-point mark.

Here, Sports Mole looks back at two of the previous highest-scoring affairs which have stood at the top of the leaderboard untouched for so long.


Bradford Bulls 96-16 Salford City (June, 2000)

For the past 15 years this contest has taken its place in the record books as the joint-leading winning-tally margin for a top-flight match. At the time, serious questions were asked about the quality of certain sides in what was then known as the Tetley Bitter Super League, yet incredibly Salford City held the lead for eight minutes in the first half.

Bradford Bulls soon took control, however, racking up try after try to surpass their previous best score which was set just a year beforehand in a 92-0 Challenge Cup win over Workington. For City, on the other hand, it was their worst result since the 70-6 hiding at Wigan Warriors in 1993.

There was also a piece of personal history for Henry Paul, who kicked over a club-equalling 14 successful kicks during the lopsided affair. Robbie Paul also had a day to remember, grabbing a hat-trick in the space of 13 minutes to truly cement the victory.

Salford coach John Harvey put on a brave face to speak to reporters following the embarrassment, admitting that the Bulls "were too big, too fast, too powerful and there were too many of them". Little did he know at the time, that record would not be usurped until some 15 years on.


Leeds Rhinos 86-6 Huddersfield Giants (July, 1999)

That 80-point winning margin was enough to equal Leeds Rhinos' equally as impressive win against Huddersfield Giants at Headingley Carnegie from the previous year.

In that encounter, nine different players got their name on the try-sheet, while Iestyn Harris stole the show with four of his own. Harris also found the sticks on 13 occasions courtesy of some solid kicking to set a record that Paul would break 11 months later.

Huddersfield did avoid a complete whitewash of sorts thanks to Andy Cheetham's consolation try, but even that was not enough to see their name enter the record books for all the wrong reasons. This match will also be remembered for another reason, too, as Harris's 42 points in a single game remains unmatched to this day.


Best of the rest:

Apr 1, 2013 - Hull Kingston Rovers 6-84 Wigan Warriors
Apr 21, 2014 - Wigan Warriors 84-6 Bradford Bulls
May 2, 2004 - Hull FC 82-6 Salford City
Mar 20, 2011 - Warrington Wolves 82-6 Harlequins

Rob Burrow of Leeds Rhinos in action against London Broncos on January 31, 2014
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