As far as I am aware it can only be obtained by doing manual nodes

As they change things anything is possible, but if the Beowolf gear is only found in the chests and auto run doesn't open the chests then the answer is  to run manual.

I would add that the chance of getting the gear, especially in a timely manner would appear to be quite low, and as I had said before, you can do all that is required without it or, at least it was possible, and they do appear to make any type of progress slower than it used to be.

Thank you!