Warrington locked in a home play‑off berth after fending off a late surge from Hull FC to edge a 16‑14 victory in the Betfred Super League at the MKM Stadium. The win, which came in front of their own supporters, cemented the Wolves’ place among the top four teams as the regular season draws to a close.
The match appeared to be heading for a comfortable sixth consecutive win for Sam Burgess’s side when Leon Hayes and Matty Ashton each crossed the line before the break, giving the hosts a comfortable lead. Those back‑to‑back tries allowed Warrington to dictate the tempo and they seemed firmly in control as the first half wound down. Early in the game both teams exchanged penalties – Warrington captain George Williams and Hull’s Aidan Sezer each slotting points – and the score was level for a spell.
However, a moment of indecision under two high kicks cost Hull dearly, and the Wolves surged ahead to finish the half ten points clear. The second half began with a sense of inevitability for Warrington. Ten minutes in, Josh Thewlis added a third try, extending the margin and prompting many to believe the result was already decided. Yet the Black and Whites, playing their final home fixture of the campaign, found a second wind.
Ethan O’Neill quickly answered with a try of his own, and Tom Briscoe – who is set to retire after an illustrious 17‑year career – followed suit. Those two scores pulled Hull back into the contest and left the visitors clinging to a chance of snatching a top‑four slot.
Warrington’s triumph did not come without cost. Aaron Lindop was ruled out after failing a head‑injury assessment, while Burgess suffered the loss of both Luke Thomas and Joe Philbin to what appeared to be leg injuries. Despite the setbacks, Burgess remained upbeat.
"We controlled large parts of the game and I was a little disappointed they managed to score two tries at the end," he told Sky Sports. He added, "I’m proud of the lads – they’re a joy to coach.
We’re getting tougher, which is vital for our journey, learning to manage these periods and just get on with the job." Hull FC head coach Andy Last praised his players’ resilience and highlighted Briscoe’s emotional moment with the crowd after the final whistle. "I’m disappointed with the result but extremely proud of the performance," Last said. "We were up against a very strong side in good form, and we held them toe‑to‑toe for 80 minutes.
Tom Briscoe gave a remarkable performance today and it was great to see him score in front of the home fans." In the other half of the action, Wakefield rallied in the second half to overcome a struggling York side, winning 28‑12 and securing their own place in the post‑season. Daryl Powell’s team had to weather a brief scare when York briefly levelled early in the second period, but tries from Jayden Myers, Max Jowitt and Lachlan Walmsley ultimately sealed the win. Corey Hall gave Wakefield an early lead with a converted try, and after former Wakefield player Ben Jones‑Bishop reduced the deficit, Walmsley grabbed his first try to give the visitors a six‑point advantage at the break.
Mark Applegarth’s side responded with a brilliant run by Xavier Va’a, followed by Jon Bennison’s conversion to bring the scores level. However, York’s momentum was halted when Myers dived over from a short pass by Mike McMeeken, and a subsequent interception by Bennison set up Jowitt’s decisive try.
Walmsley added a second late in the game to cap a comprehensive victory. The win was a much‑needed lift for Wakefield after three straight defeats. It moved them two points clear in fourth place and six points ahead of seventh‑placed St Helens, leaving their chances of securing a home play‑off tie dependent on next week’s clash with Warrington.
Further down the ladder, the Bradford Bulls’ survival hopes grew increasingly precarious after a 28‑18 loss to Toulouse in France, leaving them two points shy of safety with only two rounds remaining. The Bulls entered the match with a depleted squad – 17 first‑team players were unavailable due to injury, suspension or previous defeat – and were forced to field academy graduate Harvey Ward for his senior debut off the bench.
Despite the adversity, there were bright spots, such as the return of vice‑captain Ryan Sutton and wing Connor Wynne. Toulouse opened strongly, with Cesar Rouge’s kicking keeping the makeshift Bulls on the back foot.
Paul Ulberg and Luke Polselli combined for early tries, and Romeo Tropis added a third, giving the hosts a 10‑0 lead. Bradford responded through Riley Dean, who created a chance for Chris Atkin, and Ethan Quai‑Ward set up John Toleafoa for the Bulls’ first try of the season, narrowing the gap to 16‑6 at halftime. The second half saw Bradford fight valiantly.
Dean was denied twice near the line, while Sutton and Eliot Peposhi thwarted Toleafoa’s attempts on the opposite side. A lapse by Toulouse allowed Andy Ackers to score after a dummy, cutting the margin to four points. However, Toulouse sealed the match in the final minutes when Mathieu Jussaume, on a roll with his 16th try of the year, scored, and Tropis finished a flowing move for a ninth win of the season for the French side. Alfie Leake, another academy product, ended the night on a high note by securing his first senior try in the final moments, offering a brief uplift for the travelling Bulls.
Bradford now faces a stark reality: they must defeat 10th‑placed Castleford at home on Thursday, or risk a do‑or‑die encounter with second‑bottom York Knights a week later that could decide their fate for the season. Toulouse’s next fixtures include a clash with Hull FC on Friday followed by a game at Warrington. Sky Sports will broadcast every Super League match live this season, with two games each round shown exclusively on the main channel and the remaining five available via Sky Sports+.