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 not only cemented their place among the top four but also marked a dramatic finish to their final home game of the season. The Wolves appeared to be cruising toward a sixth consecutive triumph when Leon Hayes and Matty Ashton crossed for back‑to‑back tries before the break. Those scores gave Warrington a comfortable lead and seemed to set the tone for the second half.
Early in the match both sides exchanged penalties – captain George Williams for Warrington and Hull’s Aidan Sezer – but a momentary hesitation under two high balls allowed the home side to pull ahead by ten points. Ten minutes into the second half, Josh Thewlis added a third try for Warrington, and at that point the contest looked almost decided. However, the Black and Whites, playing their last game at home before the playoffs, found a second wind. Ethan O'Neill quickly followed with a conversion, and veteran Tom Briscoe, who is preparing to hang up his boots after a 17‑year career, struck back with a try of his own.
Those two scores reignited the match, forcing Hull to cling to a narrow margin and leaving Warrington in contention for a top‑four finish. The victory was not without cost. Aaron Lindop failed a head‑injury assessment, and Sam Burgess saw both Luke Thomas and Joe Philbin leave the field with what appeared to be leg injuries.
Burgess reflected on the performance, telling Sky Sports, “We controlled the game for large parts, and I was a bit disappointed that they were able to score two tries towards the end.” He added that the team’s resilience was a positive sign as they head into the knockout stages. Hull FC coach Andy Last praised his side’s fighting spirit despite the loss.
He highlighted Briscoe’s emotional connection with the fans, noting, “Tom Briscoe gave a remarkable performance today, and it was great to see him score in front of the home crowd.” Last also expressed pride in his players, saying the team “went toe‑to‑toe with a very good side for the full 80 minutes.” In the other half of the round, Wakefield delivered a strong second‑half display to beat a struggling York side 28‑12, thereby confirming their place in the post‑season. Daryl Powell’s team weathered an early scare when York briefly levelled the score, but tries from Jayden Myers, Max Jowitt and Lachlan Walmsley restored control.
Corey Hall’s early conversion gave Wakefield the initial lead, and after former Wakefield player Ben Jones‑Bishop reduced the deficit, Walmsley’s first try created a six‑point advantage at the break. York responded with a brilliant run by Xavier Va’a, which Mark Applegarth converted to bring the visitors level, but Myers’ try from a short pass by Mike McMeeken swung momentum back to Wakefield.
A subsequent interception by Jon Bennison set up Jowitt’s try, effectively sealing the contest, and Walmsley added a second late‑stage score to cap the win. The result was a much‑needed boost for Wakefield after three straight defeats.
The win 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 Warrington’s upcoming fixture. Elsewhere in the league, the Bradford Bulls’ fight for survival grew increasingly precarious after a 28‑18 loss to Toulouse. The defeat left them two points shy of safety with only two rounds remaining.
The Bulls entered the match with just 17 fit players after injuries and a suspension reduced their squad. Among the few available were academy prospect Harvey Ward, who made his senior debut off the bench, and returning veterans Ryan Sutton and Connor Wynne. Toulouse opened strongly, with Cesar Rouge’s boot and a series of quick scores – Paul Ulberg, Luke Polselli and a try by Romeo Tropis – giving them a 10‑0 lead. Bradford rallied, however, as Riley Dean set up Chris Atkin, and Ethan Quai‑Ward assisted John Toleafoa for the Bulls’ first try, 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 combined to keep Toleafoa in check. Andy Ackers capitalised on a loose ball to score, reducing the deficit to four points. Toulouse sealed the match in the closing minutes with a try from Mathieu Jussaume and a finishing move by Tropis, securing their ninth win of the season.
Alfie Leake, another academy graduate, added a consolation try for Bradford, providing a brief uplift before the final whistle. The Bulls now face a must‑win situation: they must defeat Castleford at home on Thursday, or risk a relegation battle against York Knights the following week that could determine their fate for the next season. Looking ahead, Toulouse will conclude their campaign against Hull FC on Friday before traveling to Warrington.
Meanwhile, Sky Sports continues to broadcast every Super League match live this season, with two games each round shown exclusively on the main channel and the remaining fixtures available on Sky Sports+.