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 fixture of the campaign.
Sam Burgess’s Wolves appeared destined for a comfortable sixth straight win when Leon Hayes and Matty Ashton crossed for consecutive tries before the halftime whistle. Those scores gave Warrington a sizable cushion and seemed to set the tone for the remainder of the match.
The opening exchanges had both sides trading penalties – captain George Williams for Warrington and Hull’s Aidan Sezer for the visitors – before a pair of high kicks from Hull went astray, allowing the home side to extend their lead to ten points. The momentum, however, began to shift after the break. Ten minutes into the second half, Josh Thewlis added a third try for Warrington, seemingly sealing the affair. Yet the Black and Whites, playing their last game at home this season, were jolted back to life when Ethan O’Neill and veteran Tom Briscoe, who is set to retire after a 17‑year career, each struck quickly.
Their scores narrowed the gap and forced Hull to cling desperately to the result in order to preserve a top‑four finish. The triumph came at a cost. Aaron Lindop was ruled out after failing a head‑injury assessment, while Burgess saw both Luke Thomas and Joe Philbin leave the field with what appeared to be leg injuries. Despite the setbacks, Burgess praised his side’s overall control, noting his disappointment that Hull managed to score two late tries.
"We dominated large portions of the game and I was a bit disappointed they could get those two scores at the end," he told Sky Sports. Hull FC head coach Andy Last lauded his players’ fighting spirit and highlighted Briscoe’s emotional farewell try in front of the home crowd. "I’m proud of the performance despite the result. We were up against a quality side in good form and we stood toe‑to‑toe for the full 80 minutes," Last said.
"Tom’s try was a remarkable moment for him and a great way to end his career in front of the fans." In a separate fixture, Wakefield rallied in the second half to defeat a struggling York side 28‑12, thereby securing their own 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 ensured the victory. Corey Hall gave Wakefield the early lead with a conversion, and after former Wakefield player Ben Jones‑Bishop reduced York’s deficit, Walmsley added his first try to give the visitors a six‑point advantage at halftime. Mark Applegarth’s side responded through a brilliant run by Xavier Va’a, with Jon Bennison’s conversion bringing the scores level.
York’s momentum was halted when Myers powered over from a short pass by Mike McMeeken, and a subsequent interception by Bennison set up Jowitt’s try, effectively sealing the contest. Walmsley capped the win with a second try late in the game.
The victory lifted Wakefield after three consecutive defeats, moving them two points clear in fourth place and six points ahead of seventh‑placed St Helens. Their chances of earning a home play‑off tie now hinge on the outcome of Warrington’s upcoming match. Further down the ladder, the Bradford Bulls’ survival hopes remain precarious after a 28‑18 loss to Toulouse, leaving them two points shy of safety with two rounds left.
The Bulls fielded only 17 fit players after injuries, suspensions and a depleted squad forced head coach Kurt Haggerty to rely on academy prospect Harvey Ward for a senior debut off the bench. Despite the adversity, the team showed resilience, with Cesar Rouge’s accurate boot keeping them in contention early on. Paul Ulberg and Luke Polselli each scored, giving the Bulls a 10‑0 lead before Toulouse rallied. Toulouse answered with a try from Riley Dean, followed by Chris Atkin’s score, and later a first‑career try for John Toleafoa after a pass from Ethan Quai‑Ward, extending the half‑time margin to 16‑6.
Bradford fought back valiantly, with Dean thwarted twice near the line and a defensive stand by Sutton and Connor Wynne. Andy Ackers added a try after a dummy, narrowing the deficit to four points. In the closing minutes, Toulouse secured the win with Mathieu Jussaume’s 16th try of the season and a finishing move by Romeo Tropis, sealing a ninth‑place finish and avenging their earlier loss to Yorkshire. Academy graduate Alfie Leake celebrated his first senior try as a final act of defiance for the visitors.
Bradford now faces a must‑win scenario: a victory over Castleford at home on Thursday, followed by a trip to the struggling York Knights, is essential to keep their Super League status alive. Meanwhile, Toulouse will conclude their season against Hull FC before heading to Warrington. All Super League matches are broadcast live on Sky Sports, with two fixtures each round shown exclusively on the main channel and the remaining games available via Sky Sports+.