Warrington sealed a home berth in the Super League play‑offs after fending off a late surge from Hull FC to edge a 16‑14 victory at the MKM Stadium. The win not only guaranteed a top‑four finish but also marked a significant moment for the club as they prepared for the final home game of the campaign.
The match began with both sides trading early penalties – Warrington captain George Williams converting his first attempt and Hull’s Aidan Sezer responding in kind. After a period of cautious play, the Wolves surged forward. Leon Hayes broke the deadlock with a powerful try, and moments later Matty Ashton added a second, giving Warrington a comfortable lead heading into the break. The early dominance was evident as the hosts out‑performed Hull in the opening exchanges, building a ten‑point cushion that seemed to set the tone for a sixth consecutive win.
The second half appeared to be a formality when Josh Thewlis crossed for Warrington’s third try just ten minutes after the restart. At that point, the outcome seemed all but decided.
However, Hull FC, refusing to surrender, rallied with determination. Ethan O'Neill quickly struck back, converting his own try, and Tom Briscoe – who is set to retire after a distinguished 17‑year career – added another score. Those two rapid conversions narrowed the margin and injected fresh suspense into the contest, leaving the visitors clinging to a chance of snatching a top‑four slot.
Warrington ultimately held on, but the victory came at a cost. Aaron Lindop was forced to undergo a head injury assessment, and coach Sam Burgess saw both Luke Thomas and Joe Philbin leave the field with apparent leg injuries. Burgess reflected on the performance, saying, "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 in managing the pressure was a positive sign for their ongoing development.
Hull’s head coach Andy Last praised his side’s fighting spirit despite the loss. He highlighted Briscoe’s emotional farewell, noting the veteran’s try in front of a home crowd was a fitting tribute. "I'm disappointed with the result but proud of the performance," Last said. "We were up against a very good team in good form, and we fought them toe‑to‑toe for the full 80 minutes.
Tom Briscoe gave a remarkable performance today, and it was wonderful for him to score that try for the fans." In the other half of the round, Wakefield secured their own post‑season berth with a convincing 28‑12 win over a struggling York side. Daryl Powell’s Wildcats entered the second half needing to hold off a brief York resurgence, but tries from Jayden Myers, Max Jowitt and Lachlan Walmsley ensured the victory was never in doubt.
Corey Hall opened the scoring for Wakefield, and after former Wildcat Ben Jones‑Bishop reduced the deficit, Walmsley’s first try gave Wakefield a six‑point lead at the break. York answered back through a brilliant run by Xavier Va’a, which was converted by Jon Bennison to level the scores. However, Myers capitalised on a short pass from Mike McMeeken to regain the advantage for Wakefield. A subsequent interception by Bennison set up Jowitt’s try, effectively sealing the contest, and Walmsley added a second late‑game score to cement the win.
The triumph provided Wakefield with a much‑needed lift after three successive defeats. The victory moved them two points clear in fourth place, six points ahead of seventh‑placed St Helens, and placed their chances of earning a home play‑off tie squarely on the outcome of next week’s clash with Warrington. Further down the table, the Bradford Bulls saw their survival hopes dwindle after a 28‑18 loss to Toulouse in France.
The Bulls entered the match with only 17 fit first‑team players – four were sidelined from the previous defeat at Leigh and Loghan Lewis was suspended. Among the 17 who travelled was academy prospect Harvey Ward, who made his senior debut off the bench.
The side also welcomed the return of vice‑captain Ryan Sutton and winger Connor Wynne, offering a glimmer of optimism. Toulouse started brightly, with Cesar Rouge’s accurate boot keeping the makeshift Bulls on the back foot. Paul Ulberg and Luke Polselli combined for an early try, and Romeo Tropis broke through to give the visitors a 10‑0 lead. Bradford responded through Riley Dean, who set up Chris Atkin, and Ethan Quai‑Ward linked up with John Toleafoa for the Bulls’ first try of the season, trimming the deficit to 16‑6 at halftime.
The second half remained tightly contested. Dean was denied twice near the line, while Sutton and Eliot Peposhi thwarted Toleafoa’s attempts on the opposite wing. A lapse by Toulouse saw Maxime Stefani lose possession, allowing Andy Ackers to dummy his way over for a four‑point advantage.
However, Toulouse rallied in the final seven minutes; Mathieu Jussaume crossed for his 16th try of the year, and Romeo Tropis capped a flowing move with a finishing score, securing a ninth‑place win for the French side and avenging a March loss in Yorkshire. Alfie Leake, the academy graduate, provided a bright note for Bradford by scoring his first senior try in the closing moments, offering a brief lift before the final whistle.
The Bulls now face a stark reality: they must defeat 10th‑placed Castleford at home on Thursday, then travel to the second‑bottom York Knights a week later. Failure in either fixture could see their season end prematurely.
Looking ahead, Toulouse will conclude their campaign with matches against Hull FC on Friday and then Warrington, while the Super League continues to be broadcast live on Sky Sports, with two matches each round shown exclusively and the remaining fixtures available on Sky Sports+. Overall, the round highlighted the fine margins that define the league. Warrington’s narrow win preserved their home play‑off advantage, Wakefield’s decisive performance secured their post‑season ticket, and Bradford’s struggle underscored the relentless pressure faced by clubs fighting relegation.
The upcoming fixtures promise further drama as teams battle for positioning, survival, and the chance to end the season on a high note.