Warrington clinched a coveted home berth in the Super League play‑offs after weathering a late surge from Hull FC to edge a 16‑14 victory at the MKM Stadium. The win not only reinforced the Wolves' push for a top‑four finish but also highlighted the resilience of a side that had already enjoyed a string of successes this season.
From the outset, Sam Burgess’s squad appeared to be cruising toward a sixth consecutive triumph. Early in the first half, Leon Hayes and Matty Ashton each crossed the line, delivering back‑to‑back tries that put Warrington firmly in control. These scores came at a time when the hosts had already out‑performed Hull in the opening exchanges, with both teams exchanging early penalty kicks – Warrington captain George Williams trading blows with Hull’s Aidan Sezer. However, a moment of indecision under two high kicks cost the home side dearly, allowing Warrington to go into the interval with a ten‑point advantage.
The second half began with Josh Thewlis adding a third try for the Wolves just ten minutes in, seemingly sealing the match. Yet the Black and Whites, playing their final home game of the campaign, found themselves under pressure as Hull rallied. Quick conversions from Ethan O'Neill and veteran Tom Briscoe – who is set to retire after an illustrious 17‑year career – reignited the visitors’ hopes and forced Warrington to dig deep to preserve their top‑four slot.
While the victory was sweet, it came at a cost. Aaron Lindop was ruled out after failing a head‑injury assessment, and Burgess suffered the loss of both Luke Thomas and Joe Philbin to 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, "I’m proud of the lads; they’re a joy to coach.
We’re getting tougher, which is an important part of our journey – to be able to manage these periods and just get on with the job." Hull FC head coach Andy Last praised his side’s fighting spirit despite the loss. He singled out Briscoe’s emotional farewell try, saying, "I’m disappointed with the result but I’m really proud of the performance. We were up against a really good team who are in good form, and we went toe‑to‑toe with them for 80 minutes. Tom Briscoe gave a remarkable performance today, and it was great that he could score that try in front of the home fans." In parallel news, Wakefield Trinity secured their own post‑season berth with a convincing 28‑12 win over a struggling York side.
Daryl Powell’s men entered the second half with confidence, but York briefly leveled the scores early in the period. Wakefield responded with a trio of tries from Jayden Myers, Max Jowitt and Lachlan Walmsley, which ultimately sealed the victory. Corey Hall’s early conversion gave Wakefield the lead, and after former Trinity player Ben Jones‑Bishop reduced the deficit, Walmsley notched his first try to give the hosts a six‑point advantage at the break.
York fought back, with Xavier Va’a’s brilliant run and Jon Bennison’s conversion bringing the visitors level, but Myers soon broke through from a short pass by Mike McMeeken, restoring Wakefield’s edge. A subsequent interception by Bennison set up Jowitt’s try, and Walmsley capped the win with a second score late in the game.
The triumph provided a much‑needed boost after three consecutive defeats, moving Wakefield two points clear in fourth place and six points ahead of seventh‑placed St Helens. Their chances of securing a home play‑off tie now hinge on the outcome of next week’s clash with Warrington. Further down the table, the Bradford Bulls’ fight for survival grew ever more precarious after a 28‑18 loss to Toulouse Olympique, leaving them just two points shy of safety with two rounds remaining.
The Bulls entered the match with only 17 fit first‑team players, after injuries, suspensions and a recent defeat at Leigh depleted their ranks. Among the few available were academy prospect Harvey Ward, who earned his senior debut off the bench, and returning veterans Ryan Sutton and Connor Wynne, who provided a glimmer of hope.
Toulouse opened the scoring early, exploiting Bradford’s disjointed defence. Paul Ulberg powered over for a try, and Luke Polselli added another after a well‑executed three‑on‑one. Romeo Tropis’s slip‑away run also contributed, giving the French side a 10‑0 lead. Bradford responded with determination.
Riley Dean broke through to set up Chris Atkin, while Ethan Quai‑Ward’s pass allowed John Toleafoa to score the Bulls’ first try of the campaign, narrowing the gap to 16‑6 at halftime. The second half saw Bradford push forward with renewed vigor. Dean was denied twice at the line, but Sutton and Eliot Peposhi combined to keep Toleafoa in check on the opposite wing.
When Maxime Stefani lost possession, Andy Ackers seized the opportunity, dummy‑passing his way to the line for a crucial try that brought the score to a four‑point margin. Toulouse, however, sealed the match in the closing minutes. Mathieu Jussaume crossed for his 16th try of the season, and Tropis capped a flowing move with a final try, securing a ninth‑place finish for the French club and avenging a March loss to Yorkshire. Academy graduate Alfie Leake added a personal milestone, scoring his first senior try as the final whistle blew.
Bradford now faces a stark equation: they must defeat 10th‑placed Castleford at home on Thursday, then travel to the bottom‑half side York Knights the following week. Failure in either fixture could see their season unravel completely.
Looking ahead, Toulouse will conclude their campaign against Hull FC on Friday before facing Warrington, while Sky Sports continues to broadcast every Super League game live, with two matches each round shown exclusively on the main channel and the remaining fixtures available on Sky Sports+. The race for play‑off positions remains wide open, and the final weeks promise drama, determination, and the relentless pursuit of glory.