Warrington locked in a home play‑off berth after weathering 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 match began with both sides exchanging early penalties – Warrington captain George Williams converting his first attempt and Hull’s Aidan Sezer replying in kind. Those kicks set a measured tone, but the hosts quickly asserted dominance. Leon Hayes broke the deadlock with a first‑half try, and Matty Ashton added a second shortly after, giving Warrington a comfortable lead as the half‑time whistle approached. By the break, the home side enjoyed a ten‑point advantage, thanks to a combination of disciplined defence and opportunistic attacking play.
The second half started with a sense of inevitability for Warrington, but Hull FC refused to surrender quietly. Early in the period, Josh Thewlis crossed for Warrington’s third try, extending the lead to 16‑6 and seemingly putting the game beyond doubt.
However, the Black and Whites, playing their last fixture at the MKM Stadium before the season’s end, rallied with renewed vigor. Hull’s Ethan O'Neill struck back, converting his own try, and Tom Briscoe – who announced his retirement after a distinguished 17‑year career – added a further score that tightened the contest to a single point. The final minutes were a tense back‑and‑forth.
Hull pressed hard, creating several chances, but Warrington’s defence held firm. In the end, the home side preserved the narrow margin, securing the crucial top‑four slot. The triumph, however, came at a cost.
Aaron Lindop failed a head‑injury assessment, and coach Sam Burgess saw both Luke Thomas and Joe Philbin leave the field with suspected leg injuries, raising concerns about squad depth for the upcoming play‑offs. Speaking to Sky Sports after the match, Burgess reflected on the performance: “We controlled large portions of the game, but I was disappointed they managed to score two tries at the end.
I’m proud of the lads – they’re a joy to coach. We’re getting tougher, which is essential for navigating these periods and staying focused on the job.” Hull FC head coach Andy Last praised his side’s resilience despite the loss. “I’m disappointed with the result, but I’m incredibly proud of the effort. We faced a strong, in‑form team and matched them for 80 minutes.
Tom Briscoe gave a remarkable performance, and it was special for him to score in front of the home crowd,” he said. Meanwhile, Wakefield mounted a convincing second‑half display against a struggling York side, winning 28‑12 and guaranteeing their own post‑season berth. Daryl Powell’s Wildcats entered the second period trailing but quickly turned the tide. Early in the half, Corey Hall’s conversion gave Wakefield an early lead, and after former Wakefield player Ben Jones‑Bishop reduced the deficit for York, Lachlan Walmsley secured his first try of the season, establishing a six‑point advantage at halftime.
York fought back, with Mark Applegarth’s side leveling the score through a brilliant run by Xavier Va’a and a successful conversion from Jon Bennison. However, Wakefield’s momentum surged again when Jayden Myers capitalised on a short pass from Mike McMeeken to score, and Max Jowitt added another after intercepting a pass. Walmsley capped the victory with a late try, sealing the win and providing a much‑needed boost after three consecutive defeats. The triumph lifted Wakefield to second place, two points clear of the third‑placed team and six points ahead of St Helens in seventh.
Their chances of securing a home play‑off tie now hinge on Warrington’s result in the upcoming round. In the lower tier, the Bradford Bulls’ survival hopes grew precarious after a 28‑18 loss to Toulouse in France, leaving them two points shy of safety with only two games remaining. The Bulls fielded a makeshift squad of 17 fit players after injuries, suspensions, and a depleted roster forced coach Kurt Haggerty to rely on academy prospect Harvey Ward for his senior debut. Despite the adversity, the Bulls showed flashes of resilience.
César Rouge’s accurate boot kept the team in contention, and Paul Ulberg’s powerful run resulted in an early try, giving Bradford a 10‑0 lead. Toulouse responded quickly. Riley Dean broke through the defense to set up Chris Atkin, while Ethan Quai‑Ward’s pass enabled John Toleafoa to score, narrowing the gap to 16‑6 at halftime. In the second half, Bradford’s defence held firm, with Sutton and Connor Wynne thwarting several attacks.
Maxime Stefani’s error provided an opportunity for Andy Ackers, who capitalised with a dummy and sprinted over for a try, reducing the deficit to four points. Toulouse sealed the win in the closing minutes. Mathieu Jussaume, already on a prolific scoring run, crossed for his 16th try of the season, and Romeo Tropis added the final touch, confirming a ninth‑place finish for the French side and avenging a March loss to Yorkshire. Academy graduate Alfie Leake celebrated his first senior try as a final act of defiance for the Bulls.
Bradford now faces a do‑or‑die situation: they must defeat Castleford at home in their next match or risk a relegation battle against York Knights the following week, where a loss could end their season. The pressure is immense, but the Bulls have shown they can compete even when shorthanded. Looking ahead, Toulouse will conclude their campaign against Hull FC before travelling to Warrington for their final fixture. Sky Sports will continue to broadcast every Super League game live this season, with two matches each round shown exclusively on the main channel and the remaining fixtures available on Sky Sports+.