Warrington cemented their place in the home leg of the Super League play‑offs after fending off a late surge from Hull FC to edge a tense 16‑14 victory at the MKM Stadium. The win not only guaranteed a top‑four finish but also marked a dramatic finale to their regular‑season campaign on home soil. From the outset, Sam Burgess’s Wolves looked dominant.
A pair of first‑half tries from Leon Hayes and Matty Ashton gave them a comfortable cushion and seemed to set the tone for a sixth consecutive win. The early exchanges saw both sides exchanging penalties – Warrington captain George Williams converting for the hosts while Hull’s Aidan Sezer replied for the visitors – but a momentary lapse under two high kicks allowed Warrington to pull ahead by ten points before the break. The second half began with a sense of inevitability for the home crowd. Ten minutes in, Josh Thewlis crossed the line for his third try of the match, extending the lead and prompting many to think the contest was settled.
However, the Black and Whites, playing their final home game of the season, found a second wind. Ethan O’Neill quickly added his own try, and veteran Tom Briscoe – who is set to retire after a distinguished 17‑year career – followed with a conversion‑ready effort that reignited the match. Hull FC responded with two rapid scores of their own, pulling the score back to a nail‑biting margin and leaving Warrington clinging to a top‑four slot. The victory was not without cost.
Aaron Lindop was ruled out after failing a head‑injury assessment, and Burgess saw both Luke Thomas and Joe Philbin limp off with suspected leg injuries. Despite the setbacks, Burgess remained upbeat in his post‑match interview with Sky Sports, noting, “We controlled large portions of the game and I was a bit 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 vital for our journey, and we need to manage these periods and just get on with the job.” Hull FC head coach Andy Last praised his side’s resilience, especially highlighting Briscoe’s emotional connection with the fans after the final whistle.
“I’m disappointed with the result but very proud of the performance,” Last said. “We were up against a strong, in‑form team and we fought them toe‑to‑toe for the full 80 minutes.
Tom Briscoe gave a remarkable performance today and it was great to see him score in front of the home crowd.” In parallel news, Wakefield Trinity secured their own post‑season ticket with a convincing 28‑12 win over a struggling York side in the second half. Daryl Powell’s men had to weather a brief scare when York briefly levelled early in the second period, but tries from Jayden Myers, Max Jowitt and Lachlan Walmsley ensured the victory. Early on, Corey Hall’s conversion gave Wakefield the lead, and despite a reduction in the deficit by former Trinity player Ben Jones‑Bishop, Walmsley’s first try helped the hosts build a six‑point advantage at halftime. York fought back, with Mark Applegarth’s side drawing level after a brilliant run by Xavier Va’a and a successful conversion by Jon Bennison.
However, the momentum shifted when Myers capitalised on a short pass from Mike McMeeken to score, and a subsequent interception by Bennison set up Jowitt’s try, effectively sealing the contest. Walmsley added a second late‑stage try to cap the win. The triumph was a morale booster for Wakefield, ending a three‑match losing streak and moving them two points clear in fourth place, 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 defeat to Toulouse Olympique, leaving them just two points shy of safety with two rounds remaining. The Bulls entered the match severely depleted, with 17 first‑team players unavailable – four injured in a prior loss to Leigh, one suspended, and several others nursing various ailments.
Head coach Kurt Haggerty was forced to field a makeshift side that included academy prospect Harvey Ward, who made his senior debut off the bench. The game began poorly for Bradford; a combination of errors allowed Toulouse to sprint to a 10‑0 lead within the first 17 minutes, courtesy of tries from Paul Ulberg and Luke Polselli, with Romeo Tropis adding a further score after slipping past Luke Hooley. Bradford responded with determination. Riley Dean broke through to set up a Chris Atkin try, and Ethan Quai‑Ward facilitated John Toleafoa’s first try of the season, narrowing the deficit to 16‑6 at halftime.
The second half saw Dean thwarted twice at the line, while the Bulls’ defence held firm, with Ryan Sutton and Connor Wynne making crucial tackles. A mistake by Toulouse’s Maxime Stefani was capitalised on by Andy Ackers, who scored to bring the margin to four points. Toulouse, however, sealed the game in the final seven minutes. Mathieu Jussaume crossed for his 16th try of the year, and Tropis finished a flowing move, securing a ninth‑place win and avenging a March loss to Yorkshire.
The match ended on a high note for academy graduate Alfie Leake, who celebrated his first senior try as a final act of defiance. Bradford now faces a do‑or‑die scenario: they must defeat 10th‑placed Castleford at home on Thursday, or risk a must‑win away game at second‑bottom York Knights the following week, which could determine their fate for the entire season. Meanwhile, Toulouse will conclude their campaign against Hull FC on Friday before traveling to Warrington. Fans can follow every Super League fixture live on Sky Sports, with two matches each round broadcast exclusively, and the remaining five available via Sky Sports+.
The league continues to deliver high‑stakes drama as the play‑off picture sharpens and relegation battles intensify.