Warrington locked in a home play‑off berth after fending off a late surge from Hull FC to edge a 16‑14 victory at the MKM Stadium in the Betfred Super League. The win not only cemented their position in the top four but also set the stage for an intense finish to the regular season. In the first half, Warrington appeared to be cruising toward a sixth consecutive triumph.
Leon Hayes and Matty Ashton each crossed for tries in quick succession, giving the hosts a comfortable lead as the half‑time whistle approached. The early exchanges were tightly contested, with both sides exchanging penalties – Warrington captain George Williams and Hull’s Aidan Sezer each slotting the ball through the uprights – but a momentary lapse under two high kicks allowed the home side to pull ahead by ten points. Ten minutes into the second half, Josh Thewlis added a third try for Warrington, seemingly putting the game beyond Hull’s reach. However, the Black and Whites, playing their final home game of the campaign, rallied dramatically.
Ethan O’Neill struck quickly, converting his own effort, and veteran Tom Briscoe – who is set to retire after a distinguished 17‑year career – followed with another try, reigniting the contest and forcing Hull to cling to a narrow margin. The match ended with Warrington preserving a top‑four slot, but the victory came at a cost.
Aaron Lindop failed a head‑injury assessment, and coach Sam Burgess was forced to watch 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 was a positive sign for the remainder of the season. Hull FC head coach Andy Last praised his side’s fighting spirit despite the loss.
He highlighted Tom Briscoe’s emotional farewell, noting, “I’m disappointed with the result but I’m really proud of the performance. We were up against a very good team who are in great form, and we went toe‑to‑toe with them for 80 minutes.” Briscoe’s try, scored in front of a passionate home crowd, provided a fitting end to his long service. Meanwhile, Wakefield secured their own post‑season place with a convincing 28‑12 win over a struggling York side. Daryl Powell’s team entered the second half on level terms after York briefly equalised, but tries from Jayden Myers, Max Jowitt and Lachlan Walmsley gave Wakefield the decisive edge.
Corey Hall opened the scoring for York, and former Wakefield player Ben Jones‑Bishop reduced the deficit before Walmsley’s first try created a six‑point halftime lead. Wakefield responded through a brilliant run by Xavier Va’a, with Jon Bennison converting to level the scores.
However, Myers capitalised on a short pass from Mike McMeeken to restore Wakefield’s advantage, and a subsequent interception by Bennison set up Jowitt’s try, effectively sealing the contest. Walmsley added a second late try to cap the victory.
The win halted Wakefield’s three‑game losing streak and moved them two points clear in fourth place, six points ahead of seventh‑placed St Helens. Their chances of earning a home play‑off tie now hinge on the outcome of next week’s clash with Warrington. In another crucial battle, the Bradford Bulls saw their survival hopes dwindle after a 28‑18 defeat to Toulouse in France, leaving them two points shy of safety with only two rounds remaining. The Bulls were heavily depleted, with 17 first‑team players unavailable due to injuries, suspensions and previous defeats.
Coach Kurt Haggerty was forced to field a makeshift side that included academy prospect Harvey Ward, who made his senior debut off the bench. Toulouse started brightly, with Cesar Rouge’s accurate boot work and a series of early scores – Paul Ulberg, Luke Polselli and Romeo Tropis – giving them a 10‑0 lead. Bradford fought back, Riley Dean creating space for Chris Atkin, while Ethan Quai‑Ward set up John Toleafoa for the Bulls’ first try, narrowing the gap to 16‑6 at halftime.
The second half remained fiercely contested. Dean was denied twice near the line, but Bradford’s defense held firm as Sutton and Connor Wynne thwarted Toleafoa’s attempts.
Andy Ackers capitalised on a loose ball to restore a four‑point margin. However, Toulouse sealed the win in the closing minutes, with Mathieu Jussaume scoring his 16th try of the season and Romeo Tropis finishing a flowing move. Alfie Leake, another academy graduate, capped the night with his first senior try, providing a brief uplift for the visitors. The Bulls now face a must‑win scenario: they must defeat Castleford at home on Thursday, then travel to the struggling York Knights a week later, or risk seeing their season unravel.
Looking ahead, Toulouse will conclude their campaign against Hull FC on Friday before heading to Warrington for their final match. Sky Sports continues 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+. The coverage ensures fans can follow the drama as teams battle for play‑off positions and fight to avoid relegation.