Round 27 Round Up

The final round of the 2026 Betfred Super League regular season delivered a memorable Frantic Friday, with the League Leaders confirmed, Play-Off positions settled and several sides signing off in style before attention turns to the Road to Old Trafford.

The final round got underway on Thursday Night as York Knights rounded off their maiden Super League campaign with an impressive and entertaining 35-16 victory over a bottom-of-the-table Bradford Bulls. Ryan Sutton and Riley Dean crossed for the Bulls, but the Knights responded each time through Scott Galeano, Ben Jones-Bishop on his 400th career appearance and Toa Mata'afa to lead 18-12 at the break.

The Knights took control after half-time as Jesse Dee, Xavier Va'a and David Nofoaluma all crossed to put the result beyond doubt.

There was still time for Jayden Okunbor to grab a late Bradford consolation, but the final word fittingly belonged to retiring forward Paul Vaughan, who landed the first drop-goal of his career to bring the curtain down on a memorable York season.

The biggest celebrations of the night belonged to Wigan Warriors, who clinched the League Leaders' Shield with a convincing nine-try victory over Catalans Dragons.

Harry Smith opened the scoring before Ugo Tison briefly levelled for the visitors. From there, the Warriors took complete control through tries from Liam Marshall, Brad O'Neill and retiring captain Liam Farrell.

Matt Peet’s side showed no signs of easing up after the break as Austin Daniel, Jai Field, Zach Eckersley, Adam Keighran and Marshall's second score completed a dominant display.

Alexis Lis added a late Dragons consolation, but the 50-12 success secured Wigan's sixth League Leaders' Shield and extended their winning run to fifteen Super League matches heading into the Play-Offs, as they eye up the treble.

Your 2026 League Leaders' Shield Winners, @WiganWarriorsRL ?#SuperLeague pic.twitter.com/dZwaqdDfUN

— Betfred Super League (@SuperLeague) September 11, 2026

A huge surprise came at AMT Headingley, where Hull FC stunned second-placed Leeds Rhinos. The visitors struck first through youngster Logan Moy, before Chris Hankinson levelled for Leeds to leave the scores locked at 6-6 at the interval.

The Black & Whites continued to frustrate the Rhinos in the second half and restored their lead through Lloyd Kemp.

After Leeds squandered several opportunities, Lennon Clark then extended Hull’s advantage Kallum Watkins set up a nervy finish with a late score, but Andy Last’s men held firm to claim an impressive victory and give retiring favourite Tom Briscoe a winning send-off in his 400th and final Super League appearance.

While Leeds have missed out on the League Leaders’ Shield, their top two finish means they have earned a spot in the semi-finals and a bye week, as they prepare to do battle for a place at the Betfred Super League Grand Final.

At the Halliwell Jones Stadium, a youthful Warrington Wolves side showed tremendous character to secure third place in the table.

In a feisty affair, Toulouse Olympique led on three separate occasions through tries from Paul Ulberg, Mathieu Pons and Romeo Tropis, as the visitors looked capable of spoiling Warrington's evening.

However, the Wolves continually responded. Arron Lindop crossed twice, while Lachlan Webster, Max Wood and Josh Smith also got on the scoresheet to complete a 26-14 win.

Even a late sin-bin for Charlie McKler could not derail the Wolves as they booked themselves a home Eliminator against Hull KR next week.

Toulouse, who were one of three newly promoted teams this year, finish their 2026 campaign in eighth place - a remarkable achievement for the French side.

Meanwhile, a huge Play-Off dress rehearsal saw Wakefield Trinity secure a home Eliminator and the highest regular season finish in the club's Super League history. They beat Leigh Leopards, 8-19.

Trinity were dominant from the outset and raced into a 13-0 half-time advantage through a brilliant double from Tom Johnstone, two penalties from Max Jowitt and a drop-goal from Jake Trueman.

The Leopards fought back after the break with tries from Owen Trout and Innes Senior, but Trinity remained in control throughout and a late score from Cam Scott, converted by Jowitt, sealed a deserved win.

The result means the two sides will meet again in next week's Eliminator, this time in Wakefield.

Although their Play-Off hopes had already ended, St Helens ensured club legends Jonny Lomax and Mark Percival bowed out in style.

Percival opened the scoring before Lomax crossed twice to help Saints build an 18-0 lead by half-time.

A youthful Hull KR side, led by Mikey Lewis, threatened a comeback through tries from Bill Leyland and Flynn Holden, reducing the deficit to six points early in the second half.

However, Saints responded strongly as Deon Cross, Jacob Host and Harry Robertson crossed in the final quarter to complete a 36-12 victory and bring the curtain down on their 2026 campaign.

The Robins, meanwhile, will take momentum into next week’s Eliminator.

Saturday afternoon saw Huddersfield Giants sign off from the Accu Stadium in style.

Tries from Taane Milne, Tristan Powell, Connor Wrench and Jacob Gagai helped the Giants establish a commanding 24-6 lead despite losing Fenton Rogers to a red card before half-time.

Castleford Tigers briefly threatened through Daejarn Asi after the break, adding to Liam Hood's first-half effort, but Huddersfield were relentless.

Zac Woolford, Gagai's second, Lewis Jagger and another Milne score ensured the Giants ended their final match at the ground with a comprehensive 48-16 victory and end 2026 on a positive note.

That's a wrap on the 2026 regular season ?#SuperLeague pic.twitter.com/NrgytD5Aw3

— Betfred Super League (@SuperLeague) September 12, 2026

The 2026 @Betfred #SuperLeague regular season ?

Let us know your thoughts ? pic.twitter.com/IbfaZrk2s5

— Betfred Super League (@SuperLeague) September 12, 2026

Onto the Play-Offs...

Wigan and second-placed Leeds have secured byes through the first round of the Play-Offs meaning they are both just 80 minutes away from the Grand Final on October 3.

The Play-Offs get underway with Wakefield Trinity v Leigh Leopards in Eliminator 1 on Friday September 18 (KO 8pm) followed by Warrington Wolves v Hull KR in Eliminator 2 on Saturday September 19 (KO 530pm).

Rhinos, who suffered a shock 18-12 home loss to Hull tonight, host the highest-ranked Eliminator loser in Semi-Final 1 on Friday September 25 (KO 8pm) before Warriors entertain the lowest-ranked Eliminator in Semi-Final 2 on Saturday September 26 (KO 530pm). 

Click here to find out more and buy tickets for the Play-Offs.

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