Qareqare Hat-trick Fires Castleford Past Bradford

ByChris Harby
BBC Sport England


26 March 2026


17 Comments


Betfred Super League


Castleford (22) 40


Tries: Qareqare 3, McIntosh 2, Lawler, Weaver Goals: Weaver 6


Bradford (16) 28


Tries: Marsters 2, Mellor, Hooley Goals: Hooley 6


Jason Qareqare's hat-trick influenced a sensational turnaround as Castleford beat Bradford 40-28 at the OneBore Stadium to protect a 2nd Super League win of the season.


The lead changed hands 4 times in a frenzied first half as Qareqare's treble and Darnell McIntosh's score, replying to tries from Esan Marsters and Joe Mellor, edged Cas 22-16 ahead at the break.


Having routed by 4 points with 2 minutes of the very first half left, rapid ratings from George Lawler, Tom Weaver and McIntosh's second took the hosts 24 points clear within 10 minutes of the restart.


Luke Hooley crossed on the hour as he completed with 16 points, however Bulls' return hopes fell short as Waqa Blake's score was dismissed before Marsters grabbed a late 2nd.


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In a rematch of both sides' first-ever Super League clash - to open the league's 30-year anniversary events - Castleford avenged that 30-18 defeat to claim successive home league wins for the first time since April 2024 and climb to 11th.


Smarting from a humbling 72-6 defeat at Warrington, Cas fell back within 100 seconds as Marsters pinched a crossfield kick from McIntosh's grasp and dropped over the line.


The hosts responded in kind with their very first possession, working the ball quickly out to the left touchline for Qareqare to sprint in from close quarters.


Ill discipline permitted Hooley to boot the Bulls back ahead with two fast charges before the Tigers hit the front for the first time with a nearly similar rating as fast hands produced an overlap on the left edge for Qareqare to tear in once again.


The Cas lead lasted just seven minutes as Jayden Nikorima and Ed Chamberlain gave Mellor a basic run in, however the Bulls were stunned by two tries in as many minutes on the stroke of half-time.


McIntosh entered at the ideal corner to level, and running the last play of the first period from deep inside their own half, Krystian Mapapalangi this time offered Qareqare a longer run down the left touchline to complete his hat-trick.


Yet this was just a taster of the havoc to come as Qareqare caused more carnage straight after the break.


The winger's run forced a charge from which Lawler would add a third Cas try in 5 minutes, twisting in the tackle and going for the line.


The chastened Bulls continued to subside as Weaver's show-and-go took him through 2 tackles and under the posts before Zac Cini gave McIntosh a walk-in at the best corner.


Bulls worked the ball through the hands to provide Hooley an overlap on the right before persistent defence saw Castleford fend off 3 successive repeat sets as the visitors defended a way back.


Nerves looked set to jangle as Blake completed another slick Bradford attack which would have cut the cause 14 points with 12 minutes left.


But video referee Liam Rush identified an offside, ultimately making Marsters' 2nd rating an alleviation and consigning fifth-placed Bradford to a 3rd away Super League defeat.


'We didn't let problems get to us' - Castleford response


Castleford Tigers head coach Ryan Carr told BBC Radio Leeds:


"It was another night where we had difficulty early, conceding a try off a bomb, then we lose Semi Valemei to another head knock - that's our 5th in three weeks.


"We needed to reshuffle the entire ideal edge for the entire of the 2nd half and I believed they did a wonderful task.


"We didn't let the obstacles get to us this week, which is something we discussed a lot. If we didn't evaluate the video game appropriately and go severe on ourselves from recently we would not most likely have reacted in that method.


"I'm actually proud and happy for the players. We've all had a difficult week and I'm simply pleased to see them smiling and happy with their efficiency."


'It will be a huge knowing curve' - Bradford reaction


Bradford Bulls head coach Kurt Haggerty told BBC Radio Leeds:


"We have a really disappointed bunch of guys in the dressing space, but we're a brand new group and we'll carry on.


"If you score 28 points in a Super League game, you ought to win the game, but eventually we simply didn't get it right methodically on edges.


"It will be a huge for us due to the fact that we've not actually dealt with that yet, but we'll repair it up and we'll improve.


"I've got an extremely studious bunch of guys so we'll look at it, we'll fix it, we'll issue solve and proceed from it."


Castleford: Cini, Valemei, McIntosh, Mapapalangi, Qareqare, Asi, Weaver, Atoni, Forber, Westerman, Lane, Hirst, Lawler.


Interchanges: Greacen, Doolan, Hall, Beckett.


Bradford: Aekins, Hooley, Marsters, Blake, Ryan, Nikorima, Milnes, Sutton, Ackers, Lewis, Chamberlain, Ruan, Mellor.


Interchanges: Atkin, Ormondroyd, Hallas, Steinwede.


Referee: J. Vella.


Related subjects


Castleford Tigers


Rugby League