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 spectacular turnaround as Castleford beat Bradford 40-28 at the OneBore Stadium to secure a second Super League win of the season.


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


Having trailed by 4 points with 2 minutes of the first half left, quick scores 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 ended up with 16 points, however Bulls' resurgence hopes failed as Waqa Blake's rating was dismissed before Marsters got 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 celebrations - Castleford avenged that 30-18 defeat to claim successive home league wins for the very first time because April 2024 and go up to 11th.


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


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


Ill discipline enabled Hooley to boot the Bulls back ahead with two quick penalties before the Tigers hit the front for the very first time with a nearly similar rating as quick hands developed an overlap on the left edge for Qareqare to tear in once again.


The Cas lead lasted simply 7 minutes as Jayden Nikorima and Ed gave Mellor an easy run in, however the Bulls were stunned by 2 shots in as lots of minutes on the stroke of half-time.


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


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


The winger's run forced a charge from which Lawler would include a 3rd Cas attempt in five minutes, twisting in the deal with and extending for the line.


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


Bulls worked the ball through the hands to offer Hooley an overlap on the right before persistent defence saw Castleford fend off 3 succeeding repeat sets as the visitors battled for a method back.


Nerves looked set to jangle as Blake ended up another slick Bradford attack which would have cut the result in 14 points with 12 minutes left.


But video referee Liam Rush spotted an offside, eventually making Marsters' second score an alleviation and consigning fifth-placed Bradford to a 3rd away Super League defeat.


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


Castleford Tigers head coach Ryan Carr told BBC Radio Leeds:


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


"We had to reshuffle the entire right edge for the entire of the 2nd half and I thought they did a great job.


"We didn't let the setbacks get to us this week, which is something we spoke about a lot. If we didn't review the video game properly and go severe on ourselves from recently we would not most likely have actually responded in that way.


"I'm truly happy and happy for the gamers. We have actually all had a difficult week and I'm just delighted to see them smiling and proud of their efficiency."


'It will be a big learning curve' - Bradford response


Bradford Bulls head coach Kurt Haggerty told BBC Radio Leeds:


"We have a very disappointed bunch of males in the dressing room, but we're a brand brand-new group and we'll proceed.


"If you score 28 points in a Super League video game, you need to win the game, but eventually we just didn't get it ideal systematically on edges.


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


"I have actually got a very academic bunch of guys so we'll take a look at it, we'll fix it, we'll problem resolve 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.


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