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 inspired a sensational turn-around as Castleford beat Bradford 40-28 at the OneBore Stadium to protect a 2nd Super League win of the season.


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


Having routed by four 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 reboot.


Luke Hooley crossed on the hour as he finished with 16 points, but Bulls' resurgence hopes fell short as Waqa Blake's rating was ruled out 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 celebrations - Castleford avenged that 30-18 defeat to claim successive home league wins for the first time because April 2024 and climb to 11th.


Smarting from a humbling 72-6 defeat at Warrington, Cas fell behind 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 ownership, working the ball rapidly out to the left touchline for Qareqare to run in from close variety.


Ill discipline enabled Hooley to boot the Bulls back ahead with 2 fast charges before the Tigers hit the front for the very first time with a practically similar score as quick hands produced an overlap on the left edge for Qareqare to tear in again.


The Cas lead lasted just 7 minutes as Jayden Nikorima and Ed Chamberlain provided Mellor a basic run in, however the Bulls were stunned by two shots in as numerous minutes on the stroke of half-time.


McIntosh entered at the right corner to level, and running the last play of the first duration 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 triggered more carnage straight after the break.


The winger's run required a penalty from which Lawler would include a third Cas attempt in five minutes, twisting in the tackle and extending for the line.


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


Bulls worked the ball through the hands to give Hooley an overlap on the right before persistent defence saw Castleford fend off 3 succeeding repeat sets as the visitors defended a way 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 identified an offside, ultimately making Marsters' 2nd score a consolation and consigning fifth-placed Bradford to a third away Super League defeat.


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


Castleford Tigers head coach Ryan Carr informed BBC Radio Leeds:


"It was another night where we had adversity early, conceding a shot off a bomb, then we lose Semi Valemei to another head knock - that's our fifth in 3 weeks.


"We needed to reshuffle the entire right edge for the whole of the 2nd half and I thought they did a fantastic task.


"We didn't let the setbacks get to us this week, which is something we spoke about a lot. If we didn't examine the game properly and go extreme on ourselves from last week we would not probably have responded because way.


"I'm really happy and delighted for the players. We've all had a difficult week and I'm just happy to see them smiling and happy with their efficiency."


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


Bradford Bulls head coach Kurt Haggerty informed BBC Radio Leeds:


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


"If you score 28 points in a Super League video game, you must win the video game, however ultimately we simply didn't get it ideal systematically on edges.


"It will be a huge knowing curve for us since we have actually not really dealt with that yet, however we'll fix it up and we'll enhance.


"I've got an extremely academic bunch of men so we'll take a look at it, we'll repair it, we'll problem 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


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