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


The lead changed hands 4 times in a frantic 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 trailed by four points with 2 minutes of the very first half left, quick ratings from George Lawler, Tom Weaver and McIntosh's 2nd 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, but Bulls' return hopes fell short as Waqa Blake's score was dismissed before Marsters grabbed a late second.


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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 succeeding home league wins for the first time because April 2024 and climb 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 very first ownership, working the ball rapidly out to the left touchline for Qareqare to sprint in from close quarters.


Ill discipline permitted Hooley to boot the Bulls back ahead with 2 quick penalties before the Tigers struck the front for the very first time with a nearly similar rating as fast hands developed an overlap on the left edge for Qareqare to tear in again.


The Cas lead lasted simply 7 minutes as Jayden Nikorima and Ed Chamberlain provided Mellor a simple run in, however the Bulls were stunned by 2 tries in as many minutes on the stroke of half-time.


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


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


The winger's run required a penalty from which Lawler would include a third Cas attempt in 5 minutes, twisting in the deal with and going for the line.


The chastened Bulls continued to diminish as Weaver's show-and-go took him through two 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 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 lead to 14 points with 12 minutes left.


But video referee Liam Rush spotted 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 obstacles get to us' - Castleford reaction


Castleford Tigers head coach Ryan Carr informed BBC Radio Leeds:


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


"We needed to reshuffle the entire best edge for the whole of the second half and I thought they did a wonderful 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 correctly and go severe on ourselves from last week we would not probably have actually reacted in that method.


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


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


Bradford Bulls head coach Kurt Haggerty told BBC Radio Leeds:


"We have a very disappointed bunch of men in the dressing space, however we're a brand name new group and we'll carry on.


"If you score 28 points in a Super League video game, you must win the video game, but ultimately we just didn't get it right methodically on edges.


"It will be a huge learning curve for us because we've not truly faced that yet, however we'll fix it up and we'll improve.


"I've got a really studious lot of males so we'll take a look at it, we'll fix it, we'll problem resolve and carry on 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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