WARRINGTON Wolves lost for the first time in four Super League matches when they fell to Castleford Tigers at the Mend-A-Hose Jungle on Sunday afternoon.
It is a defeat which seriously dents their play-offs hopes as they go into a short break, with their next match not being until they visit high-flying Leigh Leopards on Friday, August 1.
With fellow top-six chasers Wakefield Trinity and Hull FC winning over the weekend, it means The Wire remain in eighth place but are now three points off the pace with eight matches remaining.
The Wire took a 6-0 lead through Sam Stone's first try for the club in atrocious wet conditions in West Yorkshire.
Cas responded and got their noses in front with tries from Daejarn Asi and George Lawler, with Chris Atkin's two conversions giving the hosts a 12-10 lead at the break.
In a second-half slog, Josh Simm finished off a counter-attack try for Cas in the 64th minute which proved decisive.
Home back rower Alex Mellor was sent to the sin-bin 13 minutes from time when his high tackle prevented a Josh Thewlis touchdown, though no penalty try was awarded.
Against 12 men The Wire managed to pull one try back through Stefan Ratchford but it was too little too late.
Castleford Tigers 20 Warrington Wolves 14 - post-match reaction
What Sam Burgess said after Wire's defeat at Castleford Tigers
Injury report: Jordy Crowther, Marc Sneyd and Danny Walker
RECAP AND FANS REACTION: How the match unfolded as Warrington Wolves lose at Castleford Tigers
Match facts:
Super League, Round 19
Sunday, July 20, 2025
Castleford Tigers...20 Warrington Wolves...14
Tigers: Fletcher Rooney; Josh Simm, Zac Cini, Louis Senior, Innes Senior; Daejarn Asi, Chris Atkin; Tom Amone, George Lawler, Brad Singleton, Jeremiah Simbiken, Alex Mellor, Joe Westerman. Subs: Sam Wood, George Griffin, Cain Robb, Joe Stimson. 18th man: Sam Hall
Wolves: Matt Dufty; Josh Thewlis, Connor Wrench, Toby King, Jake Thewlis; George Williams, Marc Sneyd; Luke Yates, Sam Powell, Paul Vaughan, Sam Stone, Lachlan Fitzgibbon, Ben Currie. Subs: Joe Philbin, Jordan Crowther, Ewan Irwin, Stefan Ratchford. 18th man: Luke Thomas
Scoring: Stone try, 7mins, Sneyd goal, 0-6; Asi try, 13mins, Atkin goal, 6-6; Lawler try, 19mins, Atkin goal, 12-6; Jake Thewlis try, 34mins, 12-10; Atkin penalty, 59mins, 14-10; Simm try, 64mins, Atkin goal, 20-10; Ratchford try, 69mins, 20-14;
Penalties: Tigers 3 Wolves 6
Sin bin: Alex Mellor, 67mins, high tackle
Referee: Jack Smith
Attendance: TBC
