With the Leeds Rhinos and Leigh Centurions already confirmed for Super League in 2017 all attention turned to the third automatic promotion place and the intrigue of which sides would be involved in the Million Pound Game.
The Red Devils trip to London Broncos looked to be crucial, as did the Huddersfield Giants home game with Leeds Rhinos and Hull KR's trip to Featherstone Rovers.
It would be a crucial and surprising week in the Qualifiers.
Saturday afternoon saw over 10,000 at the Leigh Sports Village to see Leigh Centurions cruise to victory over the Batley Bulldogs. Scott disappointed the home support by opening the scoring after nine minutes before Moimoi and Higson put Leigh into a 12-6 lead. Leak levelled the scores on twenty-five but it was the last time that Batley had parity. Paterson and Foster both scored around the half-hour mark for a half-time lead of 24-12. Burns and Tonga extended the lead in the second half before Hirst grabbed one back for Batley. Weston scored two minutes from time to secure the Leigh win, but a last minute Reittie consolation reduced the arrears to 24-42. This was Leigh's six consecutive qualifiers win as they sound a warning to next years Super League opposition.
We had full coverage of the sensational London Broncos
19-16 win over the Salford Red Devils.
In Sunday's fixtures both the Giants and Hull KR needed wins and would have been hoping that the other slipped up.
At the John Smith's Stadium the Giants had a fantastic and crucial win over the Leeds Rhinos. First half tries from Cudjoe and Brierley gave the home side a convincing 14-0 lead at the interval. Brough scored on fourth-eight to extend the lead to 20-0. Cuthbertson and Briscoe signalled a Leeds fightback with tries a minute either side of the hour for 20-10, and after a Brough penalty goal Handley added a third try for Leeds. The Giants fought back in the last five minutes to hold on for a 22-14 win to do their automatic promotion hopes a power of good.
It looked like a shock was on the cards at Featherstone where the home side led 10-4 after fifteen minutes thanks to tries from Walters and Duckworth with the only answer from Mantellato. Lunt and Mantellato both scored before the interval to give KR a 16-12 lead. Minns (2) and Greenwood pushed KR out to a 32-12 lead just after the hour but a late fightback with two tries from Taulapapa was a scare for Hull but they held on for a 32-24 win.
Next Saturday lunchtime's game between Hull KR and Huddersfield Giants has now become a play-off for the final automatic promotion place with the loser being the home side in the Million Pound Game, with the battle for the away berth being between Salford Red Devils and London Broncos who play Batley and Featherstone respectively.
Current Standings
Playing Super League in 2017: Leigh Centurions,
Leeds Rhinos, Hull KR
Million Pound Game: Huddersfield Giants v. Salford Red Devils
Playing Championship in 2017: London Broncos, Batley Bulldogs, Featherstone Rovers