Wakefield Trinity fought back to claim a 25-18 triumph over the Warrington Wolves in the penultimate round of the Super League campaign, a match that unfolded at the DIY Kitchens Stadium. The win kept Daryl Powell's side alive in the chase for a top‑three finish, narrowing the gap to just two points behind the Wolves. With the result, Wakefield moved onto 36 points in fourth place, while Warrington remain on 38 points, still occupying the third slot. The Wolves now face a must‑win in Round 27 against Toulouse Olympique if they wish to cement their position in the top three.
In contrast, Wakefield will be hoping that the slip‑up by Warrington proves costly and that they can overtake them in the final round. The first half was dominated by Warrington, who built a 14-6 lead by the break. Leon Hayes slotted two penalties, and tries from Josh Smith and Matty Ashton, with Hayes converting Ashton’s effort, gave the visitors a comfortable margin at halftime.
Wakefield managed to get on the board before the interval through a Tom Johnstone try, with Max Jowitt adding the conversion, but the gap remained significant. The second half saw Wakefield surge back into contention. Isaiah Vagan crossed the line twice in quick succession, and Cam Scott added another try. Mason Lino contributed a well‑timed drop goal, while Max Jowitt continued his flawless kicking, adding two more conversions.
These points turned the tide, leaving Warrington with only an unconverted Albert Hopoate try to keep them in the game. In the end, Wakefield’s relentless pressure proved decisive, and they held on for a seven‑point victory. The match was essentially a battle for third place, and both squads displayed the physical intensity expected from such a high‑stakes encounter. Early on, the teams exchanged territory and possession with little interference until the 10th minute, when Hayes kicked a penalty to give the Wolves a 2-0 lead.
Three minutes later, another penalty was awarded for a late hit on the ball, and Hayes again sent the visitors ahead, 4-0. Wakefield responded in the 28th minute when a penalty was awarded against Warrington.
The ball was passed out to the left, where Johnstone stepped past Josh Smith to touch down. Jowitt’s conversion put Trinity ahead 6-4. With just over five minutes left in the first half, Warrington struck back.
A slick move to the right, initiated by George Williams, saw Smith break through and level the score. Hayes missed the conversion from the touchline, leaving the Wolves with a narrow 8-6 advantage.
Warrington were not finished, however. Williams produced an exceptional grubber kick that Ashton leapt onto in the corner, and Hayes converted the try, extending the lead to 14-6 at the break. The second half opened with Wakefield applying immediate pressure.
Vagana (likely Isaiah Vagan) powered through the defense twice in quick succession, scoring from close range both times. The second try followed a massive break down the field by Hall, which set up Johnstone for the final pass.
Jowitt’s conversion pushed Wakefield ahead 18-14. Warrington answered quickly. Albert Hopoate dived over in the corner, but Hayes’ conversion attempt was off‑target, leaving the scores level with about fifteen minutes remaining. Tension built among the supporters on both sides as the game entered its final stages.
The decisive moment arrived when Cam Scott surged over from a goal‑line dropout, catching Toby King out of position. Jowitt, still perfect with his boot, added the conversion, giving Trinity a six‑point cushion with under ten minutes left.
The Wolves attempted a comeback, but missed opportunities and errors hampered their progress. Lino’s drop goal in the dying minutes sealed the victory for Wakefield, marking the Wolves’ seventh loss of the season.
In other Super League action on Saturday, the York Knights rallied in the second half to overcome the Catalans Dragons 28-16 at Stade Gilbert Brutus. The Dragons, who had broken a four‑match losing streak with a 34-6 win at Castleford the previous week, took an early lead when Leo Darrelatour sprinted down the right wing to score in the fourth minute. A patient build‑up later saw Darrelatour score his second try in the 17th minute, with Guillermo Aispuro‑Bichet converting. York responded when Oliver Field powered through in the 20th minute, and later David Nofoaluma completed a looping pass from Cody Hunter for another try.
Darrelatour restored the Dragons’ lead just before halftime with a hat‑trick try, making it 16-12 at the break. The second half saw a pivotal moment when Julian Bousquet’s try was disallowed after a video review.
Liam Harris then scooped a loose ball and sprinted nearly 80 metres to score, with Hunter’s conversion putting York ahead 18-16. The momentum stayed with the visitors, and Scott Galeano added a fourth try after a crisp cross‑field pass, extending the Knights’ lead.
With seven minutes left, Jesse Dee was sin‑binned for pulling back Aispuro‑Bichet as the Frenchman chased his own kick. York held firm, repelling a late Catalans surge, and Paul Vaughan capped the performance with another try, sealing a hard‑fought win. Sky Sports will continue to broadcast every Super League game live this season, offering two exclusive live matches each round on the main channel, while the remaining fixtures will be shown on Sky Sports+.