Wakefield Trinity fought back to claim a 25-18 triumph over the Warrington Wolves in the penultimate round of the Super League, a match that unfolded at the DIY Kitchens Stadium and kept the contest for third place very much alive. The win, secured by Daryl Powell’s side, moved Wakefield to 36 points, just two shy of Warrington’s 38, and left them perched in fourth place with a realistic outside chance of climbing into the top three if they can maintain momentum in the final round.
Warrington, on the other hand, now face a must‑win situation in Round 27 against Toulouse Olympique if they want to lock down the third‑place slot. The Wolves entered the game with a 14-6 lead at the break, built on two penalties from Leon Hayes and tries from Josh Smith and Matty Ashton, with Hayes converting the second try.
Wakefield responded with a try from Tom Johnstone before halftime, and Max Jowitt added the conversion, narrowing the gap to 14-8. The second half belonged to Wakefield. Isaiah Vagan exploded onto the scene, crossing the line twice in quick succession, while Cam Scott added another try. Mason Lino then slotted a drop goal, and Max Jowitt continued his flawless kicking record, converting all his attempts.
These points swung the scoreboard to 18-14 in Wakefield’s favour. Warrington managed only a single, unconverted try by Albert Hopoate, which proved insufficient to hold onto the lead. The match was a textbook example of a third‑versus‑fourth showdown, where physical endurance and tactical discipline were as important as skill.
Early on, both sides exchanged territory and possession with little interference. Leon Hayes opened the scoring in the 10th minute with a penalty, giving the visitors a 2-0 edge.
He added another three minutes later after a late hit on the ball, extending the Wolves’ lead to 4-0. Wakefield broke the deadlock in the 28th minute when a penalty allowed Tom Johnstone to sidestep Josh Smith and touch down. Max Jowitt’s conversion put Trinity ahead 6-4. Warrington answered before the half‑hour mark, with George Williams delivering a crisp ball to the right that saw Smith level the scores again.
Hayes missed the conversion from the touchline, leaving the Wolves with a narrow 8-6 advantage. The turning point arrived when Williams executed an exceptional grubber kick that Matty Ashton leapt on in the corner. Hayes converted, and Warrington entered the break with a 14-6 lead.
The second half began with Wakefield pressing hard. Vagana powered through two close‑range scores, each followed by Jowitt’s successful kicks, pushing Trinity ahead 18-14. Warrington fought back when Albert Hopoate crossed in the corner, but Hayes’ conversion attempt slipped off the post, leaving the scores level with about fifteen minutes left.
Tension rose as both sets of supporters filled the stadium with nervous anticipation. The breakthrough came when Cam Scott barreled over from a goal‑line dropout, catching Toby King out of position. Jowitt, still perfect with his boot, added another conversion, giving Trinity a six‑point cushion with under ten minutes to play.
The Wolves pressed for a late winner, but errors and missed chances plagued them. Mason Lino’s drop goal in the dying minutes cemented Wakefield’s victory and marked Warrington’s seventh defeat of the campaign. In other Super League action later that Saturday, the York Knights staged a comeback to defeat the Catalans Dragons 28-16 at Stade Gilbert Brutus.
After a strong start by the Dragons, who had broken a four‑match losing streak with a 34-6 win at Castleford the previous week, York rallied in the second half. Leo Darrelatour gave the Dragons an early lead with a try in the fourth minute and added another before halftime, putting them ahead 16-12. York responded when Oliver Field powered through for a try in the 20th minute, followed by a David Nofoaluma try from a looping pass by Cody Hunter. Darrelatour’s hat‑trick try just before the break restored Catalans’ lead, but a disallowed Julian Bousquet try after a video review shifted momentum.
Liam Harris then scooped a loose ball and sprinted nearly 80 metres for a try, with Hunter’s conversion putting York ahead 18-16. The Knights continued to dominate, with Scott Galeano adding a fourth try after a slick cross‑field pass. A late sin‑bin incident saw Jesse Dee penalised for pulling back Aispuro‑Bichet, but York held firm, and Paul Vaughan’s try sealed a hard‑earned 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 and the remaining fixtures on Sky Sports+.
The coverage ensures fans can follow the tightly contested battle for playoff positions as the season draws to a close.