Wakefield Trinity emerged triumphant with a 25‑18 win over the Warrington Wolves in the second‑to‑last round of the Super League, a match that unfolded at the DIY Kitchens Stadium. The result keeps Daryl Powell's side alive in the chase for a top‑three finish, narrowing the gap to just two points behind Warrington.
After the fixture, the Wolves sit on 38 league points while Wakefield have moved to 36, occupying fourth place. For Warrington, the next challenge is a must‑win against Toulouse Olympique in Round 27 to cement third spot.
The first half belonged to the Wolves, who built a 14‑6 lead thanks to a combination of Leon Hayes' reliable penalty kicking and two tries – one from Josh Smith and another from Matty Ashton – with Hayes converting the latter as the half‑time siren sounded. Wakefield responded before the break when Tom Johnstone crossed the line and Max Jowitt added the conversion, trimming the deficit to 14‑8. The second half saw Wakefield surge back. Isaiah Vagan struck twice in quick succession, breaking through the defensive line to score a double.
Cam Scott added a try of his own, and Mason Lino slotted a drop goal that further shifted momentum. Max Jowitt continued his flawless kicking, converting each of these scores.
Warrington managed only a solitary, unconverted try from Albert Hopoate, which proved insufficient to hold on. The contest was essentially a battle for the third‑place slot, and both squads displayed the gritty, attritional style expected when two teams vie for a crucial two points in front of a packed crowd. Early on, the game was a seesaw of territory and possession with few interruptions.
In the 10th minute, Hayes opened the scoring with a penalty, giving the visitors a 2‑0 lead. Three minutes later, another penalty – awarded for a late hit on the ball – saw Hayes add two more points, extending the Wolves' advantage to 4‑0. Wakefield broke the deadlock in the 28th minute. After earning a penalty, they executed a swift left‑handed move that saw Johnstone outpace 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 passing sequence initiated by George Williams allowed Smith to answer Johnstone's earlier try, though Hayes missed the conversion from the touchline, leaving the Wolves with a narrow 8‑6 lead. Warrington were not finished. Still pressing forward, Williams delivered a superb grubber kick that Ashton leapt on in the corner. Hayes' successful conversion pushed the visitors to a 14‑6 halftime lead.
The second half began with Wakefield on the front foot. Vagana powered through a gap close to the line and scored twice in rapid succession, each time followed by Jowitt's conversion, which flipped the scoreboard to 18‑14 in Trinity's favour. Warrington responded quickly; Albert Hopoate dived over in the corner, but Hayes' conversion attempt drifted wide, leaving the scores level with roughly fifteen minutes remaining.
Tension ran high among the supporters until the atmosphere exploded when Cam Scott barreled over from a goal‑line dropout, catching Toby King out of position. Jowitt, still immaculate with the boot, added another conversion, giving Wakefield a six‑point cushion with under ten minutes to play. The Wolves had a final opportunity, but errors and missed chances cost them dearly.
Mason Lino then slotted a decisive drop goal, sealing Wakefield's seventh defeat of the season and confirming the Trinity side's hard‑earned win. In other Super League action later that Saturday, the York Knights rallied in the second half to defeat the Catalans Dragons 28‑16 at Stade Gilbert Brutus. The Dragons, who had broken a four‑match losing streak with a 34‑6 victory at Castleford the previous week, started strongly, with Leo Darrelatour sprinting down the right wing to score in the fourth minute.
A patient build‑up later saw Darrelatour touch down again in the 17th minute, with Guillermo Aispuro‑Bichet converting. York answered in the 20th minute when Oliver Field powered through the defense, and soon after David Nofoaluma finished a looping pass from Cody Hunter for another try. Darrelatour completed his hat‑trick just before halftime, slipping past the line to give Catalans a 16‑12 lead at the break.
The second half swung in York's favour. A video review ruled out a Julian Bousquet try, and Liam Harris seized a loose ball in the 52nd minute, sprinting nearly 80 metres to score. Hunter's conversion nudged the Knights ahead 18‑16.
Momentum stayed with York as Scott Galeano added a fourth try after a slick cross‑field pass, extending the lead. With seven minutes left, Jesse Dee was sin‑binned for pulling down Aispuro‑Bichet, who was chasing his own kick. York held firm, and Paul Vaughan capped the performance with a final try, sealing a well‑deserved victory.
All Super League fixtures this season are broadcast live on Sky Sports, with two matches each round shown exclusively on the main channel and the remaining five streamed via Sky Sports+.