Leigh Leopards and Wakefield Trinity met in the closing round of the regular Super League campaign, with Wakefield emerging victorious. However, both sides understand that a knockout setting can completely rewrite the script. Wakefield have already etched a landmark achievement into the club’s history by finishing fourth – the highest league position the franchise has ever attained.
Their next ambition is to break through to the semi‑finals for the first time ever. Leigh, on the other hand, have been on a rapid ascent since re‑entering the top tier in 2023.
The Leopards captured the Challenge Cup shortly after their return and have consistently secured a place in the Super League semi‑finals. The logical next step for them is to push beyond the semi‑final stage and earn a spot in the championship decider at Old Trafford. For centre Joe Ofahengaue, the key to achieving that dream lies in flawless execution of the Leopards’ game plan.
"If we stick to our strategy and play with the intensity we know we’re capable of, we could achieve something that means everything to the club and the fans," he told Sky Sports. Ofahengaue admitted that the previous encounter with Wakefield did not go as planned. "It felt like the match was tilting in Wakefield’s favour," he said, adding that the result was not a comment on the officiating but rather a reflection that Leigh had not executed their own tactics correctly. "They capitalised on a few lapses in our defence, but the rugby league gods have given us a second chance.
If we get our game plan right, we can make a serious noise in the playoffs." He went on to stress how much the upcoming semi‑final means to him personally. "Reaching the Grand Final would be everything for me. I’m emotionally attached to this squad – several key players are set to leave after this season and I want to send them out on a high note. The only way to do that is to win.
I’m not looking too far ahead, but making it to Old Trafford is a massive goal for us." Wakefield head coach Daryl Powell has been instrumental in the club’s rapid rise. After winning promotion back to the Super League in 2025, the Trinity finished a respectable sixth place in their first season. Climbing to fourth this year signals that they are evolving into a side that can regularly challenge the league’s elite. Powell sees the upcoming clash with Leigh as an opportunity to prove that progress can be sustained.
"I expect Leigh to raise their intensity," he told Sky Sports. "They’ll likely take their game to another level, but that doesn’t mean we can sit back and let a single result dictate the rest of our season. We need to reset, go again, and we believe we can play even better." Powell reflected on the previous year’s playoff disappointment, when Wakefield fell short against Leigh after finishing sixth.
"We didn’t feel we did ourselves justice in that 2025 playoff game. It’s ironic that we meet them again this year – it feels like a chance for redemption. Being a genuine top‑four team means getting to the semi‑finals and then giving yourself a realistic shot at the Grand Final.
If we can pull that off, it would be an incredible achievement for the club and something to get the fans really excited about," he added. The schedule for the play‑offs is now set.
The first eliminator will take place on Friday, 18 September, when Wakefield Trinity host Leigh Leopards at 8 p.m. on Sky Sports. The following day, Warrington Wolves travel to Hull KR for the other knockout tie at 5:30 p.m.
The winners of those matches will progress to the semi‑finals on 25 and 26 September, with Leeds Rhinos slated to face a yet‑to‑be‑determined opponent on Friday and Wigan Warriors taking on another TBC side on Saturday. All fixtures will be broadcast live on Sky Sports, culminating in the Grand Final at Old Trafford on 3 October. Both clubs understand the stakes. For Wakefield, a win would cement their status as a rising power and potentially deliver the club’s first ever semi‑final appearance.
For Leigh, it represents a chance to build on their recent cup success and finally break through to the final stage of the league competition. The narrative is rich with redemption, ambition, and the desire to send departing players off with a trophy. Fans can expect a tightly contested match, with each side eager to prove that they belong among the Super League’s elite.
The eliminator promises high‑intensity rugby, strategic adjustments, and the emotional weight of a season’s worth of work hanging in the balance. Whether it’s the Leopards’ quest for a historic Grand Final berth or the Trinity’s pursuit of a breakthrough semi‑final, the showdown on 18 September is set to be a pivotal moment in the 2026 Super League play‑off picture.