Wakefield Trinity delivered one of the most remarkable upsets ever witnessed in Super League playoff history, crushing Wigan Warriors 33-6 to book their inaugural appearance in the Grand Final. The League Leaders Shield holders, Wigan, entered the match on the back of an unbeaten run of 16 games across all competitions and were widely tipped to reach a third consecutive Grand Final.
Instead, they were left reeling by a ferocious Wakefield side that had only been competing in the Championship two seasons earlier. The first half was a tight, tactical affair, with both teams matching each other's intensity. Early on, Wakefield's Jazz Tevaga was sent to the sin‑bin for a high tackle on Liam Marshall, giving Wigan a brief numerical advantage. The visitors responded through Brad O'Neill, who powered through the defense, but Trinity quickly struck back when Tom Johnstone finished a sweeping move in the corner.
Discipline was an issue for Wigan, and a penalty awarded for a ruck infringement allowed Wakefield to edge ahead by two points at the interval. The second half began with the same level of physicality, but the turning point arrived when Wigan’s playmaker Adam Keighran was shown a yellow card for a tip‑tackle on Isaiah Vagana.
The sin‑bin penalty proved decisive. Wakefield surged forward immediately, exploiting the gap in the Warriors’ defensive line. Johnstone capitalised again, darting across the field to score another try in the corner, while Jack Sinfield powered past Junior Nsemba to touch down shortly thereafter.
Within a seven‑minute spell, Corey Hall sprinted down the wing and crossed the line, completing a rapid trio of scores that sent the home crowd into raptures. Coach Daryl Powell praised his squad after the match, saying, "We were superb.
We executed at 100 percent in the second half and 94 percent in the first. We only made one mistake the whole game. Wigan have been excellent all season, but tonight we were unbelievable. Once we found our rhythm, we never looked back.
It's a special group of boys and we now have an amazing opportunity next week." Wigan’s head coach Matty Peet acknowledged the impact of Keighran’s sin‑bin, but insisted the result was not about a single incident. "They had to be very good to punish us when we lost Adam," Peet said.
"No way is this game about that. We were well beaten. Wakefield deserved it. We were prepared and motivated, but they were simply better on the day.
Credit to Wakefield; it hurts, but the night belongs to them." Jake Trueman was a standout for Wakefield throughout the contest, delivering a superb off‑load to Ky Rodwell, who finished the scoring on the night. The Warriors, despite their dominant season, were unable to recover from the early deficit and the loss of a key playmaker, and they never managed to mount a sustained comeback. With the semi‑final win, Wakefield will now face Warrington Wolves in the Super League Grand Final at Old Trafford next Saturday. The historic clash will be broadcast live on Sky Sports Main Event and Sky Sports+ from 5 p.m.
on October 3, with streaming options available via NOW for those without a traditional TV subscription. This victory not only marks a milestone for Wakefield Trinity but also reshapes the narrative of the 2024 Super League season, proving that determination and strategic execution can overturn even the most formidable opponents.