Wakefield Trinity’s head coach Daryl Powell admitted that many members of his squad were still in disbelief after the club’s extraordinary triumph in the Super League Grand Final – a victory that came just two years after the team had been competing in England’s second‑tier competition. The Wildcats secured their first ever Super League crown with a commanding 23‑10 win over the Warrington Wolves at Old Trafford.
The triumph followed a spectacular semi‑final performance in which Wakefield dismantled heavy favourites Wigan Warriors 33‑6, a result that seemed to herald a fairy‑tale ending to an already remarkable season. This championship marks Wakefield’s first league title since 1968, ending a 58‑year drought, and it is all the more astonishing given that the club was relegated from the Super League at the end of the 2023 campaign. The 2024 season began in the Championship under Powell’s guidance, yet the team defied expectations by climbing back to the top of the game in record time. "I’m genuinely amazed at the quality and resilience of these players," Powell said after the match.
"It’s a personal thrill, of course, but for the club, the coaching staff, and everyone who has been part of this journey over the last three years, it feels phenomenal." He went on to describe the final weeks of the season as "incredible performances from an unbelievable group of players". Powell highlighted the confidence that now permeates the squad: "When each man does his job, we can achieve anything.
That belief has been evident all season, and it feels immense to see it rewarded on the biggest stage." The coach praised the unity and determination of his side, noting that many of the men still find it hard to accept what they have accomplished. "It’s a testament to how good they are," he added. "I’m proud of the club, the supporters, and especially the players. Coaching them is a pleasure, and it makes my job feel almost effortless." For Powell, who is 61, this was his first appearance as a head coach in a Super League Grand Final since guiding Castleford Tigers in 2017, a match that ended in a heavy defeat to Leeds Rhinos.
The contrast could not be starker: this time he led Wakefield to victory over Warrington – a club where he had previously spent two seasons as head coach before being dismissed in 2023. "This is the best achievement of my career," he reflected.
"After 2017 I wondered if I would ever win a big final again. My time at Warrington was difficult, and to return and win the title with Wakefield is simply phenomenal. Being back in a place where I feel at home, surrounded by men capable of extraordinary things, is unbelievable. I’ve had many great moments in coaching, but this tops them all." Powell also credited the club’s ambitious owner, Matt Ellis, whose outspoken support helped create an environment where such a triumph could be imagined.
He confessed that even his own expectations were modest: "I thought this year might be a bit early for us, but the boys proved me wrong. I imagined maybe next year, but the reality is we’re champions now." He praised the camaraderie within the squad, describing it as "a lot of love" and admitting that the sentiment can feel "a bit soppy" at times. "It’s a privilege to be associated with these men.
Their belief shows that special things can be achieved when you have the right mindset and support." Powell reflected on the broader narrative of Wakefield’s rise: "Other clubs have had great successes, but our story is unique. From meeting a businessman who wanted to sell me a kitchen to lifting the Super League trophy – it’s been an unbelievable three‑year journey." Wakefield’s veteran scrum‑half Max Jowitt echoed the sentiment in an interview with Sky Sports: "The highs are a million per cent worth the lows.
It didn’t feel real that we were playing a Grand Final until we actually got there. It’s been a roller‑coaster year for me personally – dropping to the reserves, losing form, then getting a chance later in the season. To finish my Wakefield career with this win is something I’ll never forget." Rob Burrow Award winner Tom Johnstone also shared his emotions: "I can’t quite believe it – I keep crying, I can’t help myself!
This club means everything to me; I’ve dreamed for the last ten years of winning a Grand Final with Wakefield. Daryl Powell sold me the dream that we were a club with aspirations and a desire to win.
I believed every word, and now we’re here. We wouldn’t be here without that belief; we built our foundation on it." The victory not only crowns Wakefield Trinity as Super League champions but also signals a dramatic reversal of fortune for a club that was only a year ago fighting to regain its place in the top flight. The players, coaching staff, and supporters now look ahead with optimism, convinced that the club can continue to build on this historic achievement and perhaps add more silverware to the cabinet in the seasons to come.