Wakefield Trinity’s head coach Daryl Powell could barely contain his amazement as he described the stunned reaction of his players after they lifted the Super League trophy – a triumph that feels almost surreal given that just two years earlier the club was competing in the English second division. In a historic Grand Final at Old Trafford, Wakefield secured a commanding 23‑10 victory over the Warrington Wolves, sealing the club’s first ever Super League championship. The win came just a week after the Wildcats shocked the league’s heavy favourites, Wigan Warriors, by thumping them 33‑6 in the semi‑finals.

The achievement is especially poignant because it ends a 58‑year wait for a top‑flight league title – the last time Wakefield tasted such glory was back in 1968. Even more remarkable is the fact that the club had been relegated from the Super League at the end of the 2023 season and spent the 2024 campaign in the Championship under Powell’s guidance.

"I’m just amazed, really, at the players and how good they’ve been," Powell said, his voice tinged with pride. Powell explained that while the personal satisfaction of winning is huge, the collective effort of the club, the coaching staff and the supporters over the past three years is what makes the accomplishment truly phenomenal.

"We’ve been building for a while, but the last two weeks have been extraordinary performances from an unbelievable group of men. The boys have such confidence in each other – if we all do our jobs, we can achieve anything. That’s what we did this year.

It’s immense," he added. He went on to praise the finish to the season, describing it as "amazing" and insisting that he could not speak more highly of the players. "There are a few lads who still can’t believe it, that we’ve managed to do all this. It’s a testament to how good they are.

I’m so proud of everything – the club, the fans, the players. They’re a pleasure to coach and be around, which makes the job feel easy," Powell said. For the 61‑year‑old, this was his first appearance as a head coach in a Super League Grand Final since 2017, when he led Castleford Tigers to a heavy defeat by Leeds Rhinos.

The victory was even sweeter because it came against Warrington, a club Powell had coached for two seasons before being dismissed in 2023. "This is the best achievement, really. I thought maybe I’d slip through my career and never win a big game after 2017. It’s been a long time.

I had a tough stint at Warrington, and then to come back and do this with Wakefield – it’s phenomenal. For me, it’s right up there.

Being at Wakefield, feeling at home again, and getting a group of men together who can do special things – it’s unbelievable. I’ve had great moments in my coaching career, but this is the best," he reflected. Powell also credited the club’s outspoken owner, Matt Ellis, whose ambition and support have been instrumental. He admitted that even his own expectations were modest before the season began.

"I thought this year might be a year too early for us, but the boys proved me wrong. I imagined maybe next year, but now I’m so pleased for the players – you can’t write that stuff, can you? It’s unbelievable.

You never know when another chance like this will come. There’s a lot of love in this team. It gets a bit soppy at times, but wow, what a group of men. I’m proud to be associated with them.

It shows that special things can be achieved. Other clubs have done great things, maybe on different timelines, but this is an unbelievable story – from thinking a bloke was trying to sell me a kitchen to winning the Super League trophy. It’s been an incredible three years," Powell said. Max Jowitt, speaking to Sky Sports, summed up the emotions of the squad: "A million per cent the highs are worth the lows.

It didn’t feel real that we were playing a Grand Final until we got here today. It’s been a roller‑coaster year for me personally – after dropping to the reserves and losing form, I got my chance at the back end of the season. For this to be my last game for Wakefield, I will never forget it." Rob Burrow Award winner Tom Johnstone also shared his disbelief: "I can’t quite believe it.

I keep crying, I can’t help myself! It’s such a special club, the longest week of my life. To get out there and get it done – I don’t know what to say. This club means everything to me.

My dream for the last ten years was to win a Grand Final with Wakefield. Daryl Powell sold me the dream that we were a club with aspirations and wanted to win things.

I believed every word, and now we’re here. We wouldn’t have done this without that belief. We built our foundation on it." The triumph marks a turning point not only for Wakefield Trinity but also for the broader narrative of rugby league, illustrating how perseverance, strategic leadership, and a united community can overturn expectations.

As Powell looks ahead, he believes the club can continue to build on this momentum. "This club can do anything, really. I felt like this year might have been a year too early, but the boys have shown me otherwise. I’m excited for what comes next – the love, the belief, the camaraderie – it’s all there.

The story isn’t over; it’s just beginning," he concluded.