Wakefield Trinity’s head coach Daryl Powell has admitted that many members of his squad were still in disbelief after the club’s astonishing 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 came just a week after they travelled to face the heavily‑favoured Wigan Warriors in the semi‑final, where they produced a stunning 33‑6 demolition.
This title marks Wakefield’s inaugural league championship since the club’s historic win in 1968, a remarkable achievement given that they were 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 genuinely amazed by the players and the level they have reached," Powell said in the post‑match interview. "It feels great on a personal level, but the real joy belongs to the club, the players, the coaching staff and everyone who has been part of the project over the past three years.
What we have built is nothing short of phenomenal." He went on to highlight the extraordinary form the side displayed in the final fortnight of the season. "The last two weeks have produced unbelievable performances from an incredible group of men. The boys have such belief in each other that when everyone does their job, anything is possible. That confidence carried us through this year and the feeling is immense." Powell praised the team’s unity and resilience, noting that many of the players still find it hard to accept what they have accomplished.
"I know there are a lot of lads who can’t quite believe it – that we have managed to achieve all of this. It’s a testament to how good they are, and I am immensely proud of everything they have done. The club, the supporters, the entire community – they have all been part of this journey, and the players make my job feel effortless because they are such a pleasure to coach and be around." At 61, this was Powell’s first appearance as a head coach in a Super League Grand Final since his 2017 stint with the Castleford Tigers, which ended in a heavy defeat to the Leeds Rhinos. The victory was especially sweet because it came against Warrington, a club where Powell spent two seasons as head coach before his dismissal in 2023.
"This is the biggest achievement of my career," he reflected. "After 2017 I thought I might never win a major final again.
My time at Warrington was difficult, and to return to Wakefield and achieve this is phenomenal. Being at Wakefield feels like coming home, and assembling a group of men capable of doing something special is unbelievable. I have had many great moments in coaching, but this one tops them all." Powell also credited the club’s ambitious owner, Matt Ellis, whose outspoken support helped create an environment where such success could be imagined. He admitted that even he did not expect a title this season.
"I thought this year might be a little early for us, but the boys have proved me wrong. I imagined the breakthrough might come next year, and now I’m just overjoyed for the players. You can’t really write about moments like this – it’s simply astonishing." He spoke about the camaraderie and love within the squad, acknowledging that the emotions sometimes become "a bit soppy," but that they are a sign of the strong bonds that have formed.
"It shows that extraordinary things can be achieved when you have belief, hard work and a united group. Other clubs have done great things at different times, but our story is unique – from thinking the owner was trying to sell me a kitchen to lifting the Super League trophy. The past three years have been unbelievable." Max Jowitt, a Wakefield stalwart, told 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 got here.
It’s been a roller‑coaster year for me personally – dropping to the reserves, losing form, then getting my chance at the end of the season. To finish my Wakefield career with this win is something I will never forget." Tom Johnstone, the Rob Burrow Award winner, 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 ten years of winning a Grand Final with Wakefield. Daryl Powell sold me the dream that we were a club with ambition and the desire to win.
I believed every word, and now we are here. We wouldn’t be here without that belief; we built our foundation on it." The victory not only crowns Wakefield Trinity as champions but also signals a dramatic turnaround for a club that was fighting for survival in the Championship just a season earlier. Powell’s leadership, the players’ determination, and the unwavering support from the fans have combined to create a narrative that will be remembered for generations. As the team looks ahead, the coach believes the momentum will continue.
"This club can do anything," he affirmed. "We may have thought we were a year early, but the boys have shown us otherwise.
I’m proud to be part of this group, and I can’t wait to see what we achieve next season."