Wakefield endured a fifth successive defeat and, having set the early season pace alongside St Helens, they are drifting into mid-table – though recent results do not tell the complete story of their fortunes at present.
This latest setback, against a Leeds side who continue to quietly go about their business as reigning champions, was the latest in a run of desperately close defeats for Wakefield, whose past three losses have been by a combined margin of just eight points.
“We’re our own worst enemies right now,” the Wakefield head coach, Chris Chester, said. “That’s five losses on the bounce and it’s not a good place to be in. But there are lots of things we can be positive about.
“We’re all frustrated because we know we could have won that game. We know we’re not a million miles away but I can’t keep saying the same things week in, week out.”
Kallum Watkins proved to be the difference between the two sides, the Leeds captain finishing with 16 of his team’s 28 points. “That was a big knock from him,” his coach, Brian McDermott, said.
Wakefield led at half-time – following tries by Jacob Miller and Kyle Wood – but Leeds soon levelled after the break when Ash Handley scored his eighth try in five games.
Trinity then went back ahead when Ryan Hampshire kicked goals either side of Matty Ashurst’s try following an error from the full-back Ashton Golding. That put the home side eight points ahead but they were architects of their own downfall thereafter.
Errors and ill-discipline afforded Leeds chances of which they ultimately took full advantage: first, Watkins finished superbly in the corner before, three minutes later, Brad Singleton expertly claimed Richie Myler’s deft kick, allowing Watkins the simplest of conversions to put Leeds ahead.
Watkins then turned provider for Josh Walters’ try eight minutes from time, before kicking the conversion that would prove decisive.
Wakefield kept fighting and set up a thrilling finale when Max Jowitt scored to reduce the gap to two in the final minute, but by full-time there was a mood among Wakefield’s players and supporters which is becoming all too familiar of late.
Their performances suggest they are capable of competing for honours this season but the post-match message from their coach underlined the feeling around Trinity. With the league leaders St Helens their next opponents, things may easily get tougher before they begin to improve.
