For the first time since 1945, Wakefield Trinity have won their opening four league games in the top flight as they continue to suggest they could be an unlikely force this season.
This latest victory, a hard-earned effort against Huddersfield, perhaps best justified the pre-season belief some had that Trinity – perennially one of the strugglers – may be Super League title contenders this season. They remain one of only two sides, alongside the favourites St Helens, who remain unbeaten after the first month.
The critics will point out that Wakefield’s opening fixtures have been against the so-called weaker sides. That may or may not be true but in winning four games they have shown a resolve so often seen in sides who can last the distance throughout the course of a season.
For large periods of this ferocious Yorkshire derby, the hosts were put under enormous pressure by Huddersfield. The old Wakefield would have buckled but not this team. After coming so close to a top-four finish in 2017, there was a suspicion Wakefield could challenge the game’s elite this time, despite being one of the lowest spenders in the competition.
How far they have come will be put to the test on Sunday at Wigan but Wakefield will head across the Pennines confident. “It’ll be a different kettle of fish but if we turn up with that desire and attitude, we’re a force to be reckoned with,” their coach, Chris Chester, said.
Defence was the backbone of this latest performance, with Lee Gaskell’s try five minutes before half-time all Huddersfield could muster.
Ben Jones‑Bishop’s try, coupled with a Liam Finn goal, had put Wakefield ahead before a decisive passage of play after half-time. In 14 second‑half minutes Huddersfield conceded seven consecutive penalties, with the final one in that sequence seeing Kruise Leeming sent to the sin-bin.
Finn had kicked two penalties before, with their man advantage, Trinity went further ahead when a Finn kick found Jones-Bishop unmarked in the corner. The Ireland international converted – just as he did two minutes from time when Mason Caton-Brown scored to seal Wakefield’s unbeaten start.
