Trinity’s rapid rise puts Wakefield back on centre stage
Wakefield Trinity will make their first-ever appearance in the Super League Grand Final after a remarkable 33-6 victory over Wigan in Saturday’s play-off semi-final. The result secures a meeting with Warrington Wolves at Old Trafford on 3 October and caps a transformation that has taken the club from the second tier to the brink of a top-flight title in just two seasons.
The achievement will be celebrated widely across Wakefield, where memories of the club’s more prosperous eras remain vivid in the city. The return to the top-level decider follows Wakefield’s promotion from the Championship two years ago and the takeover that accompanied that revival.
Matt Ellis, the kitchen entrepreneur whose investment and ownership helped underpin the club’s revival, and Daryl Powell, the head coach credited with on-field progress, have been central to the turnaround. The pairing have overseen a season that has already rewritten expectations around the club’s prospects.
"It's something I've dreamed about for years and it used to be a bit of a pipe dream," said Tom Johnstone when asked about the prospect of Wakefield winning a Super League Grand Final.
Johnstone, the England international winger who began his career at Wakefield, played a decisive role in the semi-final. The 31-year-old returned to the club at the start of 2025 after a two-year spell with Catalans Dragons. He scored two of Wakefield’s five tries in the win over Wigan, and afterwards described the prospect of contesting the Grand Final as the fulfilment of a long-held ambition.
From relegation to Old Trafford in two seasons
The club’s trajectory is notable. Having lost their Super League status in 2023, Wakefield’s promotion from the Championship marked the beginning of an upward curve that has now delivered the club to a national stage. Supporters and local businesses have watched a compact rebuild turn into sustained on-field success.
- Semi-final result: Wakefield 33-6 Wigan
- Next match: Super League Grand Final vs Warrington Wolves, Old Trafford, 3 October
- Key player: Tom Johnstone, 31, scored two tries in the semi-final
The immediate local consequences are practical as well as symbolic. A Grand Final appearance will draw increased attention to Wakefield from supporters of other clubs, national media and potential sponsors, while sending a morale boost through the city’s rugby community. For many residents the fixture represents more than a game: it is an affirmation of a club that has long been woven into the city’s sporting identity.
| Season | Progress |
|---|---|
| 2023 | Relegated from Super League |
| 2024–25 | Promotion from Championship; ownership change |
| 2026 | Reached Super League Grand Final |
On Saturday the performance against Wigan dispelled pre-match talk of Wakefield being outclassed by a side chasing a treble. Instead, Trinity produced a clear, disciplined display that yielded five tries and limited their opponents to a solitary 6 points.
For supporters, the reward is immediate. For the club, the prize is an opportunity to claim a first top-flight title at the national showpiece in Manchester. The match on 3 October will be a landmark occasion for Wakefield and a test of how far the club’s recent progress can carry them.
As the city prepares for the national spotlight, the story that began with relegation and a change of ownership has become one of local resurgence — and a reminder of the role sport plays in civic life. Whatever the outcome at Old Trafford, Wakefield’s journey to the Grand Final has already reshaped expectations and revived hope across the community.
