WAKEFIELD TRINITY 48 CASTLEFORD TIGERS 6
CALLUM WALKER, Hill Dickinson Stadium, Liverpool, Sunday

DAZZLING would be the best way to describe Wakefield in their record hammering of nearest and dearest rivals Castleford.

Jack Sinfield was masterful, Cameron Scott excellent out wide and Caleb Hamlin-Uele devastating up front as Trinity earned local bragging rights for the fourth time in five derbies since returning to Super League.

Most impressively, this was their biggest ever win over the Tigers, the margin being one point greater than a 44-3 victory in 1928. It’s also the second most points Wakefield have scored in a derby, after the 54 posted at 2008’s Magic Weekend.

Castleford were dreadful from start to finish, lacked any composure and couldn’t even do the basics right.

Going into this fixture, Josh Rourke replaced Max Jowitt at fullback for Wakefield, whilst Will Tate, Lachlan Walmsley, Caius Faatili and Matty Storton also came in.

Meanwhile, Darnell McIntosh replaced Louis Senior for Castleford with Liam Hood making his first appearance since suffering a serious neck injury back in April.

It took Trinity just three minutes to post the first points. Off the back of a penalty, Jake Trueman’s kick was caught by Walmsley and his offload allowed Scott the space to cross. Sinfield couldn’t convert, but Wakefield led 4-0.

Scott almost had another moments later when a Sinfield kick ended up in the centre’s arms. However, video referee James Vella confirmed an Isaiah Vagana knock-on.

Krystian Mapapalangi lost possession immediately after and Trinity again should have punished their opponents, Tom Johnstone somehow offloading inside to Will Tate. But, this time, Johnstone was in touch.

The writing was seemingly on the wall but Walmsley was the next to spurn a gilt-edged opportunity when Sinfield dummied his way through, only for the winger to spill the ball.

Wakefield finally had their second try on 16 minutes, Tate feeding Johnstone for a simple put down and Sinfield converting for a 10-0 lead.

A third penalty for Daryl Powell’s side yielded a third score, Hamlin-Uele taking three Castleford defenders over the line with him for another four-pointer. Sinfield made it 16-0 with the half-hour closing in.

There was no stopping the Trinity machine and it was Scott that got on the outside of Mapapalangi for Wakefield’s fourth.

It was an abysmal 40 minutes from the Tigers and potentially one of their worst in 2026, and it didn’t get much better following the resumption either.

Brock Greacen’s knock-on handed Trinity the platform from which to strike and Scott, who had Mapapalangi in his back pocket throughout proceedings, flicked the ball to the flying Walmsley.

Castleford’s only saving grace was Sinfield’s inaccuracy with the boot as the scores remained 24-0.

Sinfield was on target just three minutes later, however, when Hamlin-Uele and Faatili offloads saw Tyson Smoothy burrow his way through soft defending.

Castleford’s defence was embarrassing and that was on show as Hamlin-Uele barged over on the hour with Tom Weaver clutching at straws.

Johnstone himself then grabbed a double from a lovely scrum move with Sinfield converting expertly for a 42-0 lead.

Even when Jason Qareqare scooped up a loose ball to cross with nine minutes to go, play was brought back for Mapapalangi error following a video review.

Trinity went in again off the back of that mistake as Rourke leapt for a Trueman kick to rub further salt into the wounds as Weaver and McIntosh stood ball-watching.

There was still enough time for Qareqare to notch his 15th try in 19 games and finally put Castleford on the board, as Weaver’s goal rounded the scores off.

GAMESTAR: Caleb Hamlin-Uele scored twice and was a constant thorn in Castleford’s side.

GAMEBREAKER: Lachlan Walmsley’s effort just after half-time settled proceedings.

HIGHLIGHT REEL: Lachlan Walmsley rising highest to claim a Jack Sinfield kick and then offload to Cameron Scott was majestic.

ALBERT GOLDTHORPE POINTS
3 pts Caleb Hamlin-Uele (Wakefield)
2 pts Cameron Scott (Wakefield)
1 pt Jack Sinfield (Wakefield)

MATCHFACTS

TRINITY
23 Josh Rourke
19 Lachlan Walmsley
3 Cameron Scott
32 Will Tate
5 Tom Johnstone
6 Jake Trueman
20 Jack Sinfield
8 Mike McMeeken
9 Tyson Smoothy
10 Ky Rodwell
18 Isaiah Vagana
12 Matty Storton
13 Jazz Tevaga
Subs (all used)
14 Jay Pitts
15 Caleb Hamlin-Uele
16 Caius Faatili
17 Harvey Smith
18th man (not used)
24 Tray Lolesio
Also in 21-man squad
1 Max Jowitt
11 Seth Nikotemo
21 Jayden Myers

Tries: Scott (3, 33), Johnstone (16, 64), Hamlin-Uele (26, 61), Walmsley (49), Smoothy (52), Rourke (75)
Goals: Sinfield 6/9

TIGERS
35 Phoenix Laulu-Togaga’e
2 Semi Valemei
4 Darnell McIntosh
23 Krystian Mapapalangi
22 Jason Qareqare
6 Daejarn Asi
7 Tom Weaver
10 George Lawler
31 Ashton Golding
36 Tyler Dupree
12 Alex Mellor
32 George Hirst
13 Joe Stimson
Subs (all used)
8 Renouf Atoni
9 Liam Hood
14 Brock Greacen
38 Jack Brown
18th man (not used)
21 Louis Senior
Also in 21-man-squad
5 Mikaele Ravalawa
16 Joe Westerman
27 Cain Robb

Tries: Qareqare (78)
Goals: Weaver 1/1

SCORING SEQUENCE: 4-0, 10-0, 16-0, 20-0; 24-0, 30-0, 36-0, 42-0, 48-0, 48-6

Rugby Leaguer & League Express Men of the Match
Trinity: Caleb Hamlin-Uele; Tigers: Phoenix Laulu-Togaga’e

Penalty count: 8-5
Half-time: 24-0
Referee: Aaron Moore