WAKEFIELD TRINITY are close to fulfilling their owner Matt Ellis’ wish to update the black-and-white photos which celebrate their greatest triumphs.
The club haven’t won major silverware since the 1960s, when they enjoyed their only two league championships (in 1967 and 1968) as well as three of their five Challenge Cup wins.
Those sides, all coached by Ken Traill, had legendary captains in Derek Turner and Harold Poynton and one of the all-time British greats in Neil Fox.
While a second-tier treble in 2024, local businessman Ellis’ first season as custodian, helped fill up the trophy cabinet, a push for Super League glory is a different ball game.
They are one win away from the Grand Final for the first time in a summer era which has mostly seen them reside in the lower reaches of the top-tier table, with Daryl Powell the coach on the cusp of new glories.
“When I first came, Matt said ‘I want you to change the photographs from black and white to colour’,” explained Powell.
“I thought that was a good way to put it. The boys are close to doing that.
“Everyone talks about the 60s – that was a long time ago. The history of the club is massively important, and for the players it’s about creating their own history.”
Wakefield go to Wigan, who haven’t lost since May, as underdogs but Powell is confident he has a side capable of getting the job done.
“I don’t think many will put money on us this week, but there’s an inner confidence that we can go and enjoy this challenge,” he added.
“We went there a few weeks back (for a 26-12 defeat) and I thought we were pretty close in that game.
“Watching Wigan in the last few weeks, particularly against Leeds, they’re in a great place. Wigan are clearly an outstanding team.
“We know what we have to do – we have to deliver an outstanding performance on the night to give us a chance.
“We’ve been a consistent team all year and done a lot of quality things. We have an outstanding group of players, and if everybody plays to their potential we give ourselves a great chance.”