CALLUM WALKER assesses the rising tide of Wakefield’s season.

The hope

It had been just one year’s hiatus for Wakefield Trinity from Super League in 2024. 

Daryl Powell had steered the West Yorkshire side to the second-tier treble, casting aside all and sundry in dramatic fashion as Trinity’s success off the field ensured promotion back to Super League for 2025. 

It’s always difficult to predict how a Championship side will fare on its first season in the top flight, but Powell had brought in entrenched Super League stars in Tom Johnstone, Mike McMeeken, Jake Trueman and Matty Storton, along with unearthed gems in Seth Nikotemo and Caius Faatili.

Their owner Matt Ellis was full of optimism and was happy to invest in the historic stadium, which had been thoroughly modernised and looked like a picture on its return to Super League.

But would all that be enough to secure a play-off spot for Trinity as the season unfolded?

The reality

Fear not, Powell was at the helm. He might have endured a difficult time at Warrington in his previous head coaching role, but the 60-year-old visibly enjoyed his first season back in the big time with Wakefield. 

Trinity shocked several opponents in 2025 to finish in the play-offs in sixth position – a remarkable feat, considering that the vast majority of pundits and fans had Powell’s men finishing at or near to the bottom of the table.

An average home crowd of 7,669 was further evidence that the city of Wakefield is finally getting behind a successful club as its owner continues to pump in the funds, which helped Trinity to become a Grade A club. 

A 26-10 loss to Leigh Leopards in the play-off eliminator may have been a step too far for a squad that had run out of gas, but Wakefield’s growth had been exponential.

Best players

Mike McMeeken wound back the years in one of his most impressive years as a Super League player yet, earning a place in the Dream Team for the first time since 2017. 

21-year-old Oliver Pratt was also in stellar form, becoming one of the top-flight’s most exciting outside backs, scoring five tries in 26 appearances, whilst Caius Faatili was a devastating player off the bench in his debut season and was one of Trinity’s most successful signings in recent years, while young hooker Harvey Smith laid down a marker as a future star.

Tom Johnstone was his usual reliable self with some monstrous carries out of defence, earning 13th place across Super League with 2,958 metres and gaining selection for England in the Ashes series at the end of the season.

In quotes

“I thought we did some special things today. We all facilitate the players to do what they do and you have different groups of players throughout your career and these are just a phenomenal group. They are really good blokes who want to do something special. I thought they were great today. There were so many good character traits in the team today.” Daryl Powell on Wakefield’s round one win over Leeds, when few people gave them a chance.

“I’ve seen him play a few times and he is an absolute talent. He glides, he’s athletic and the way he scored that try at the end – he’s going to be a special player. We want to see these young, English, talented players that bring excitement, that can do things that are special. They get you off your seat and he’s one of them players.” Former Castleford coach Danny McGuire waxed lyrical about Wakefield’s starlet Oliver Pratt during the season.

“Signing this contract was probably the easiest decision I’ve had to make in my whole career. I have felt at home at this club since I came and I’m really enjoying building something special in conjunction with Matt (Ellis, Wakefield owner) and his family. The players have been outstanding and my back-room team is second to none. I feel we have a big opportunity to do something special over the coming years and I’m really looking forward to building on the excellent platform we have laid down.” Daryl Powell said after signing a new four-year deal in August.

In numbers

9.88 average metres made by Wakefield hooker Harvey Smith in 27 games.

688 points scored was the third highest in Super League in 2025, surpassed only by Hull KR and Wigan.

2,920 days between Mike McMeeken’s first inclusion in the Super League Dream Team (2017) and his second (2025).

Highlight

A brilliant 28-12 win over eventual treble winners Hull KR in round 26 highlighted that Daryl Powell’s men were here to stay as challengers in the top flight. 

Of course, Wakefield’s 14-12 win over Leeds Rhinos in round one cannot be underestimated, either. This was the promoted Championship side beating one of the favourites on their own patch. 

Head coach Powell and assistant Michael Shenton signing new long-term deals until the end of 2029 were also key bits of business and necessary to future stability.

Lowlight

A 26-22 loss to nearest rivals Castleford Tigers in round 26 was a surprising result, considering the fact that the Tigers had nothing left to play for except pride. Wakefield, on the other hand, were still fighting for a play-off spot. 

A 44-2 hammering by Wigan Warriors in round 23 was also a blot on the copybook.