WARRINGTON WOLVES 10 WAKEFIELD TRINITY 23
CALLUM WALKER, Old Trafford, Saturday

58 years of hurt are over.

Wakefield, in their first ever Super League Grand Final, demolished a shellshocked Warrington, becoming the fifth team to lift the trophy at Old Trafford.

After the joy of last week’s 33-6 demolition of Wigan, it was questioned whether Wakefield could back that up again – but have no fear, they did just that and more.

A number of narratives were talked about in the week: Wakefield’s incredible rise in just two years, Daryl Powell against his former side, Jack Sinfield’s father, Kevin, delivering the match ball after another seven ultra-marathons in seven days, George Williams’ final Warrington game and Ewan Irwin just 18 but it was Trinity’s stories that became fable.

Both Powell and Sam Burgess named unchanged sides to the ones that overcame Wigan and Leeds respectively.

Penalties were traded early on and it was Wakefield’s first that almost yielded points when Tom Johnstone – who was impeccable – went searching down the wing off a lovely Corey Hall pass.

However, a tremendous Albert Hopoate tackle forced Johnstone into touch with video referee Jack Smith overturning Liam Moore’s on-field try decision.

That seemed to spur Wakefield on and after Johnstone almost went over again, the ball was shifted right and Lachlan Walmsley’s audacious offload found Cam Scott in the corner. Max Jowitt converted superbly for a 6-0 lead on 12 minutes.

Trinity stood firm from one of Warrington’s rare attacks before Tyson Smoothy punted a quite wonderful 40/20 to hand Wakefield another glorious opportunity.

With Jake Trueman pulling the strings, his kick was caught gleefully by Johnstone who offloaded to the onrushing Isaiah Vagana.

Vagana shushed the Warrington fans whilst he celebrated for good measure as Jowitt converted to make it 12-0.

The Wolves were simply no match for Trinity’s go-forward and, when Joe Philbin played the ball incorrectly, Wakefield had their third.

After passing his HIA, Jazz Tevaga burrowed his way over from dummy-half after Smoothy had gone close. Jowitt sent Trinity into an 18-0 lead before Sinfield slotted over a drop-goal on the stroke of half-time.

As halves go, Wakefield were near perfect, Warrington dire, but Corey Hall’s yellow card for a high shot on Arron Lindop immediately following the resumption handed the Wolves a glimmer of hope.

The glimmer turned into a beacon when Arron Lindop crossed after relentless pressure. Irwin converted to make it 19-6.

It was almost two tries in two minutes as Matty Ashton raced down the touchline, but Kelepi Tanginoa’s pass went yards forward.

A Tevaga knock-on invited more pressure, but with Hall’s re-emergence, Wakefield rallied and Johnstone finally got his try on the hour, stepping inside Josh Thewlis and powering through James Harrison.

Jowitt missed the conversion, but Trinity now led 23-6.

Warrington were self-imploding as Irwin put the restart out on the full, but the Wolves did hit back with nine minutes to go when Lindop grabbed a double with an extraordinary last-tackle play.

Irwin, however, couldn’t convert meaning Warrington still had to score three times to win.

Even in the realms of fantasy, that was too much for any side. And though Wakefield’s 58-year title wait has come to an end, Warrington’s 71-year hurt still rumbles on.

GAMESTAR: Tom Johnstone was everywhere in defence and ran rampant at times in attack, scoring one and assisting another.

GAMEBREAKER: Jack Sinfield’s drop goal on the stroke of half-time meant Warrington had to score four times.

HIGHLIGHT REEL: Lachlan Walmsley’s flick pass for Cam Scott’s try was a thing of beauty.

MATCHFACTS

WOLVES
2 Josh Thewlis
4 Albert Hopoate
23 Arron Lindop
3 Toby King
5 Matty Ashton
6 George Williams
18 Ewan Irwin
16 Liam Byrne
9 Danny Walker
10 James Harrison
20 James Bentley
12 Sam Stone
13 Ben Currie
Subs (all used)
8 Luke Yates
14 Sam Powell
22 Joe Philbin
34 Kelepi Tanginoa
18th man (not used)
19 Leon Hayes
Also in 21-man squad
1 Cai Taylor-Wray
17 Jordy Crowther
26 Josh Smith

Tries: Lindop (47, 71)
Goals: Irwin 1/1

TRINITY
1 Max Jowitt
19 Lachlan Walmsley
3 Cameron Scott
4 Corey Hall
5 Tom Johnstone
6 Jake Trueman
20 Jack Sinfield
8 Mike McMeeken
9 Tyson Smoothy
10 Ky Rodwell
26 Zac Lipowicz
18 Isaiah Vagana
13 Jazz Tevaga
Subs (all used)
7 Mason Lino
14 Jay Pitts
15 Caleb Hamlin-Uele
16 Caius Faatili
18th man (not used)
17 Harvey Smith
Also in 21-man squad
21 Jayden Myers
23 Josh Rourke
24 Tray Lolesio

Tries: Scott (11), Vagana (25), Tevaga (36), Johnstone (59)
Goals: Jowitt 3/3
Field goals: Sinfield (39)
Sin bin: Hall (42) – high tackle

SCORING SEQUENCE: 0-6, 0-12, 0-18, 0-19; 6-19, 6-23

Rugby Leaguer & League Express Men of the Match
Wolves: Ben Currie; Trinity: Tom Johnstone

Penalty count: 5-1
Half-time: 0-19
Referee: Liam Moore
Attendance: 71,728