WAKEFIELD TRINITY 26 LEIGH LEOPARDS 16
CALLUM WALKER, DIY Kitchens Stadium, Friday

WAKEFIELD are a game away from the Grand Final for the very first time after a comprehensive defeat of a lacklustre Leigh.

Trinity went down to the same opponents a year ago in the same play-off round, but they made no mistake this time as Tyson Smoothy and Caius Faatili proved unstoppable against a shellshocked Leopards – even if Trinity had to play the final quarter with twelve men following a stupid Emre Guler red card.

Guler, in possession, hit out at Leigh’s Owen Trout to hand the Leopards a late glimmer – but Wakefield weren’t to be denied.

These two sides had gone head-to-head with each other just a week ago, with Wakefield securing the eleven-point victory and a home eliminator play-off.

From that match, Lachlan Walmsley came in for the concussed Jayden Myers as Caleb Hamlin-Uele and Ky Rodwell returned for Wakefield.

For Leigh, Isaac Liu replaced Louis Brogan, with Trout moving to prop for the injured Robbie Mulhern. Jack Ashworth also came on to the bench for Nathan Wilde.

There was a finals feel early on as sets were traded before a late Joe Ofahengaue tackle on Mason Lino gave Max Jowitt the chance to break the deadlock with the boot – and he duly obliged.

A brilliant Cameron Scott break shortly after went unrewarded when Jake Trueman was caught on the last tackle.

But, following a Smoothy 40/20, Trinity had their first try – and it was that man Smoothy who burrowed over from dummy-half on 18 minutes. Jowitt added the extras for an 8-0 lead.

It was all the home side by now and Tom Johnstone thought he had scored as the half-hour loomed with another trademark finish.

Referee Chris Kendall sent it up as a no-try, believing the winger’s foot to be in touch, but video official Liam Moore thought otherwise and Trinity had their second. Jowitt couldn’t convert, but it was 12-0.

The visitors continued to misfire in attack, but, despite Leigh being awful in the opening 40 minutes, they closed the gap to just six at the break.

This time Lachlan Lam found Trout with a lovely pass, with that break ending in David Armstrong cantering over. Adam Cook converted to make it 12-6.

If the Leopards fans believed that try would turn the game they would be mistaken, as Isaiah Vagana’s 30-metre charging effort immediately following the resumption dented the visitors’ hopes. Jowitt converted for an 18-6 lead.

In all honesty, Leigh had been lucky to be down by just six at half-time and Trinity hammered home their advantage further on 51 minutes, Faatili proving too strong to handle close to the line.

Down 24-6, there was little Leigh could do to stop the hosts’ momentum, even if Andy Badrock felt he had scored on the hour after hacking on a loose ball.

Play, however, was brought back with Moore ruling Trout took out Faatili as the latter attempted to field that loose pass.

That summed up Leigh’s night, but there seemed a glimmer of hope when Guler was sent off for striking Trout in a tackle on the hour.

Trout was in the thick of it, and his break and offload to Lam saw the visitors reduce the deficit to twelve with 15 minutes to go.

But, with the rain pouring down in West Yorkshire, Jowitt made sure of a stunning victory with a penalty as Jazz Tevaga was tipped on his head, with Innes Senior’s following try now far too late.

GAMESTAR: Tyson Smoothy was superb for Wakefield.

GAMEBREAKER: Max Jowitt’s late penalty ensured no Leigh comeback.

HIGHLIGHT REEL: Isaiah Vagana charging over from 30 metres out, taking three defenders with him.

MATCHFACTS

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

Tries: Smoothy (18), Johnstone (29), Vagana (45), Faatili (51)
Goals: Jowitt 5/6
Dismissal: Guler (60) – striking

LEOPARDS
1 David Armstrong
19 Innes Senior
23 Andy Badrock
4 Umyla Hanley
5 Josh Charnley
6 Adam Cook
7 Lachlan Lam
8 Joe Ofahengaue
17 Liam Horne
12 Owen Trout
15 Jacob Alick-Wiencke
22 Jack Hughes
13 Isaac Liu
Subs (all used)
9 Edwin Ipape
16 Matt Davis
25 Louis Brogan
32 Jack Ashworth
18th man (not used)
21 Gareth O’Brien
Also in 21-man squad
20 AJ Towse
24 Ben McNamara
26 Nathan Wilde

Tries: Armstrong (40), Lam (65), Senior (77)
Goals: Cook 2/3

SCORING SEQUENCE: 2-0, 8-0, 12-0, 12-6; 18-6, 24-6, 24-12, 26-12, 26-16

Rugby Leaguer & League Express Men of the Match
Trinity: Tyson Smoothy; Leopards: Joe Ofahengaue

Penalty count: 5-6
Half-time: 12-6
Referee: Chris Kendall
Attendance: 9,258