Two years ago this week, Wakefield Trinity and Bradford Bulls met at Odsal Stadium in a Championship encounter. Two clubs with rich histories and strong aspirations to not only return to Super League but do so with a bang.
Trinity were winners that day, just as they were here, and their trajectory since their solitary season in the Championship in 2024 has been nothing short of remarkable. Their owner, Matt Ellis, promised big investment and big ambition when he took charge of the club just under three years ago – a quick glance at the Super League table after this win suggests he has held up his promise.
Wakefield, last champions of England back in 1968, sit second after a victory over a spirited Bradford side who are by no means a pushover since their own return to Super League at the start of this season. But this night was about Trinity, with Ellis able to celebrate another statement win on the Odsal pitch post-match with the thousand-strong travelling support.
Wakefield were by no means flashy here. In fact, they were in a real battle right up until Harvey Smith’s decisive try gave the Bulls too much to do with three minutes remaining. But they showed a trait we have seen from champion sides so many times in the past: they found a way to win when they were not quite at their best.
After making the playoffs last year, all eyes were on Wakefield to see if they could kick on again. One of rugby league’s grand old clubs appears to be waking from its slumber, it seems. “Would we lose that last year? Maybe,” their coach, Daryl Powell, said. “We’ve come out of another tight game and that’s pleasing from a coaching perspective.”
It looked like it would be a straightforward evening when Tom Johnstone scored after two minutes when the Bulls made a mess of the kick-off, but Bradford showed immense resilience thereafter. Kurt Haggerty’s side have been decimated by injuries this year and lost the prop Loghan Lewis in the warm-up, before Dan Russell withdrew midway through the first half.
They levelled the scores through Ethan Ryan’s superb aerial finish before Wakefield nudged back ahead as half-time approached when Will Tate forced his way over. That made it 10-4 and when Trinity scored shortly after the restart through Jay Pitts, a two-score lead looked as though it would be the catalyst for the visitors to kick on.
But Bradford roared back again. Chris Atkin’s magnificent try narrowed the gap to four points and as the game entered the final quarter the momentum was with the Bulls. Wakefield had to show all their resolve which has pushed them past teams such as the reigning champions, Hull KR, in recent weeks to avoid a major upset.
The pressure was huge but Trinity held firm. They managed to score the crucial next try as Josh Rourke seized on a Caleb Aekins error to put daylight between the teams again, a moment that seemed to break the spirit of the Bulls – who had given it everything to that point.
“We put a big theme around the week of beating a team in the top six, and I’m so devastated we’ve not won the game,” Haggerty said. “That really stings. The gap is big in terms of longevity in Super League, squad depth and finances, but when you turn up and compete ... I’m so proud of them.”
Smith’s instinctive finish in the final three minutes put daylight between the teams which was unfair, given how Bradford had performed. But the result was arguably the right one.
Trinity’s bigger tests are still to come and the doubters will likely remain. But look at the Super League table and it is not hard to believe there is a new name in the conversation for the Grand Final.
