When Wakefield Trinity came back into Super League for the 2025 season, there wouldn't have been many who would have foreseen a semi-final appearance within two seasons- except those in their inner sanctum. That inner sanctum, among others, consists of owner Matt Ellis, head of recruitment Ste Mills, and head coach Daryl Powell. Working in tandem, they came up with a plan for how they would continually progress: they have signed raw talent, made them stars, provided a stadium that both home and away fans enjoy attending, and now brought the progressive and rapid success that their most faithful have been waiting so long to see.
An example of turning that raw talent into a shining diamond? Wakefield saw something in a player who was not breaking through in the NRL. They brought him into the Championship, moulded him, made him one of Super League's best props, and now he is truly in contention to represent England at the World Cup this autumn.
Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player Of course, the biggest success of all would be a trophy. But for now, they are through to their first ever Super League semi-final after their 26-16 victory over Leigh in the Eliminators. Wakefield's victory was down to their immense forward pack which took control early in the second half.
Even with Emre Guler shown red on the hour mark for what appeared to be a punch, they had done enough to keep Leigh at arm's length and see the game home. It is further reward for what has been a remarkable rise from Wakefield. "We are going to go where we are going to go.
We are just going to prepare as best we can," Powell said. "Wakefield have never won a play-off game - that is a box ticked. "Now it is whether we can win a Grand Final.
We have two games to do something special. "You are one game away from getting to a Grand Final that would be huge for the club. "You have got to be excited by that.
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