Are Wakefield Trinity entering an era to rival the winning sixties?

An era dominated by the Mighty Trin, particularly in the early part of the decade. The honours list is quite something. Challenge Cup winners in 1960, 62 and 63. Yorkshire League Championship victors in 1960, 62 and 66. Yorkshire Cup winners in 1961, 62 and 65.

Then came the flourish. The cherry on top of the already-iced cake. Back-to-back League Championship titles in 1967 and then 1968. They had come almighty close in 1960 and 1962 too.

But Wakey - of course, Championship treble-winners in 2024 - haven’t really come within a sniff of a top tier title, or major trophy, since, and, it is quite well-known that, out of the established Super League Clubs, Trin, Leigh Leopards (Challenge Cup winners in 2023) and Huddersfield Giants (League Leaders’ Shield winners in 2013) are the only ones without a modern day Grand Final appearance.

Is the 58-year wait for a prestigious prize about to come to an end?

“I think this is the best chance we have had in a very long time, as a Wakefield fan, to end our drought in terms of a major trophy,” said Trinity owner Matt Ellis.

His optimism, and genuine belief, shines through. Ellis, managing director at local firm DIY Kitchens, arrived as owner after the club’s relegation from Super League in 2023 and issued his mission statements.

Firstly, to bounce back into Super League. They did so with aplomb, losing one league game during the regular 2024 season before thrashing Olympique Toulouse in the Grand Final at a rocking Belle Vue, now sponsored by his family-run company.

More great nights followed in 2025. Just as Ellis promised. He wanted the club to be a top six Super League side. Ticked off in the very first year back.

He wanted the club to be able to attract “top players” from the UK and overseas. That is evidenced with the marquee signings of NRL star duo Tyson Smoothy and Jazz Tevaga.

Both added for the next step of Wakefield’s journey, and Ellis’ masterplan. A masterplan which is depicted - and for the whole world to see - on a corridor at the ground. A wall emblazoned with his own quote about bringing those famous, distant glory days of the 1960s back to this part of West Yorkshire with a bang.

He said: “I think we are better than last year. The signings that we have made will make us better.

“All the lads are now all experienced in Super League and we’ve added some NRL quality so we will 100 per cent be better but the league is going to be better in general so we need to be better.

“With Jazz, he has added something in terms of character, experience and winning. Tyson has just come from an NRL Grand Final, which is the best of the best.

“I could tell at Hull KR (recent friendly) that we have got somebody who is a bit of a higher level than what we have had.

“Now, we don’t want to drop from being a play-off team. We want to look to get a home play-off, that is the target. I am excited to see what we can do because I think we are going to be right in the mix.”

One of Ellis’ first jobs was to sign Daryl Powell as head coach on a four-year deal. That contract was extended for another four years last summer to take the rugby league legend’s tenure with Trin to the end of the 2029 campaign.

But don’t be surprised if the trophy cabinet at the DIY Kitchens Stadium is getting a dust-down before then.

“The expectations of the club are changing all the time,” Ellis revealed. “The first year was to get back into Super League. The second year we wanted a tilt at the top six. This year we want a top four finish.

“Fast forward a year, if we haven’t won it this year, then we have got to target next year as winning it.

“And I think that’s why Daryl was as eager as we were in the negotiations. I think Daryl can sense we are building towards it. At one time Daryl was going to come for just four years and probably that would be his last job.

“I said, ‘mate, once you’re a year or two into this, you won’t want to retire.’ He said, ‘yeah you’re right.’ If it was just the four years, it would be all on this year and next to really win a Grand Final. He really wants to win a Grand Final and that is what we have got to aim for.

“That is what we have to do. If it is not this year, we have got to ramp it up next year.”