Gutsy Wakefield Trinity beaten at Warrington Wolves

Having found themselves 14-2 down after an error-strewn first half, two tries from Max Jowitt and Jayden Myers inside the first ten minutes of the second half got Daryl Powell’s men back to within four points.

And although Wakefield fell further behind, an Oliver Pratt try gave them hope of a remarkable comeback.

But Warrington, thanks to the guidance of Marc Sneyd and expert match-winning tackle from Cai Taylor-Wary on Myers, saw the game out to maintain their unbeaten start.

In a scrappy start the home side took the lead through the boot of Sneyd after Trinity were penalised for offside.

It was just one of many errors in the early stages including Mike McMeeken slipping up at a play-the-ball and Seth Nikotemo cutting himself when tackling Taylor-Wray in the air.

But there were plenty of positives for Trin, particularly Myers, on his first appearance of 2026, producing a couple of try-saving tackles.

The second of which was breath-taking rugby all-round. Exciting youngster Taylor-Wray broke clear from inside his own half and passed inside to George Williams who looked destined to go over, but Myers, who was playing on the left edge, came from nowhere to bring the England international down.

Caius Faatili then came on for his first taste of Super League action this year but errored in his first carry.

The Wolves were seeing more of the ball thanks to Wakefield’s errors counting up, but their defence was standing firm as they looked for back-to-back wins in Super League following their victory at Huddersfield Giants last weekend.

But they came undone just after the half-hour mark despite four Trin players surrounding Toafofoa Sipley as he arrowed for the line. The referee gave an on-field ‘no try’ decision, but the video ref was able to see that Sipley had grounded the ball.

Warrington then went back-to-back with Danny Walker racing through a massive gap in the Trinity defence before finding Albert Hopoate in support who went over under the posts.

It was two tries in the space of two minutes right before the half-time hooter. Or, in other words, a real half-time team-talk changer.

Trin, however, were given a glimmer of hope with ten seconds left on the first half clock as Sipley was sent to the sin bin for a bundle of offences and Jowitt slotted over the resulting penalty to get back to within two converted scores.

Those few seconds may have aided Daryl Powell’s team-talk to be a bit more positive than if it was 14-0 and 13 versus 13 going into the second half.

And so it proved with Trin fully exploiting their numerical advantage with Jowitt splendidly touching down in the corner after a sumptuous pass out wide by Jake Trueman.

Jack Sinfield took over kicking duties but could not convert a difficult attempt from the touchline.

But Wakey were well and truly back in the game just as Warrington were back to their full complement of players, although maybe another five extra players would have struggled to intercept Trueman’s inch-perfect pass out wide to Myers who finished well in the corner.

Jowitt returned to the tee but he was off target too as the score stayed at 14-10.

Trin’s great work to get back to within four, however, was undone within minutes as Josh Smith outclimbed the Trin defence to collect a high Sneyd kick and spin over the line. Sneyd’s conversion made it 20-10.

Another Sneyd kick, this time a penalty after a high shot on Williams, nudged Warrington ahead even further to give the visitors more work to do.

An enticing grubber kick from Jowitt gave Myers half-a-chance but the video ref confirmed the on-field decision of no try.

Then came the magic moment with ten minutes to go. The moment which reignited Trinity’s hopes of an unbelievable comeback. Sinfield, with ball-in-hand, and only on play two, decided to kick to the corner for Pratt to chase. And chase he did, getting there first to touch down, allowing Jowitt to convert to get Trin back to within six points.

Another magical moment could have arrived with five minutes remaining but Myers was somehow tackled into touch by Taylor-Wray when he looked certain to score.

Warrington went straight to the other end to put the game to bed with Sneyd’s drop goal making it 23-16, and there was still time for Smith to grab his second of the evening after good work from Sneyd and King.

Warrington: Taylor-Wray, Thewlis, King, Hopoate, Smith, Williams, Sneyd, Yates, Walker, Byrne, Stone, Harrison, Currie

Interchanges: Sipley, Crowther, Philbin, Tanginoa

Tries: Sipley, Hopoate, Smith (2)

Conversions: Sneyd (3)

Penalties: Sneyd (2)

Drop goal: Sneyd

Wakefield: Jowitt, Pratt, Scott, Hall, Myers, Sinfield, Trueman, Tevaga, Vagana, Nikotemo, Hamlin-Uele, Smoothy, McMeeken

Interchanges: Storton, Pitts, Faatili, Smith

Tries: Jowitt, Myers, Pratt

Conversions: Jowitt

Penalties: Jowitt