‘Outstanding’ Trin’s win at Leigh ‘sets us up for next week’ says Powell

In a largely dominant performance at Leigh Sports Village, Trinity won 19-8 thanks to a splendid Tom Johnstone double, a late Cam Scott try, two Max Jowitt penalties and a Jake Trueman drop-goal to lock in fourth spot - their highest ever finish in Super League - and a home eliminator tie at what should be a sell-out DIY Kitchens Stadium with the Leopards, who had to settle for fifth.

Powell said in his post-match press conference after his side’s ninth victory on the road in Super League in 2026:

“I thought our first half was outstanding and we completely dominated the game in everything we did - the way we played, how composed we were, and defensively we were as good as we have been all year.

“And then in the second half the game is toing and throwing a little bit. Mason (Lino) gets binned and that changes the game a little bit. We were pretty frantic trying to keep them out but I thought we were really brave there and the game was won in that period - that ten-minute period where they were throwing everything at us. We hang on and there are so many big efforts from us.

“It is a really pleasing win which sets us up for next week in a home game which is what we wanted from tonight. We wanted that first, but the victory was important as well. We said we wanted to put down a marker of how we wanted to play. It sets it up nicely.”

13 of Trin’s 19 points came in the first half, with Johnstone crossing after only four minutes before Jayden Myers - who failed an HIA later on - was denied by the video ref as the visitors came flying out of the blocks.

They were also impressive defensively, particularly when Corey Hall and Emre Guler helped to deny David Armstrong.

“Everyone talks about big moments in games and I thought we came up with quite a few really,” Powell revealed. “They get us down our left and it is a huge tackle from Corey and Emre tracking back as well. I thought they had scored there.

“There was one from the bomb as well. Those moments were big. Leigh had some of those in the second half where they stopped us on the tryline, but in the first half we came up with some huge efforts.

“I am pleased with how we played with the ball and I was really pleased with how we defended. They have got some big, powerful players and we dealt with their really good players well in the first half. It is one of the best halves we have had all year.”

Looking ahead to the enticing clash next Friday, Powell said:

“We will have learned a lot from tonight and maybe more from the second half than anything - where we attack and how we attack in good ball positions, there’s a bit there where we need to tweak a bit. But when you’re out there it is a bit different. It’s easy to watch and say we should’ve done this or that. Things are happening fast. It will be interesting to see how we evolve next week.

“Motivation ebbs and throws throughout the year. But the journey of this team is in a great trajectory, to go to places that are really tough.

“We are believing more and more in every game we play and we’ll have a real pop at it. Next week is the start of that. I feel like we are growing all the time.”