Wakefield Trinity stunned at home to Super League newcomers Toulouse

In a topsy-turvy encounter, where a lot of contentious decisions appeared to go against Wakefield, Toulouse came out on top 18-16.

The game went one way, then the other throughout, with Trinity seemingly destined to open their campaign with a win after leading 10-8 with just 15 minutes left.

But the French side went back in front before withstanding a late, valiant effort from Daryl Powell’s men to avenge the one-sided 36-0 Championship Grand Final defeat here in October 2024.

Overall, it wasn’t good enough from Trinity.

It was a remarkable atmosphere that night 16 months ago. And it was the same again pre-match as a spectacular firework display lit up the dark Wakefield skies to welcome what will hopefully be another successful year at Belle Vue, with Trinity looking to build on their sixth-placed finish of 2025.

What wasn’t the same was the on-pitch activity as Toulouse, who were out of that Grand Final at half-time courtesy of a 22-0 deficit, led 4-0 after 17 minutes and then 8-6 at the interval here after Josh Rourke had responded for Trin.

Olympique are back in Super League after the division was expanded to 14 teams, with fellow new boys York Knights performing heroics on Thursday evening by beating the reigning champions Hull KR, and Bradford Bulls pushing Hull FC close in the tea-time kick-off earlier today.

They did not agree to partaking in this season’s Challenge Cup which begged the question if they would be fresh-faced or off the pace in the curtain-raiser to the Super League campaign.

It is fair to say that it was the former as they looked sprightly with the craftiness of Olly Ashall-Bott, scorer of two tries, the running of Paul Ulberg, the scorer of another one, and the creativity of Cesar Rouse particularly causing problems for Powell’s men.

Trin’s head coach handed Super League debuts to former NRL stars Tyson Smoothy and Jazz Tevaga, while Will Tate - the subject of late drama here - and Jordan Williams were also involved.

And, despite a productive run-out against Swinton Lions in last weekend’s Challenge Cup win, the home side looked rusty. Corey Hall dropped the ball when well placed and a Max Jowitt pass went straight into touch instead of the arms of Tate.

The visitors, on the other hand, looked slick and opened the scoring when Ashall-Bott crossed over straight from a scrum, although Rouge’s conversion attempt hit the post.

Was a shock on the cards? Of course Trin, usually the underdogs on their return to Super League last season, caused many of their own, including one in Round One at Headingley against Leeds Rhinos.

They looked to prevent one from happening against them here when Smoothie, Mason Lino, Jake Trueman and Hall all combined to allow Rourke dive over in the corner just before the half-hour mark.

Jowitt’s first points of what will hopefully be another fruitful season for the full-back put Wakefield in front for the first time at 6-4.

But the lead barely lasted eight minutes as Ulberg went over in the corner when he got on the end of a fabulous looping pass from Rouge, who hit the post again with his kick, to only take an 8-6 lead into the break.

Trin looked a different prospect in the second half and, with the pressure mounting, they re-took the lead when Cam Scott, who had taken a heavy knock in the first half, finished a flowing move, from left to right, which involved Rourke, Hall and Jay Pitts.

Captain Mike McMeeken was denied a try when it was deemed a knock-on had occurred in the build up before Jowitt produced what looked like a match-saving try to deny Benjamin Laguerre but the tackle was somehow ruled as a shoulder barge.

Another penalty quickly followed which allowed Rouge to knock over his first kick of the night to make it a level game at 10-10.

The visitors then went ahead again when Romeo Tropis went over before Ashall-Bott’s second with six minutes left making it 18-10.

As the home fans made their way to the exits, Tate handed Trin a lifeline by converted a fabulous Trueman pass.

And the winger had a glorious chance to give Wakefield a miraculous win very late on but he was taken into touch.

The result means that in the Super League era, Wakefield has never won an opening league game in back-to-back seasons. More importantly, they will be looking for a positive response at Huddersfield Giants next Sunday.

Wakefield: Jowitt, Tate, Scott, Hall, Rourke, Trueman, Lino, McMeeken, Smoothy, Hamlin-Uele, Nikotemo, Storton, Pitts

Interchanges: Tevaga, Smith, Vagana, Williams

Tries: Rourke, Scott, Tate

Conversions: Jowitt (2)

Toulouse: Ashall-Bott, Ulberg, Rennie, Tropis, Laguerre, Lacans, Rouge, Belmas, Hands, Dupree, O’Kane, Jussaume, Marion

Interchanges: Cator, Bretherton, Butler, Garrigues

Tries: Ashall-Bott, Ulberg

Penalties: Rouge