Wakefield move into top six after thumping Giants

Betfred Super League

Wakefield (18) 48

Goals: Lino 8; Faatili, Smith, Nikotemo, Trueman, Atoni, Rourke; Tries: Russell 2, Faatili, Smith, Nikotemo,

Huddersfield (2) 2

Due to beating the Huddersfield Giants, Wakefield Trinity climbed into the top six.

Within ten minutes, Wakefield had a lead thanks to Matty Russell’s corner kick, and Caius Faatili’s lead was soon extended.

Seth Nikotemo and Jake Trueman crashed over for another pair of Wakefield tries shortly after the break, giving the hosts an 18-2 lead.

Russell found a second to end the game after Renouf Atoni and Josh Rourke had already fought back.

After being humiliated 34-0 at home by Leeds Rhinos earlier on Saturday, Trinity moved into the play-off places with a win.

In their final three games of the season, Wakefield square off against Castleford Tigers, Hull KR, and the struggling Salford Red Devils, and from this perspective, they appear to be in command to claim the sixth and final play-off spot.

Russell scored Wakefield’s opener with a series of quick passes that went out wide, and Faatili made use of a defense-wide gap to pass through for their second.

By the time Smith had finished before the break, the Giants had Taane Milne sent to the bin for a high arm on Rourke. However, they were strong and were back in full praise.

After Wakefield conceded a penalty due to a ball steal just before the hooter, George Flanagan’s only assist in the first half was from the kick.

After Trinity had once more carved open Huddersfield, Nikotemo scored a straightforward try to set up the second half. Trueman was not far behind, as Mike McMeeken sent him through.

As Wakefield broke the 30-point barrier, Atoni burst to the try-line, and Trueman’s fortuitous rebounded kick quickly made it possible for him to tee up Rourke for yet another.

Daryl Powell, the head of Wakefield Trinity:

“We won’t get too carried away,” he said. To give ourselves a chance to make an outstanding start in Super League, we have three crucial games to play.

It performed well, I must say. We were strong and effectively in charge for a lot of time.

Luke Robinson, the head coach of the Huddersfield Giants:

“The game’s scoreline was accurate. We just didn’t seem to have the same level of energy as last week, which would make things complicated.

“But Wakefield placed us in that position.” The physical battle was won by them. It becomes very challenging when you defeat someone both with and without the ball.

“They won’t throw the towel in,” they declared. That’s not the group we belong to. When there are downtimes, there has been a fightback and an upturn, which is one thing we have been good at this year.

Smith, Vagana, Cozza, and Atoni all exchange.

Huddersfield: Powell, Rushton, Greenwood, Greenwood, Greenwood, Cudjoe, Halsall, Milne, Gagai, Bibby, Rush, Land, Rogers, Woolford, Powell, Rushton, Greenwood, and Mulroe.

Golding, English, Burgess, Wilson, and more.