Saturday’s Grand Final at Old Trafford ended with Wakefield Trinity lifting the Super League title after beating Warrington Wolves 10-23, and the journey to that moment has all the makings of a fairytale. The win puts an end to a long wait for silverware that lasted from 1968.
The club’s history is full of legends — Derek ‘Rocky’ Turner, Neil Fox MBE, Don Fox, Harold Poynton, Ken Rollin — all part of an era when Wakefield dominated the 1960s. Belle Vue, now known as the DIY Kitchens Stadium, hosted its share of memorable nights, including the win that relegated rivals Castleford and secured Wakefield’s safety in 2006.
This year has not been about mere staying alive; it has been about doing more than merely surviving. Now Wakefield stands at a point where success is within reach. Wakefield could actually accomplish something. Wakefield could emerge as winners.
And that they are.
The Grand Final Moment
Tom Johnstone put his name on the Grand Final scorecard with a try, and was named the Rob Burrow Award recipient for man of the match. He described the run-up to the game, and it gave listeners a sense of how much the occasion meant to him.
“Daryl put a Powerpoint presentation on the screen, and said ‘You could be legends of this club’, and that was it,” Johnstone told BBC Radio 5 live just days before the final. “He didn’t really go any further into it, he just put a seed in the back of your mind and just gave you that little nugget.”
This group could leave its mark on the club’s record books, and the message made that clear. The players took it to heart.
Matt Ellis and the Transformation
Matt Ellis is the central figure in this tale, arriving not just as a fan but also as a tremendously wealthy and prosperous kitchen magnate. His role has reached beyond mere financial backing.
Ellis has been personally involved with the stadium renovation, establishing standards and finishes built upon the work of former custodians Michael Carter and John Minards. His drive and vision were central to the project, and it was he who pushed to bring Powell to the club as head coach almost at once after taking over.
The numbers tell the story: a return to Super League, Wembley triumph in the 1895 Cup, and two straight play-off runs in Super League, with the Grand Final victory serving as the capstone.
“All change in WF1,” Johnstone said. “The facilities have changed, the manner of the club, the belief and the ambition of the club is probably the best one. We used to say a lot of things and say we wanted to compete but we had no chance of doing it at the time. Whereas now, it’s an elite club. It’s run so well. Anything you need, you’ve got it. Matt will provide absolutely anything. He just wants to see success.”
The Coaching Partnership
Before joining Wakefield, Powell enjoyed success at Featherstone and Castleford, though his time at Warrington came to an end prematurely. The move to Wakefield has had a revitalising effect on both the club and the coach.
“This is an unbelievable story,” Powell said. “From me thinking a bloke’s trying to sell me a kitchen to winning the Super League is phenomenal. It’s been an unbelievable three years. I’m amazed really at the boys and how good they’ve been. Obviously, it’s pretty sweet for me tonight as an individual but for the club, the players, the coaching staff, everything that we’ve built up over the last three years is phenomenal.”
Powell pointed to the broader context of the sport. “What happened tonight is the best thing that could have happened to Super League, 100%. A sell-out crowd and a team like us, you know the story before the game, it’s awesome. It shows the [salary] cap is working as a team like us can come from the Championship and win in two years, that’s big.”
Building the Team
Powell has leaned on familiar faces for his key positions. Michael Shenton, who served as his captain at Castleford, fills the role of trusted assistant. Ste Mills, an old acolyte, handles the recruitment.
Danny Kirmond, a former Trinity player who has become a modern-day favourite, is among those joining the coaching staff. Stu Dickens, an experienced figure, rounds out the group of advisers around Powell. On the field, Powell has brought back Jake Trueman, whose form at Castleford earned him consideration for international honours, along with Mike McMeeken, who played for the 2017 team at the Tigers that lost to Leeds in the Grand Final.
McMeeken spoke about the quality of Powell’s judgement. “Daryl’s really shown how good of a coach he is just how he’s brought players in that probably may not have been picked up because of not being as well known,” he told BBC Sport. “For example Caius, not many clubs would have known about him but he’s seen the potential in him and the good thing is, I think he’s only about 23 or 24 so it’s quite scary to see how far people like him can actually go.”
Trinity signed Caleb Hamlin-Uele as a former Cronulla reserve grader while they were still in the Championship. Once they got up, they brought in Caius Faatili from Queensland Cup side Sunshine Coast Falcons in 2025, and he proved an immediate success with his raw-boned and aggressive style. Isaiah Vagana is rangy and athletic in the back-row, while Samoa international Jazz Tevaga has added NRL experience and abrasive swagger to the squad.
The Road to the Title
| Stage | Result |
|---|---|
| Promotion back to Super League | Reached |
| Wembley success in the 1895 Cup | Won |
| Back-to-back play-off appearances in Super League | Achieved |
| Grand Final victory | Won |
The progression held together from start to finish. Every step prepared the ground for what followed. Three years of steady growth reached their peak in the Grand Final.
Wakefield’s rise is almost too fanciful for Hollywood’s scriptwriters. The club has gone from near-relegation to Super League champions in a matter of seasons.
A true accomplishment exists, and with it comes an equally true tale, one worthy of being recounted.
Wakefield Trinity are champions.
Source material: “'An unbelievable story' – inside unfancied Wakefield's rapid ascent,” the BBC.
Get the Notebook.
The day's best stories and every fresh verdict, in plain English, in your inbox by seven. One email a day, no more.