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Aussie’s incredible title double as Wakefield stun Warrington in Super League grand final
MANCHESTER, ENGLAND - OCTOBER 03: Mike McMeeken and Jay Pitts of Wakefield Trinity lift the BetFred Super League Grand trophy after victory in the BetFred Super League Grand Final match between Warrington Wolves and Wakefield Trinity at Old Trafford on October 03, 2026 in Manchester, England.
Wakefield Trinity won their first top-flight title for 58 years and their first in the Super League era by beating Sam Burgess’ Warrington Wolves 23-10 in the grand final at Old Trafford. Making the triumph even more extraordinary, Wakefield were relegated in 2023 and only returned to Super League last year — yet have now claimed their greatest triumph.
They have become just the sixth winner of Super League, joining Wigan Warriors, St Helens, Leeds Rhinos, Bradford Bulls and Hull KR, and did it after finishing just fourth on the ladder. Wakefield’s Aussie hooker Tyson Smoothy, meanwhile, earned a little slice of history by becoming the first player since 2005 to win NRL and Super League titles in consecutive years, having saluted with the Brisbane Broncos last season.
The classy No.9 will now join Perth Bears for their inaugural NRL season next year, on a three-year deal. Trinity coach Daryl Powell was let go by Warrington before taking on the relegated Wakefield side. Though there was no bad blood in his exit from Wolves, he just took a remarkable win from his old club’s grasp, with Warrington not having won a top-tier title since 1955. It was their fifth grand final defeat.
Their victory was a first grand final triumph for Powell, who has revitalised Wakefield since taking control of the ailing club shortly after their relegation to the Championship in 2023. Powell’s side raced to a 19-point lead by half-time at Old Trafford and survived Corey Hall’s yellow card after the restart to cruise to their long-awaited title. Fresh from their eye-catching semi-final win over minor premier Wigan, Wakefield showed no sign of nerves with the title up for grabs.
Early tries from Cam Scott, Isaiah Vagana and Jazz Tevaga, bolstered by three Max Jowitt conversions and a Jack Sinfield drop goal, powered Wakefield’s brilliant half-time display. Arron Lindop’s effort shortly after Hall was shown the yellow card for a forearm smash gave Warrington a glimmer of hope. But when Tom Johnstone stepped inside Lindop to convert Wakefield’s fourth try on the hour mark, Trinity’s 58-year wait for the title was all but over.
Johnstone, voted man of the match, said: “I can’t quite believe it. I keep crying, I can’t help myself, it is such a special club.
“This club means everything to me. I’ve said it for years that I wanted to win a Grand Final for Wakefield and it’s always been a pipe dream. I just couldn’t miss the opportunity to do it. ”
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