When Wakefield lost in the opening round of the 2026 Super League season at home to newly-promoted Toulouse, it could have been a sign that Trinity had reverted to type. Having only returned to the top division themselves in 2025, Daryl Powell’s side seemingly had no problem readjusting to life back in Super League, impressively making the playoffs. But, as is the case for many sides who record surprisingly good seasons, questions were raised about the sustainability of the success. 

Very soon after the Toulouse loss, it became clear that 2025’s form was sustainable, if not able to be built upon. They went on to win seven of their next nine games, knocking Leeds out of the Challenge Cup for good measure, and only losing to Warrington and Wigan, two of the sides that would end up finishing above them. Having flown as high as second in the league, it was clear that Wakefield were the shiny new side towards the top of Super League.

If discourse around Wakefield in 2025 was always about how far they had come, in 2026 it’s been about how far they can go. They’ve been one of the most interesting sides in the competition because they don’t really have any blockbuster names or standout players that steal the headlines. While Tom Johnstone’s 18 tries is the highest of any Wakefield player, it’s the joint-lowest tally among the leading try scorers of the six playoff sides. Caleb Hamlin-Uele may be the team’s sole representative in the recently announced Dream Team, but he’s no more important to Wakefield’s forwards than, say, club captain Mike McMeekan. 

Isaiah Vagana was probably unfortunate to miss out on being selected alongside Hamlin-Uele in the Dream Team, as he’s had a breakout season. Alongside Jazz Tevaga (as frustrating as his presence can be) and Caius Faatili, Wakefield’s forward pack has frequently stood toe to toe with the best in the league. And regardless of how he wears his socks, Tyson Smoothy has been one of the best hookers in the competition.

Wakefield have had a season defined by consistency. Since losing to Toulouse, they’ve not really let their guard down or allowed themselves to be shocked by a lesser opponent. Questions may have arisen again when they lost three in a row towards the end of the season, but a tight loss to Leeds, a difficult game against a Tristan Sailor-inspired St Helens, and falling short against Wigan aren’t three losses to dwell too much on. 

Ending the season with two wins against two other playoff sides in Warrington and Leigh, the latter of whom they meet on Friday night, will have only buoyed them further.

I wrote in the Leigh preview about whether playing each other so close together will impact either side’s chances, only to conclude that there isn’t really any way of knowing. What does separate the two sides, however, is the different stages they’re at. Regardless of my disbelief in the idea that Leigh *need* to win something this year because they’re losing players at the end of year, there are still players moving on. For Wakefield, with incomings including Cameron Smith, Davy Litten, and Roger Tuivasa-Sheck, it feels like the exact opposite, in that they might only get stronger in 2027.

So, regardless of the result on Friday night, Wakefield are probably going to be okay. If you want to be extreme, it may even be in Trinity’s interest not to go too far this year so as not to burden next year’s machine with too much of a hangover from 2026’s success. 

That is, of course, nonsense, and not how a professional rugby league player thinks, but it’s still somewhat reflective of how quickly Wakefield have risen and how high their potential is. There’s something genuinely exciting about Wakefield, and I’m not just saying that because I think chairman Matt Ellis’ little fist-pump thing at the end of wins is funny.

They’ve proved that they’re not just Super League’s overachievers, but that they deserve to be where they are. Friday night against Leigh gives them a perfect chance to take the next step, and really cause some damage to the established historical order of English rugby league.