Wakefield Trinity have strolled to victory at Magic Weekend, seeing off Castleford Tigers with ease.
Trinity, who for one game only reverted to their ‘Wildcats’ moniker and played in a retro jersey, scored nine tries to emerge as 48-6 victors, with the Tigers’ only try coming in the final minutes of the game.
Cam Scott, Tom Johnstone and Caleb Hamlin-Uele scored doubles, with Tyson Smoothy, Lachlan Walmsley and Josh Rourke also getting on the scoreboard.
Castleford crossed through Jason Qareqare, but it was nothing short of a woeful effort from the Tigers, who continue to remain hugely inconsistent.
The win marks Trinity’s biggest ever Super League win over Castleford, with Wakefield beating the previous record that was set at Magic Weekend in 2008, when they won 54-16, a margin of 38 points.
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Wakefield Trinity v Castleford Tigers talking points
Castleford implode as Trinity put pressure on Wigan and Saints:
Just when you thought Castleford would produce the worst performance of Magic Weekend, up stepped Castleford, who said ‘hold my beer’.
Conceding 20 points in the first half, the Tigers looked like they were 13 players brought together for the first time, with combinations not working and their systems failing massively.
For Wakefield though, it was a sublime effort, albeit against a poor side, and they now sit in third place, level on points with Warrington and just seven points behind in the points difference.
Their win adds another level to the Wigan v St Helens game later today, with both sides now needing to win to secure a place in the top four for the next week at least.
Walmsley punishes Tigers in comeback game:
Returning to the side for the first time since round two, Walmsley made his presence felt instantly, bagging the assist for Scott’s first try after an incredible catch just three minutes in.
He then scored a try of his own in the second half, finishing off an excellent effort acrobatically in the corner to dot down for Wakefield’s fifth try.
The Australian is out of contract at the end of the season, and all signs point to him not receiving a new deal at the club. With his performance this afternoon, if he can keep those efforts up he won’t be short of potential suitors for 2027.
Double injury concern:
Things went from bad to worse for Castleford, who have lost two of their forwards for next week’s game against Leigh, and potentially longer, due to failed HIA’s.
Both George Hirst and Brock Greacen left the action at Everton for concussion tests, and both of them were unable to return.
Hirst is expected to miss just the one game, but this is Greacen’s second failed HIA in a month, after suffering one in the defeat to Leigh on June 5th. That could mean that the Australian is set for a longer period on the sidelines, with players who suffer two in a short space of time needing to take time off to fully recover.
A third player, Tyler Dupree, left the field with six minutes to go, so it is unclear yet as to whether he has passed or failed.
Quota spots continue to underwhelm:
Quota players should be added to a Super League side to bolster the ranks, with those players adding to a core of homegrown players, both from club and country.
However, Castleford’s overseas players continue to provide next to no impact, with only Krystian Mapaplangi able to be classed as a good recruit.
Full-back Blake Taaffe is unfortunately injured for the year, Semi Valemei has made very few appearances this year, and Mikaele Ravalawa hasn’t played since April.
Halves Daejarn Asi and Tom Weaver are very inconsistent, whilst props Renouf Atoni and Joe Stimson haven’t had the required impact, same with Greacen.
Lastly, centre Zac Cini has been missing for the past two weeks, with rumours circling that he may have left the club.
The signings of Damien Cook, Mat Feagai and the reported arrival of Tyrell Sloan are promising, but change is needed for the Tigers to improve, and it starts with recruitment
