Wakefield Trinity coach sends defiant message after narrow Leeds Rhinos’ loss

There was a defiant message from coach Daryl Powell after Wakefield Trinity went agonisingly close to completing a stunning fightback at Leeds Rhinos.

Trailing by 16 points at half-time, Trinity put Rhinos under huge pressure in the final 40 and were attacking the home side’s line when the final whistle went to confirm a 22-18 defeat.

Powell’s side dropped a place to seventh in Betfred Super League, with seven wins and six defeats over the first half of the campaign, but he insisted his newly-promoted team “aren’t going away” and will get better as a host of injured players return.

Wakefield were without both first-choice half-backs at Headingley as well as some front-line forwards and Trinity coach Powell was hugely encouraged by their effort after the break.

“I think we are in a great place, we are super-competitive each week,” the coach reflected.

“That game could have easily gone the other way. We know we need to improve to win games like that and I am confident we will.

“We are going to get better through the season; we are on a great path at the moment. We are growing all the time, but every passing week we are starting to grow a bit more confidence. It was great, what we did in the second half.”

Wakefield Trinity “are not going away” warns Daryl Powell

Powell was “proud of the courage we showed” as Trinity got up off the floor to push Rhinos all the way.

“It was tough to take, but we can’t play like that in a half of rugby against the better teams and expect to win, so we will learn from that,” he said.

“I thought we were pretty poor in the first half. Leeds came with a fair bit of intent and I don’t think we matched that.

“We conceded a pretty sloppy try on the back of defending backwards – I thought the game was too quick; for any team, to defend at that intensity is tough.

“Then we got into good attacking position and we put the ball down. I thought that was the story – when they are playing hot, Leeds, they are pretty hot and they are playing touch and pass almost.

“That was the first half and it wasn’t the team I know we are. We did some simple things in the second half that got us a bit of ascendancy and I thought we were by far the better team in the second half, but couldn’t quite – at the end there – get over the line.

“We were a bit clunky. I reckon if Jake Trueman had been out there it would have been a different outcome, but he’s not and that’s the way it is.

“The boys have been class and the second half showed what we’re about. We are not going away and I think we’ll learn quite a lot from this.”

FULL TIME: Leeds Rhinos 22-18 Wakefield Trinity

Two tries from Max Jowitt saw Wakefield fighting at the end to steal victory but ultimately fall short at Headingley.#UpTheTrin pic.twitter.com/iIdjy9zvEj

— Wakefield Trinity (@WTrinityRL) May 31, 2025