Wakefield Trinity made their Super League return in 2025 and it’s fair to say they’ve been a massive asset to the competition, but what’s next for Daryl Powell’s side following the conclusion of their campaign.
Making the play-offs in their first season back in Super League wasn’t on many people’s cards when previewing what sort of season Wakefield Trinity would have, and whilst Daryl Powell and his side held belief, they maybe even surprised themselves with how well they went this year.
Trinity have beaten every single play-off side bar St Helens with their round one win over Leeds Rhinos setting the tone for what was to come, carrying that intent throughout the season with the round 26 win over Hull KR arguably being the best performance of their season.
Having defied the expectations of so many on the outside, hopes were high for Friday’s play-off game against Leigh but they found it one step too far as the Leopards put in a dominant performance.
Whilst Daryl Powell admitted that none of his players performed to their best ability, he paid huge credit to Leigh and looked forward to what’s to come with Wakefield Trinity only getting started.
What next for Wakefield Trinity after successful Super League return
Sprinkle in more big-game players
Whilst Leigh were brilliant on Friday night and simply didn’t allow Wakefield a chance to get a foothold in the game, you could argue that the bright lights got to Trinity.
Their 17-man squad had just six players to have made Super League play-off appearances with only Mike McMeeken and Tom Johnstone to have played in a Grand Final. In contrast, Leigh’s Man of the Match Isaac Liu has three NRL Grand Finals and almost 20 play-off appearances to his name alone.
Adding that sort of experience, the kind that Hull KR looked to add with Jared Waerea-Hargreaves and Micky McIlorum this year, is key for Wakefield in 2026 and they’ve already made a good start with Jazz Tevaga and Tyson Smoothy signed up.
Smoothy is set to play off the bench for Brisbane in the NRL Grand Final this weekend but adding even just one or two more players of that calibre, either domestically or from overseas, is vital.
Keep promoting youth
Whilst experience is needed, Wakefield still need to lean into what has made them so exciting and that’s their willingness to promote youth with players such as Oliver Pratt and Harvey Smith being among the standouts in Super League this year.
Jayden Myers, whilst signed from Bradford, is another young prospect who as a bright future and continuing to incorporate such players is massive for Wakefield in terms of success but also culture.
All of Caius Faatili, Jayden Myers, Oliver Pratt, Seth Nikotemo and Harvey Smith are 23 or younger whilst the likes of Neil Tchamambe and Ellis Lingard wait in the wings.
They are already an excellent squad but what’s exciting is what they could look like in two or three years, and for that progression to continue then embracing this philosophy and continuing to blood more youngsters is key.
Embrace the blueprint set by others
Wakefield join Leigh and Hull KR as sides who have suffered relegation in the last decade to now be play-off contenders, with Trinity and the Leopards making their play-off appearances immediately after earning promotion.
Trinity arguably have better youth foundations than either of those sides did when they first started making moves in the top six, but they can take elements from each side as to how to keep their progression and success going.
From Hull KR, they could embrace the recruitment style that is very aggressive and with a backer such as Matt Ellis, Wakefield could certainly replicate it. For Leigh, they could look to the matchday experience and the ways to grow a fan base.
Obviously their Challenge Cup success has a role to play but Leigh have gone from crowds in 2023 averaging around 7,200 to over 8,500, with last week’s play-off match eclipsing 10,000. Wakefield are on a similar trajectory with their stadium improvements already evident.
Utilising the blueprints of both clubs whilst keeping their own identity is the path for Wakefield and it’s one that could lead to their most successful ever era in Super League.
Serious About Rugby League has launched a brand new podcast which can be watched in full on our YouTube channel here.
