Wakefield Trinity 12-14 Huddersfield Giants: Highlights, player ratings & talking points

Wakefield Trinity took on Huddersfield Giants tonight at Belle Vue in a West Yorkshire derby.

Trinity took the lead first as Mason Lino ran through the Huddersfield line before Chris McQueen responded for the visitors.

Lewis Murphy registered a cracker on half-time as Wakefield went into half-time 12-4 up.

Luke Yates responded for Huddersfield just after the break to make it a two-point ball game at 12-10, with Ricky Leutele putting the visitors into the lead for the first time 15 minutes before the end, but that proved enough despite Oliver Russell’s two missed conversions.

Highlights

Jake Wardle made his first appearance of the season for Huddersfield after a shocking injury in 2021.

Lewis Murphy’s try on the stroke of half-time was an absolute belter which involved a flying finish over the line.

Talking points

1. Watson unhappy

Ian Watson will have been many things after that performance, but frustrated will certainly be one of them. Huddersfield had some great field position as well as possession near Wakefield’s line – especially in the first-half – but they just couldn’t get over, making error after error. Missed goal kicks also allowed Wakefield to stay in the game near the end.

2. Murphy is a talent

Lewis Murphy has burst onto the scene in recent weeks and he underlined his sparkling future with a scintillating score just before the break. With raw pace and an eye for the line, Murphy has nailed down that wing spot.

3. Wakefield’s defence

Wakefield were on the back foot for the majority of the game, having to defend their line. But they did that vigorously and courageously only to be stumped by relentless pressure.

Player ratings

1 Max Jowitt – 8
27 Lewis Murphy – 8
4 Reece Lyne – 6
30 Corey Hall – 6
2 Tom Johnstone – 7
6 Jacob Miller – 7
7 Mason Lino – 7
10 Tinirau Arona – 8
24 Harry Bowes – 6
12 Kelepi Tanginoa – 7
13 Jay Pitts – 7
11 Matty Ashurst – 6
16 James Batchelor – 6
Substitutes
14 Jordy Crowther – 8
15 Jai Whitbread – 7
19 Liam Kay – 7
35 David Fifita – 6

Huddersfield Giants

5 Ashton Golding – 8
3 Jake Wardle – 7
21 Leroy Cudjoe – 7
4 Ricky Leutele – 9
25 Innes Senior – 7
23 Oliver Russell – 6
7 Theo Fages – 9
20 Oliver Wilson – 7
9 Danny Levi – 8
14 Matty English – 7
27 Jack Ashworth – 6
12 Chris McQueen – 7
13 Luke Yates – 8
Substitutes
10 Michael Lawrence – 7
11 Josh Jones – 7
15 Joe Greenwood – 7
17 Owen Trout – 6