Walmsley Scores Function As Wakefield Edge Out Giants

22 February 2026


73 Comments


Huddersfield (4) 16


Tries: Halsall, Flanagan 2 Goals: Flanagan 2


Tries: Scott, Walmsley 2, Nikotemo Goal: Jowitt


Wakefield Trinity got their Super League season up and running as two shots from Lachlan Walmsley offered them an out of breath 18-16 victory at Huddersfield Giants.


After their opening-day defeat in your home to Toulouse, Trinity came good on the roadway, hanging on in a thrilling 2nd half for a hard-earned win.


The key moment was Walmsley's interception for his second shot, which opened a space Huddersfield were simply unable to claw back in spite of two late tries from George Flanagan.


The defeat at the Accu Stadium left the Giants still winless after two games.


Centre Cam Scott opened the scoring with a 13th-minute shot for Wakefield as their extensive intent got its benefits with Daryl Powell's side offloading at every chance.


But a fantastic surface in the corner from Huddersfield winger Sam Halsall in the 24th minute brought the home side level.


However, a beautifully built try from Walmsley 8 minutes before the break offered Wakefield a half-time lead.


Tom Burgess was held up over the line as Huddersfield came out firing at the start of the 2nd half.


Wakefield went close too with Matty Storton also held up over the line after a nice tip-on by Jazz Tevaga.


But a big play from Walmsley in the 55th minute enabled the visitors to extend their lead. The Scotland winger obstructed a pass and captured the ball off his foot before it hit the ground to race in unopposed. The video referee took a long take a look at the handling however ruled the shot was great.


When Jake Trueman put Kiwi back-row Seth Nikotemo in for Wakefield's fourth shot just after the hour it looked like they were in the clear.


However, two attempts in rapid succession from Flanagan pulled them right back into the contest.


The Giants, 2 points down, had eight minutes to pull the game out of the fire but Wakefield, with Max Jowitt outstanding in defence, kept them at bay to the win.


'We can probably relax a bit now' - response


"It was an unusual one since I don't think Lachlan thought he 'd scored it, however the video ref must have seen conclusively that it was a shot.


"We started a little bit slowly however the longer the game went on I thought we really became it. It was exceptional the method the kids battled.


"I felt like we were all over them in the 2nd half, and it seemed like eventually we were going to score once again.


"We probably just weren't scientific in particular locations. We arrange of forced it, so it was a bit naive on our part, but I was truly happy with the effort.


"It was heartbreaking really. I'm down in the dumps we have not won - and the way of the loss also - however at the very same time it's only round two and we are still missing a great deal of essential players.


"If we show the very same character next week I believe we'll go alright."


Wakefield Trinity head coach Daryl Powell told BBC Radio Leeds:


"I thought Lachlan had actually dropped it initially, I could not see, however he plainly gets his foot on the ball, so it's a clever bit of instinct play from him. Those sorts of impulse things are what he's actually excellent at.


"There was a little bit of luck - you need that at times. I don't believe we had a lot last week, so it was useful to have some today.


"I believed we looked worried recently, most likely around expectations, around what we are and what we did in 2015, and I thought we fidgeted today once again - specifically around that tight period towards completion.


"We've got the monkey off our back with our very first win of the season and can most likely relax a bit now.


"I thought we did enough without being wonderful."


Huddersfield: Flanagan; Carr, Gagai, Milne, Halsall; Lolohea, Russell; Patolo, Woolford, Rogers, O'Donnell, Hewitt, Powell.


Interchanges: Burgess, King, Rush, Cozza.


Wakefield: Jowitt; Pratt, Scott, Hall, Walmsley; Trueman, Sinfield; McMeeken, Smoothy, Hamlin-Uele, Nikotemo, Vagana, Pitts.


Interchanges: Rodwell, Storton, Tevaga, Smith.