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 2 shots from Lachlan Walmsley offered them an out of breath 18-16 victory at Huddersfield Giants.


After their opening-day defeat in the house to Toulouse, Trinity came excellent on the roadway, holding on in a thrilling 2nd half for a hard-earned win.


The essential moment was Walmsley's interception for his 2nd shot, which opened up a space Huddersfield were just unable to claw back regardless of 2 late tries from George Flanagan.


The defeat at the left the Giants still winless after 2 video games.


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


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


However, a perfectly built try from Walmsley eight 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 likewise held up over the line after a great tip-on by Jazz Tevaga.


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


When Jake Trueman put Kiwi back-row Seth Nikotemo in for Wakefield's 4th shot simply after the hour it looked like they were in the clear.


However, 2 tries in quick succession from Flanagan pulled them right back into the contest.


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


'We can probably relax a bit now' - response


"It was a weird one since I do not believe Lachlan thought he 'd scored it, but the video ref must have seen conclusively that it was a try.


"We started a bit gradually however the longer the game went on I thought we really became it. It was admirable the way the young boys combated.


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


"We most likely just weren't scientific in specific locations. We arrange of required it, so it was a bit naive on our part, however I was actually happy of the effort.


"It was heartbreaking actually. I'm down in the dumps we have not won - and the manner of the loss also - however at the very same time it's just round two and we are still missing out on a great deal of crucial gamers.


"If we reveal the very same character next week I think we'll go alright."


Wakefield Trinity head coach Daryl Powell informed BBC Radio Leeds:


"I believed Lachlan had dropped it in the beginning, I could not see, however he clearly gets his foot on the ball, so it's a clever little instinct play from him. Those sorts of impulse things are what he's actually proficient at.


"There was a little bit of luck - you need that sometimes. I do not believe we had a lot recently, so it came in handy to have some today.


"I thought we looked worried recently, probably around expectations, around what we are and what we did in 2015, and I thought we were worried today once again - especially around that tight period towards the end.


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


"I believed we did enough without being fantastic."


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.