Walmsley Scores Double 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 provided an out of breath 18-16 triumph at Huddersfield Giants.
After their opening-day defeat in the house to Toulouse, Trinity came great on the roadway, hanging on in a thrilling 2nd half for a hard-earned win.
The crucial minute was Walmsley's interception for his second try, which opened a space Huddersfield were simply unable to claw back despite 2 late tries from George Flanagan.
The defeat at the Accu Stadium left the Giants still winless after 2 video games.
Centre Cam Scott opened the scoring with a 13th-minute try for Wakefield as their extensive intent got its rewards with Daryl Powell's side offloading at every chance.
But an excellent surface in the corner from Huddersfield winger Sam Halsall in the 24th minute brought the home side level.
However, a perfectly constructed shot 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 second half.
Wakefield went close too with Matty Storton also held up over the line after a good tip-on by Jazz Tevaga.
But a huge play from Walmsley in the 55th minute enabled 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 take a look at the handling but ruled the shot was good.
When Jake Trueman put Kiwi back-row Seth Nikotemo in for Wakefield's 4th shot just after the hour it looked like they remained in the clear.
However, 2 tries in quick succession from Flanagan pulled them right back into the contest.
The Giants, two points down, had 8 minutes to pull the game out of the fire but Wakefield, with Max Jowitt exceptional in defence, kept them at bay to liquidate the win.
'We can probably unwind a bit now' - reaction
"It was an unusual one since I do not think Lachlan thought he 'd scored it, but the video ref should have seen conclusively that it was a try.
"We began a bit slowly however the longer the game went on I thought we truly became it. It was exceptional the method the boys combated.
"I seemed like we were all over them in the 2nd half, and it felt like at some time we were going to score again.
"We probably just weren't scientific in areas. We sort of required it, so it was a bit naive on our part, however I was really happy of the effort.
"It was heartbreaking really. I'm down in the dumps we haven't won - and the way of the loss also - but at the exact same time it's only round 2 and we are still missing a great deal of key players.
"If we show the very same character next week I believe we'll go alright."
Wakefield Trinity head coach Daryl Powell informed BBC Radio Leeds:
"I thought Lachlan had dropped it initially, I could not see, however he plainly gets his foot on the ball, so it's a clever little impulse play from him. Those sorts of impulse things are what he's actually great at.
"There was a little bit of luck - you require that at times. I don't think we had a lot last week, so it was helpful to have some today.
"I believed we looked anxious last week, probably around expectations, around what we are and what we did last year, and I thought we fidgeted today again - specifically 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 thought 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.
