Wakefield Trinity booked their maiden appearance in a Super League semi-final by defeating Leigh Leopards 26-16 in the Eliminators on Friday 18 September, cementing their remarkable resurgence since returning to the top flight in 2024.
The victory came despite a significant setback in the second half when Emre Guler received a red card for an incident that appeared to be a punch during a tackle with Owen Trout, leaving Wakefield to finish the match with 12 players on the field.
Trinity had already built a commanding position before that dismissal, however, and proved resilient enough to hold on and secure their biggest win to date.
This was a rematch between familiar opponents. According to Sky Sports, Wakefield had beaten Leigh 19-8 in the final regular-season round to secure home advantage for this eliminator, with the fixture serving as a dress rehearsal for the playoff encounter.
Wakefield dominated the opening period, establishing a narrow half-time lead through a Max Jowitt penalty and tries from Tyson Smoothy and Tom Johnstone. Jowitt's conversion of one of those tries brought the home side to 12 points at the interval.
Leigh responded just before the hooter through a David Armstrong try, with Adam Cook's conversion narrowing the gap to 12-6 heading into the break.
The second half saw Wakefield take control through their forward pack early on. Isaiah Vagan and Caius Faatili both crossed for converted tries, moving Trinity well clear and appearing to have settled the contest.
Guler's red card then disrupted Wakefield's rhythm, and Leigh capitalised on their numerical advantage. Lachlan Lam and Innes Senior both scored tries to keep the visitors competitive and pile pressure on the home defence.
Despite Leigh's determined comeback attempt, a Jowitt penalty proved decisive in keeping the visitors at arm's length and securing Wakefield's passage through to the next round.
What happens next
Wakefield will now await the outcome of the second eliminator to discover their semi-final opponent. According to Sky Sports, Warrington Wolves will host Hull KR on Saturday 19 September at 5:30pm, with the winner advancing to face either Wigan Warriors or Leeds Rhinos in the semi-finals.
The semi-final fixtures are scheduled for 25 and 26 September, with the Grand Final taking place at Old Trafford on 3 October. The entire playoff campaign runs from 18 September through to the Grand Final, with all matches broadcast live on Sky Sports.
Wakefield's fourth-place finish marked a historic milestone for the club in Super League, and their progression to the semi-finals represents another significant step in their remarkable journey back to the top tier of English rugby league.
