Wigan Warriors defeated Wakefield Trinity 26-12 on Sunday, moving to the top of the Super League table with their 12th successive win. The match was dominated by an early 20-0 lead that Wigan never relinquished.
Dominant Opening
Bevan French opened the scoring for Wigan with a 65-metre sprint after a stray Wakefield pass, setting the tone for a 20-0 halftime advantage. Two quick tries from Liam Marshall, each scored within five minutes, extended the lead to 26-0 before the break. Wigan’s defence was praised by head coach Matt Peet, who said the team “loved our defence” after a hard-fought first half.
Wakefield's Response
Wakefield Trinity managed to pull a try back in the second half when Corey Hall capitalised on a high ball from Jake Trueman, scoring in the 53rd minute. A second try from Ky Rodwell came shortly after, narrowing the margin to 26-12. Despite these efforts, Wakefield could not overcome the early deficit.
Key Moments
The decisive moment came in the 65th minute when Jai Field exploited a knock-on from Mike McMeeken. Field sprinted 95 metres in the opposite direction to score his 15th Super League try of the season, sealing the win. Wigan’s 12th consecutive victory places them above Leeds Rhinos at the summit of the table, while Wakefield remains in fourth.
The match also featured the early debut of Emre Guler for Wakefield, who came off the bench two days after his move from the NRL’s St George Illawarra Dragons. Wigan’s squad included Field, Eckersley, Keighran, Wardle, Marshall, French, Smith, Havard, O’Neill, Thompson, McDermott, Partington and Ellis, with interchanges Mago, Kerr, Cartwright and O’Connor.
Wakefield’s lineup featured Jowitt, Myers, Scott, Hall, Pratt, Sinfield, Trueman, McMeeken, Lipowicz, Storton, Rodwell, Smoothy, Lolesio, with interchanges Hamlin-Uele, Faatili, Smith and Guler. Referee Chris Kendall oversaw the contest.
Matt Peet reflected on the victory, noting that while the top spot “doesn’t mean a lot,” the team will continue to treat each game as it comes. Wakefield’s head coach Daryl Powell praised his players’ effort despite the 20-0 halftime deficit and expressed hope for improvement in future matches.
