Two Years In The Second Tier, Now Champions: Wakefield Trinity's Fairytale Is Almost Too Ridiculous To Be Real

Stop scrolling, because sport just wrote a script no film studio would dare greenlight. Wakefield Trinity, a team playing in the second tier just two years ago, are Super League champions. Yes, really.

They beat Warrington Wolves 23-10 in the Grand Final at Old Trafford, according to BBC Sport, ending a 58-year wait for a league title. The last time Wakefield won one was 1968. We are NOT okay.

The Tea ☕

• Wakefield beat Warrington 23-10 in their very first Grand Final, per Sky Sports.
• They were relegated in 2023, played the 2024 season in the Championship, and are now the sixth different Super League winner.
• A week earlier, they went to huge favourites Wigan and won 33-6 in the semi-final.

From The Championship To Champions

Let's do the timeline, because it's unhinged. Wakefield went down in 2023. Their Super League place was then confirmed through the IMG grading system after they won the Championship play-off final, as BBC Sport explains. They finished sixth last year. This year? Champions, on the first attempt.

BBC Sport called them "the sixth, and most unlikely" club to win the Super League title. Joining the list with Wigan, St Helens, Leeds, Bradford and Hull KR is quite the guest-list upgrade.

A First Half For The Ages

Wakefield absolutely BOSSED the opening 40 minutes. They led 19-0 at the break, and with the 33 unanswered points they scored at Wigan the week before, that stretched into a 52-point streak.

The highlights, per the match reports:

• Cameron Scott's try, set up by a no-look, one-handed flick pass from Lachlan Walmsley. Sky Sports called it "sublime", and we agree.
• Isaiah Vagana's try, after Tom Johnstone leapt highest to tap down a Jake Trueman kick right into his path.
• Jazz Tevaga's try, a dummy followed by sheer power from close range.
• A drop goal from Jack Sinfield just before the break. BBC Sport notes his dad is Sir Kevin Sinfield, who handed over the trophy before kick-off. Cute.

The Wobble (Briefly)

Wakefield's Corey Hall was sin-binned early in the second half for a high tackle, and Arron Lindop scored to give Warrington a glimmer of hope. For a moment, the comeback chat started.

Then Tom Johnstone happened. His sensational finish made it 23-6 and snuffed out the fightback. Lindop added a late second try, but the conversion was missed and the countdown to celebrations began. Johnstone took the Rob Burrow Award for player of the match.

The Feelings Are EVERYWHERE

Johnstone told Sky Sports he couldn't stop crying: "My dream the last 10 years was to win a Grand Final with Wakefield." We're not crying, you're crying.

Then there's coach Daryl Powell, who admitted he thought this season might be "one year too early" and that next year was more realistic. His best line, though, was about owner Matt Ellis. Powell said the journey went "from me thinking a bloke was trying to sell me a kitchen to winning the Super League trophy." Iconic.

It also stings in the best way for Powell, who was dismissed by Warrington in 2023. Sky Sports reports he called this his best achievement in coaching. Meanwhile, Warrington's wait for a title stretches to a 72nd year, and BBC Sport labelled them bridesmaids for a fifth time. Ouch, but they'll be back.

Sources:

• BBC Sport: Wakefield beat Warrington to win Super League
• Sky Sports: Wakefield Trinity make history with 23-10 victory
• Sky Sports: Daryl Powell on 'phenomenal, immense' run to title

So tell us: is this the greatest underdog story in recent sporting memory, or can you top it? Drop your favourite fairytale below.