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 tries from Lachlan Walmsley gave them an out of breath 18-16 victory at Huddersfield Giants.


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


The essential minute was Walmsley's interception for his second try, which opened a space Huddersfield were just not able to claw back regardless of 2 late tries from George Flanagan.


The defeat at the Accu Stadium left the Giants still winless after two games.


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


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


However, a perfectly built shot from Walmsley 8 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 likewise held up over the line after a nice 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 intercepted a pass and captured the ball off his foot before it struck 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 4th shot simply after the hour it appeared like they remained in the clear.


However, two attempts in rapid succession from Flanagan pulled them right back into the contest.


The Giants, 2 points down, had 8 minutes to pull the video game out of the fire however Wakefield, with Max Jowitt outstanding in defence, kept them at bay to liquidate the win.


'We can most likely unwind a bit now' - reaction


"It was a strange one because I do not believe Lachlan thought he 'd scored it, however the video ref must have seen conclusively that it was a shot.


"We began a little bit slowly however the longer the game went on I believed we actually became it. It was exceptional the way the young boys fought.


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


"We most likely just weren't scientific in particular locations. We arrange of forced it, so it was a bit ignorant 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 way of the loss also - however at the same time it's just round two and we are still missing out on a great deal of key players.


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


Wakefield Trinity head coach Daryl Powell informed BBC Radio Leeds:


"I thought Lachlan had actually dropped it initially, I couldn't see, but he clearly gets his foot on the ball, so it's a clever little impulse play from him. Those sorts of instinct things are what he's truly proficient at.


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


"I believed we looked anxious recently, probably around expectations, around what we are and what we did in 2015, and I thought we were nervous today again - specifically around that tight duration towards completion.


"We've got the monkey off our back with our first win of the season and can most likely 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.