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 2 shots from Lachlan Walmsley provided a breathless 18-16 triumph at Huddersfield Giants.


After their opening-day defeat in your home to Toulouse, Trinity came excellent on the roadway, hanging on in a thrilling second half for a hard-earned win.


The key moment was Walmsley's interception for his second shot, which opened a gap Huddersfield were just not able to claw back regardless of 2 late tries from George Flanagan.


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


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


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


However, a magnificently built shot from Walmsley eight minutes before the break gave 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 great tip-on by Jazz Tevaga.


But a substantial play from Walmsley in the 55th minute allowed 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 excellent.


When Jake Trueman put Kiwi back-row Seth Nikotemo in for Wakefield's 4th shot just after the hour it appeared like they were in the clear.


However, 2 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 impressive in defence, kept them at bay to liquidate the win.


'We can most likely relax a bit now' - response


"It was a weird one because I do not think Lachlan believed he 'd scored it, but the video ref need to have seen conclusively that it was a shot.


"We started a bit slowly but the longer the video game went on I thought we really turned into it. It was exceptional the method the boys combated.


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


"We most likely simply weren't scientific in specific locations. We arrange of required it, so it was a bit naive on our part, however I was really pleased with the effort.


"It was heartbreaking actually. I'm down in the dumps we haven't won - and the way of the loss as well - but at the same time it's only round two and we are still missing a lot of key gamers.


"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 could not see, but he plainly gets his foot on the ball, so it's a clever little instinct play from him. Those sorts of impulse things are what he's truly great at.


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


"I believed we looked anxious recently, most likely around expectations, around what we are and what we did in 2015, and I believed we were worried today again - especially around that tight period towards completion.


"We've got the monkey off our back with our very first win of the season and can probably unwind 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.