Walmsley Scores Function 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 tries from Lachlan Walmsley provided a breathless 18-16 success at Huddersfield Giants.


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


The essential minute was Walmsley's interception for his second try, which opened a space Huddersfield were simply unable to claw back despite 2 late tries from George Flanagan.


The defeat at the Accu Stadium left the Giants still winless after 2 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 chance.


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


However, a wonderfully built try 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 shooting at the start of the 2nd half.


Wakefield went close too with Matty Storton also held up over the line after a good 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 captured the ball off his foot before it hit the ground to race in unopposed. The video referee took a long look at the handling but ruled the try was great.


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


However, 2 attempts in fast succession from Flanagan pulled them right back into the contest.


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


'We can probably relax a bit now' - response


"It was an odd one due to the fact that I do not think Lachlan thought he 'd scored it, but the video ref should have seen conclusively that it was a shot.


"We started a bit slowly however the longer the video game went on I believed we really turned into it. It was exceptional the method the kids battled.


"I seemed 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 medical in certain areas. We arrange of forced it, so it was a bit naive on our part, however I was truly happy with the effort.


"It was heartbreaking actually. I'm down in the dumps we haven't won - and the manner of the loss also - but at the very same time it's only round 2 and we are still missing out on a great deal of essential players.


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


Wakefield Trinity head coach Daryl Powell told BBC Radio Leeds:


"I believed Lachlan had dropped it at initially, I could not see, however he plainly gets his foot on the ball, so it's a smart little bit of impulse play from him. Those sorts of instinct things are what he's truly good at.


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


"I thought we looked recently, probably around expectations, around what we are and what we did last year, and I thought we were nervous today once again - especially 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 believed we did enough without being wonderful."


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.