Wakefield Trinity have secured their place in the Super League Grand Final for the first time following a dominant 33-6 victory over treble-chasing Wigan Warriors. The triumph at Saturday’s play-off semi-final sets up a championship decider against Warrington Wolves on October 3.
For England winger Tom Johnstone, who began his career at the club and returned in 2025 following a two-year stint with Catalans Dragons, the achievement feels surreal. “It’s something I’ve dreamed about for years and it used to be a bit of a pipe dream,” said the 31-year-old, who contributed two of his side’s five tries during the match.
Club Transformation and Leadership
- Ownership: Matt Ellis, who oversaw a major club takeover and modernization.
- Head Coach: Daryl Powell, who took charge following the team’s relegation to the second tier.
- Key Signings: Addition of high-quality talent, including Mike McMeeken and the return of Tom Johnstone.
- Strategic Shift: The relegation period was utilized to stabilize operations and rebuild the squad.
The club’s rise from the Championship to the top of the Super League has been driven by the financial backing of kitchen magnate Matt Ellis and the experienced oversight of Daryl Powell. Reflecting on his decision to join the project, Johnstone recalled visiting Ellis’s factory with his agent. “We had a chat about everything they want to achieve and everything they promised to do,” he said. “We left and said: ‘If they do any of that, it’s going to be something special.’ I couldn’t say no.”
Coach Powell noted that the path to success was unconventional but necessary. He explained that dropping out of the top flight in 2023 allowed the organization to reset. “The journey’s been an interesting one,” Powell stated. “We got relegated but it was probably good for us. It allowed us to stabilise the team, get our staff in and sign some players that got us out of the Championship. Some of the guys we signed the year before have really grown and prospered.” They lost their top-flight status in 2023 – but that proved to be the beginning of the club’s reinvigoration, sparked by the completion of a takeover by kitc, so often competing at the wrong end of the Super League table.
