Walmsley Scores Double As Wakefield Edge Out Giants

22 February 2026


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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 provided a breathless 18-16 triumph at Huddersfield Giants.


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


The essential minute was Walmsley's interception for his second shot, which opened a gap Huddersfield were simply not able to claw back in spite of 2 late shots 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 opportunity.


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


However, a magnificently constructed try from Walmsley eight 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 2nd half.


Wakefield went close too with Matty Storton likewise held up over the line after a good tip-on by Jazz Tevaga.


But a big play from Walmsley in the 55th minute permitted the visitors to extend their lead. The Scotland winger intercepted a pass and caught the ball off his foot before it hit the ground to race in unopposed. The video referee took a long appearance at the handling however ruled the shot was great.


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, two points down, had eight 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 weird one because I do not believe Lachlan believed he 'd scored it, however the video ref should have seen conclusively that it was a try.


"We began a bit gradually however the longer the video game went on I thought we truly grew into it. It was admirable the method the kids battled.


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


"We most likely just weren't medical in certain locations. We arrange of forced it, so it was a bit naive on our part, but I was really proud of the effort.


"It was heartbreaking really. I'm down in the dumps we have not won - and the way of the loss as well - but at the very same time it's only round 2 and we are still missing a lot of crucial 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 believed Lachlan had dropped it in the beginning, I could not see, however he clearly gets his foot on the ball, so it's a wise little impulse play from him. Those sorts of impulse things are what he's really proficient at.


"There was a little bit of luck - you require that at times. I don't believe we had a lot recently, so it came in handy to have some today.


"I believed we looked anxious last week, most likely around expectations, around what we are and what we did in 2015, and I thought we were worried today once 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 relax a bit now.


"I believed we did enough without being great."


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.