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


After their opening-day defeat in the house to Toulouse, Trinity came good on the road, hanging on in a thrilling second half for a hard-earned win.


The crucial moment was Walmsley's interception for his second shot, which opened a gap Huddersfield were simply unable to claw back in spite of two late tries from George Flanagan.


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


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


But an excellent finish 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 provided 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 in the 55th minute permitted the visitors to extend their lead. The Scotland winger obstructed a pass and captured the ball off his foot before it struck 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 fourth shot simply after the hour it appeared like they remained in the clear.


However, two tries in rapid 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 impressive in defence, kept them at bay to liquidate the win.


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


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


"We started a little bit slowly but the longer the game went on I believed we truly became it. It was admirable the method the boys fought.


"I felt like we were all over them in the 2nd half, and it felt like at some point we were going to score again.


"We probably just weren't medical in particular areas. We sort of forced it, so it was a bit ignorant on our part, however I was actually happy with the effort.


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


"If we show the very 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 first, I could not see, but he clearly gets his foot on the ball, so it's a clever bit of impulse play from him. Those sorts of instinct things are what he's truly proficient at.


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


"I thought we looked anxious recently, most likely around expectations, around what we are and what we did last year, and I thought we fidgeted today again - especially around that tight duration towards completion.


"We have actually 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 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.