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 offered them 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 2nd half for a hard-earned win.
The essential minute was Walmsley's interception for his 2nd try, which opened a gap Huddersfield were simply not able to claw back regardless of 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 benefits with Daryl Powell's side offloading at every chance.
But a terrific surface in the corner from Huddersfield winger Sam in the 24th minute brought the home side level.
However, a perfectly built shot from Walmsley eight minutes before the break provided 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 great tip-on by Jazz Tevaga.
But a big play from Walmsley in the 55th minute allowed the visitors to extend their lead. The Scotland winger intercepted a pass and captured the ball off his foot before it struck the ground to race in unopposed. The video referee took a long look at the handling however ruled the try was good.
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, two tries 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 but Wakefield, with Max Jowitt exceptional in defence, kept them at bay to liquidate the win.
'We can probably unwind a bit now' - reaction
"It was a strange one since I don't believe Lachlan thought he 'd scored it, however the video ref should have seen conclusively that it was a try.
"We started a bit gradually however the longer the game went on I believed we truly turned into it. It was admirable the method the boys fought.
"I seemed like we were all over them in the 2nd half, and it seemed like eventually we were going to score once again.
"We probably just weren't medical in specific locations. We sort of required it, so it was a bit naive on our part, however I was truly happy of the effort.
"It was heartbreaking really. I'm down in the dumps we have not won - and the way of the loss too - but at the very same time it's just round 2 and we are still missing out on a great deal of essential gamers.
"If we show the same character next week I believe we'll go alright."
Wakefield Trinity head coach Daryl Powell informed BBC Radio Leeds:
"I thought Lachlan had dropped it initially, I could not see, however he plainly gets his foot on the ball, so it's a clever little impulse play from him. Those sorts of impulse things are what he's truly proficient at.
"There was a little bit of luck - you require that at times. I do not think we had a lot last week, so it came in handy to have some today.
"I thought we looked worried last week, 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 period towards completion.
"We've got the monkey off our back with our first win of the season and can most likely unwind a bit now.
"I thought 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.