WARRINGTON Wolves’ wait for that elusive league title goes on after they crashed to defeat against Wakefield in the Super League Grand Final.
There wasn’t much to split the two teams going in to what was Warrington’s fifth trip to Old Trafford, but Trinity in their maiden Grand Final got one over them led by former Wolves coach Daryl Powell.
The damage was done in the first half where Wakefield, who put everyone on notice with a superb win over Wigan last week, opened up a 19-0 lead.
Tom Johnstone was denied an early score in the left corner by the video referee, who ruled he had put a hand in touch before grounding the ball, albeit it was hard to see how referee Liam Moore had initially sent it up for a try anyway.
But after the opening 10 minutes, Wakefield gradually started to claim control and opened the scoring through Bradford-bound Cameron Scott off the back of an offload out the back door by Lachlan Walmsley.
An excellent Tyson Smoothy 40/20 kept Wakefield on the front foot and they stretched their lead through Isaiah Vagana, who did something his dad Joe couldn’t do in five successive Grand Finals for Bradford, score a try in one.
When Jez Tevaga found his way over from close range on 35 minutes the writing was on the wall for Warrington, with Jack Sinfield whose excellent kicking game had helped Wakefield get on top, adding a drop goal late in the half.
His father Kevin had earlier completed his seventh marathon in seven days, passing through Warrington, and it required an effort of almost that magnitude if Warrington were to get back in to this game.
As it was, they were handed a lifeline two minutes in to the second half when Wakefield centre Corey Hall was sinbinned for a high-tackle on Arron Lindop.
Lindop dusted himself off to cross for Warrington’s first try as they took four minutes to make the most of that numerical advantage, but that was the best that they could do.
Wakefield held on until Hall’s return and then started to wrestle back control of the match, crucially scoring their fourth try through Tom Johnstone on the hour which put the game beyond Warrington.
Lindop scored his second try with eight minutes left after the Wolves kept the ball alive on the last tackle, Albert Hopoate providing the final pass, but it was too little too late and Wakefield celebrated their first ever Super League title and their first league title since 1968.
Warrington: Thewlis, Hopoate, Lindop, King, Ashton, Williams, Irwin, Byrne, Walker, Harrison, Stone, Bentley, Currie. Subs: Yates, Powell, Philbin, Tanginoa
Wakefield: Jowitt, Walmsley, Scott, Hall, Johnstone, Trueman, Sinfield, Tevaga, Vagana, Lipwicz, Rodwell, Smoothy, McMeeken. Subs: Lino, Pitts, Hamlin-Uele, Fa’atili.
