Walmsley Scores Function 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 offered them a breathless 18-16 success at Huddersfield Giants.


After their opening-day defeat at home to Toulouse, Trinity came good on the roadway, hanging on in a thrilling 2nd half for a hard-earned win.


The crucial moment was Walmsley's interception for his second try, which opened a space Huddersfield were just unable to claw back despite 2 late tries from George Flanagan.


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


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


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


However, a perfectly constructed shot from eight minutes before the break gave Wakefield a half-time lead.


Tom Burgess was held up over the line as Huddersfield came out firing at the start of the second half.


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


But a huge play from Walmsley 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 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 try just after the hour it looked like they remained in the clear.


However, two attempts in quick 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 impressive in defence, kept them at bay to close out the win.


'We can probably relax a bit now' - reaction


"It was a strange one due to the fact that I do not think Lachlan thought he 'd scored it, but the video ref must have seen conclusively that it was a try.


"We started a little bit slowly but the longer the video game went on I thought we truly turned into it. It was exceptional the method the young boys battled.


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


"We probably just weren't medical in specific areas. We arrange of required it, so it was a bit ignorant on our part, but I was really happy with the effort.


"It was heartbreaking actually. I'm down in the dumps we haven't won - and the manner of the loss too - however at the exact same time it's just round 2 and we are still missing out on a lot of essential players.


"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 in the beginning, I could not see, but he plainly gets his foot on the ball, so it's a smart bit of instinct play from him. Those sorts of impulse things are what he's actually good at.


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


"I thought we looked anxious last week, probably around expectations, around what we are and what we did in 2015, and I thought we were nervous today once again - especially around that tight duration towards the end.


"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 fantastic."


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.