Wakefield Trinity have moved into second position in the Betfred Super League table following a challenging 26-12 away win against a spirited Bradford Bulls side. The victory at Odsal Stadium on Wednesday evening, 15 July 2026, was not without its moments of tension for Daryl Powell's squad, who ultimately pulled away in the final stages of the match.
Trinity's points came from tries by Tom Johnstone, Will Tate, Jay Pitts, Josh Rourke, and Harvey Smith, with Rourke also successfully converting three of them. Despite maintaining a lead throughout the contest, the outcome remained uncertain until Smith's late try in the final ten minutes provided a decisive gap between the two teams.
For Bradford, this result marks their fifth defeat in six games, leaving them in 11th place, ten points adrift of the play-off spots. However, the Bulls delivered a tenacious performance, particularly given a last-minute team reshuffle due to an injury to influential player Loghan Lewis before kick-off. They managed to equalise early in the first half through Ethan Ryan and remained within touching distance for much of the game.
A key moment in the match saw Bradford's Ryan sin-binned for an aerial tackle on Rourke, which allowed Tate to score and extend Wakefield's lead. Although Bradford continued to battle, with Chris Atkin scoring in the second half, and had three on-field no-try decisions go against them, Wakefield's class eventually shone through, culminating in Rourke and Smith's late scores.
This crucial win puts Wakefield Trinity just two points behind league leaders Leeds Rhinos. With a demanding schedule ahead, including matches against five of the top seven teams in their remaining nine regular season fixtures, every victory is vital for securing a coveted top-two finish and the home advantage it offers in the play-offs.