Marc Sneyd's drop goal in golden-point extra time condemned Wakefield Trinity to a 25-24 defeat against Salford Red Devils, extending their winless start to the Super League season. The match at the Salford Community Stadium saw Wakefield come agonisingly close to their first victory of 2023, only to be denied by Sneyd's nerveless kicking.
Wakefield, who have not won a game in five rounds, showed resilience to force extra time after trailing 13-12 with six minutes remaining. Mason Lino's drop goal levelled the scores, but a costly turnover in extra time allowed Sneyd to seal the win. Coach Mark Applegarth said: 'It stings a bit this one. I can't knock any of their effort but we've come up with a mistake in extra time and a kicker like Sneyd is always going to punish you.'
The match was a tense affair, with tries from Matty Costello and Chris Atkin for Salford, while Corey Hall and Reece Lyne crossed for Wakefield. Lino missed a crucial conversion, leaving Salford 12-10 ahead at half-time. The second half saw no further tries, with Lino's penalty and Sneyd's drop goal setting up the dramatic finish.
Wakefield's 25-year stay in Super League appears increasingly precarious, with Leigh's early success adding to the pressure. Applegarth remains defiant: 'We're confident if we can carry on what we're doing, some luck is around the corner.' However, the result leaves Trinity as the only winless team in the league, with the trap door 'ajar' according to observers.
