Wigan Warriors emphatically underlined their class with a commanding 48-10 victory over Wakefield Trinity in Super League action. The Warriors dismantled their hosts to secure their sixth win in seven games across all competitions, with young winger Noah Hodkinson stealing the show with four tries.
Match Overview
The Super League table rarely lies, and at the halfway point of the regular season, it generally reflects the true standings. However, a quick glance at the current order reveals a slight anomaly: Wigan Warriors may not be top of the table, but they are arguably the best side in the competition right now. There is a four-point gap between Wigan and the joint leaders, Leeds Rhinos and Warrington Wolves. Yet, few would dispute that Matt Peet's side is ahead of that pair after the Challenge Cup winners delivered yet another masterclass against a playoff rival.
Wakefield Trinity have made significant strides since returning to Super League at the start of last season. So much so that there was a feeling that if they backed up last week's win over reigning champions Hull KR with another prized scalp, they could be considered genuine title contenders in 2026. This match, however, provided a brutal lesson on how far they still have to go. In truth, it was more about Wigan's current form as they dismantled Daryl Powell's side with one of the performances of the season, securing a sixth win in seven games.
That run includes the Challenge Cup final victory over Hull KR earlier this month. The only blot in that sequence came the week before Wembley, when they lost after resting almost their entire first-team squad against Rovers. Here, they scored nine tries of the highest quality, with Hodkinson scoring four to suggest he could be the next breakout star for Wigan.
Key Moments
The match was finely poised as the half-hour mark approached, with the teams level at 6-6. But three Wigan tries in eight minutes before the break swung the momentum firmly in the visitors' favor. By the time Wakefield crossed again through Tom Johnstone, the contest had been decisively decided in favor of the Warriors.
“I’m proud of the performance,” Peet said. “The result is an important one for us. Wakefield have a formidable pack and some formidable players, and I thought we dealt with that. Our backs could showcase what they could do. We don’t get too carried away, but we got the chance to play some good stuff.”
That is an understatement. Hodkinson's four tries stole the headlines, but the likes of Junior Nsemba, Jake Wardle, and Harry Smith showed their class throughout. They were in a battle in the early exchanges, with Liam Farrell's 150th Wigan try canceled out by Matty Storton's effort for Wakefield. At 6-6, it looked like a game between two impressive sides. But when Wigan clicked up a gear as half-time approached, Wakefield had no answer. With Nsemba running riot on the left edge, Hodkinson scored his first two tries either side of a clever finish from Oli Partington, making it 20-6 in the blink of an eye.
Unfortunately for Wakefield, it would only get worse. “I thought Wigan were awesome from start to finish,” their coach, Powell, lamented. “It was too slow from us, a really poor performance. That’s all I’ve got to say. We got beat in every facet of the game, and we’ll have to put it behind us and move on.”
Second Half Domination
Trinity needed to score first after half-time to stand a chance. Instead, Hodkinson's hat-trick try put real daylight between the teams before Wardle capped his own excellent display with a try. Hodkinson's fourth, a stunning individual finish, removed all doubt from proceedings before the returning Bevan French sent Zach Eckersley over.
This may have felt like a disappointing evening for Wakefield, but they were in the Championship just two years ago, and their progression to this point is worth noting for context. However, this match showed how they still need to make the decisive final step. Farrell's second try in the final moments, after another wonderful French assist, demonstrated all of Wigan's class.
The bigger challenges may still be to come, but right now, it is hard to imagine anyone being able to cope with this Wigan side in this form.
