Wakefield vs Wigan | Five things we learned
1. Tom Johnstone has to be the best finisher in Super League!
Outrageous try after outrageous try, Trinity winger, Tom Johnstone, is fast becoming one of Super League’s best finishers of the modern era. His spell-binding, acrobatic effort against Wigan on Sunday to give Wakefield some hope of a fight-back was just another to add to his ever-growing list of terrific tries.
Having played most of the match with just one arm following a tackle in the opening three minutes, Johnstone expertly took hold of Gigot’s dink to the left, where he was able to take, wriggle free and touch down in the corner to give Trinity a lifeline.
Adding this to his try against Castleford and his effort against Warrington earlier in the season, the heaps of praise from the Rugby League World is anything but undeserved.
2. Liam Kay’s debut-double boosts backline
A debut-double from Wakefield Trinity new recruit, Liam Kay, highlighted how prolific the winger is, not that we needed reminding! An accomplished outing on Sunday afternoon on the right-edge with Reece Lyne showed that Trinity have quality and depth in the outside backs. With other players breathing down Kay’s neck, the competition for places will keep the squad on their toes.
Former-Toronto winger Kay returned throughout the Covid-19 suspension after starting his career with the club in 2012 and found himself hoisted into the deep end when Wakefield entertained Wigan on Sunday.
However, the Leeds-born player did not look out of place on Trinity’s right-edge, notching himself two tries in the process and if he can keep this sort of form up, choosing who starts on the wing will be a nicer problem to have for Chester.
3. Gigot looked lively at fullback
Former Lance Todd trophy winner, Tony Gigot, was also one of Chris Chester’s new recruits who found himself named amongst the starting 13 for Sunday’s match.
The French international got Trinity’s first points on the board from just 20 metres out after Josh Wood enticed a penalty in the Wigan half, and the full-back was unlucky just a bit later when his conversion attempt struck the post.
Gigot was in the thick of it once again not long after the restart when he found some space from the ruck, launching an expertly-weighted kick for Johnstone, who provided the box-office finish.
As debut performances go, Gigot showed glimpses of what he can offer, but there is still a long way to go and as the season goes on, opposition defences should be wary of his involvement.
4. Chester has driven a never-say-never attitude into this Trinity side
As Jake Bibby crossed the white-wash with 50 minutes on the clock, a 16-point deficit to claw back looked an age away.
However, the belief that Chris Chester has driven into this Wakefield side means that no matter how many points the team are behind, they will give everything to win the game. This mentality showed towards the end of the second half as tries from Johnstone and Kay (2) almost clinched the victory from the jaws of defeat.
If only for youngster Harry Smith’s drop-goal three minutes from time, golden point extra-time would have ensued, however, nothing can take away the positive mindset the players showed to claw themselves back into the contest. They can take plenty from that into Saints next weekend!
5. Kyle Wood and Danny Kirmond are 300-up!
Wakefield Trinity hooker, Kyle Wood, celebrated his 300th career appearance with a try when he ghosted over seven minutes before the interval. Wood has made over 130 appearances for the club in that time over two stints in Red, White & Blue and will be hoping there is more to come in the future.
Trinity stalwart, Danny Kirmond, was introduced from the bench on Sunday and if anyone deserves that milestone, it’s certainly Kirmo! Through thick and thin, the Trinity number 12 has been at the heart of Wakefield Trinity since 2012! A real leader on and off the pitch who has had a fantastic career so far!