'You could be legends' - inside unfancied Wakefield's rapid ascent

There is a moment in the 1939 film 'The Wizard of Oz' where Dorothy swaps her monochrome world for glorious, eye-opening technicolour the minute she touches down in the Land of Oz.

The same could be said for the moment, should it happen, that Wakefield Trinity get their hands on the Super League trophy this Saturday after the Grand Final against Warrington Wolves.

Metaphorically of course, but the achievements of that great club are still currently only to be seen in those black and white hues and are ripe for a dash of colour.

Derek 'Rocky' Turner, Neil Fox MBE, Don Fox, Harold Poynton, Ken Rollin... all legends of the 1960s and an era when all the silverware found its way to WF1.

Belle Vue, or the DIY Kitchens Stadium as it is now known, has had its special nights since, such as the win to relegate rivals Castleford and secure safety at their expense in 2006.

Amid all the adrenaline and excitement, that was survival. Not success.

Yet, this season poses a different storyline. Wakefield can achieve. Wakefield can be winners. Title winners, for the first time since 1968.

It is a notion that boss Daryl Powell has tapped into, as winger Tom Johnstone explains.

"Daryl put a Powerpoint presentation on the screen, and said 'You could be legends of this club', and that was it," Johnstone told BBC Radio 5 live.

"He didn't really go any further into it, he just put a seed in the back of your mind and just gave you that little nugget.

"I've been at this club for so long now and if we can be the first ones to bring success back to this club we will go down in history forever, not just at Wakefield but everywhere.

"To be the sixth name on the trophy is just massive motivation."

Going back to the movie theme, Wakefield's resurrection over the past three seasons is almost too fanciful for Hollywood's scriptwriters, given the rapid ascent.

Owner Matt Ellis is without doubt the lead character, having come in as a fan but also an incredibly wealthy and successful kitchen magnate.

It has been more than just investment thrown at it; for example Ellis has been hands-on with the stadium renovation in terms of standards and finish on the back of the work of former custodians Michael Carter and John Minards who set the ball rolling.

He also has brought drive and vision, and it was he who was determined to bring Powell to the club as head coach almost immediately after taking control.

"Everything has changed from the top to the bottom," Johnstone added. "Rather than going into individual key details, the facilities have changed, the manner of the club, just the belief and the ambition of the club is probably the best one.

"We used to say a lot of things and say we wanted to compete but we had no chance of doing it at the time. Whereas now, it's an elite club. It's run so well.

"Anything you need, you've got it. Matt will provide absolutely anything. He just wants to see success. And the players we've signed and the team we've built, it just shows. It's just night and day."

Ellis and Powell has been a near-perfect partnership; with promotion back to Super League, Wembley success in the 1895 Cup, and back-to-back play-off appearances in Super League all culminating in this Old Trafford opportunity.

Powell had enjoyed success at Featherstone and Castleford before a stint at Warrington ended prematurely, and joining Wakefield has had a revitalising impact on both club and coach.

"I've been super-fortunate to get to a club that I've felt at home in straight away," Powell told BBC Sport. "Then when you feel that you can really get after your work and get the right kind of people in.

"Our coaching staff are second to none, they're unbelievable people and then get the right kind of players in, people first, players second but very good players because if you get the right people you know they're going to work hard to be the very best they can be.

"I feel like we've got all that mix right and the ownership is great which sets us up - we're just in a zone where we're all proud of each other and I know that's that's pretty special."

Powell has turned to familiar faces to fill those key roles; Michael Shenton - once his captain at Castleford, is now his trusted assistant while Ste Mills - another accolyte of yore is the brains behind the recruitment.

Aside from that, former Trinity player and modern day favourite Danny Kirmond is also on the staff while the experienced Stu Dickens also adds to the brains trust.

On the pitch, Powell has reunited with Jake Trueman, whose form in his time at Castleford put him in the international picture, and Mike McMeeken, who was part of the 2017 team at the Tigers who lost to Leeds in the Grand Final.

Front-rower McMeeken's authority and presence were a huge pick up for Trinity when he signed from Catalans as a statement signing on their top flight return, part of a powerful pack which highlights the best of Mills' talentspotting.

Bringing that power are Ky Rodwell from NRL side Parramatta, and ex-Cronulla reserve grader Caleb Hamlin-Uele - both signed while Trinity were still in the Championship.

Since getting up, Caius Faatili was brought in from Queensland Cup side Sunshine Coast Falcons in 2025 and was an immediate success with his raw-boned and aggressive style; lean, muscular Isaiah Vagana is rangy and athletic in the back-row, while Samoa international Jazz Tevaga has brought NRL experience and abrasive swagger to the squad.

"Daryl's really shown how good of a coach he is just how he's brought players in that probably may not have been picked up because of not being as well known," McMeeken told BBC Sport.

"For example Caius, not many clubs would have known about him but he's seen the potential in him and the good thing is, I think he's only about 23 or 24 so it's quite scary to see how far people like him can actually go."

Without a major football club in the city, Wakefield Trinity are the prime attraction for support, and all the attention and focus has been shone on them this week.

More than 30,000 tickets have been sold for Old Trafford at Trinity's end, nudging the expected attendance past 70,000 for a showpiece that guarantees a new name on the trophy for the second year running.

Finishing fourth earned them a home eliminator where Leigh were beaten impressively, but it was the dismantling of treble-chasing Wigan in the semi-final which really caught the eye and gave growing hope that Trinity could create a seismic Super League shock.

The Wakefield club that Johnstone started out at is almost a different beast more than a decade on, for the better, but the fanbase has remained the same - committed, loyal and vocal.

"It'd mean everything to us but I think it would mean more to them," Johnstone continued.

"They've always been proud of the club but there's not been too much to be proud of in the past 20 years so it'd be amazing for them, it'd be special.

"I got stopped on the way to school with my kids the other day by someone saying 'Come on Wakefield!' and it's just good to see the club and the city going that way.

"It can only be good for rugby league and Super League for us to be growing and performing and it's finally pay back for all the loyal fans that have been here throughout the years."

It is a long time between drinks, 1968. For Wakefield, the hope is it is champagne rather than shandy they are enjoying come the final hooter on Saturday.

Yet regardless of the result, there will be immense pride. Wakefield are back, and the key for everyone at the club now is to ensure they stay there.

Saturday could be the catalyst for that. Wakefield - Wizards of Old Trafford has a ring to it, or Wizards of OT you might say.