In the Super League era, Warrington have been the eternal bridesmaids, watching on as traditional rivals Wigan and St Helens have swept up the silverware.
This was their fifth Grand Final, and felt like the chance to finally get their hands on the big prize and be champions for the first time since 1955.
Under head coach Sam Burgess, they had lost Challenge Cup finals at Wembley in the previous two years, but they had arrived at this game on the back of nine wins out of 10.
Crucially that sole defeat had been at Wakefield in round 26 of the regular season and in the opening 40 minutes, they had few answers.
But a high tackle by Trinity centre Corey Hall resulted in him being sin-binned early in the second period and, with a man extra, Lindop went over to offer a glimmer of a comeback.
However, Warrington could not score again with that momentum. Wakefield weathered the storm and, with numbers levelled up, they worked an opening for Johnstone’s power and pace to deliver the decisive try.
Lindop went over again for his second as the Wolves desperately attacked, but with Ewan Irwin missing the conversion, Trinity players and staff were able to count down until the final whistle before celebrations could begin as Warrington’s wait for another title now extends to a 72nd year.
Warrington: Thewlis; Hopoate, Lindop, King, Ashton; Williams (capt), Irwin; Byrne, Walker, Harrison, Bentley, Stone, Currie.
Interchanges: Powell, Yates, Philbin, Tanginoa.
Wakefield: Jowitt; Walmsley, Scott, Hall, Johnstone; Trueman, Sinfield; McMeeken (c), Smoothy, Rodwell, Vagana, Lipowicz, Tevaga.
Interchanges: Lino, Potts, Faatili, Hamlin-Uele.
Sin-bin: Hall (43)
Referee: Liam Moore.
Leave a Reply