Wakefield Trinity made history in 2026 as they won a first-ever Super League Grand Final with the West Yorkshire side’s pack dominant throughout the play-offs and, worryingly for their rivals, there’s an argument to be made that they’ve got even stronger.

Zac Lipowicz, who joined late in the year and played just five games for the club, including the Grand Final, has now signed a permanent deal, whilst Wakefield will also have a full season of Emre Guler – who was himself banned for the Grand Final that the club famously won.

Trinity were even in the race for the League Leaders Shield late in the season but a run of defeats from round 22 onwards against Leeds Rhinos, St Helens, and Wigan Warriors cast major doubts over their title credentials.

Head coach Daryl Powell spoke before that gauntlet of games to insist that whatever the result of those three plus the final three games against York, Warrington and Leigh, he believed his side would prove all the better in the play-offs for those tough games and he was right.

Wakefield were dominant in all three play-off games and whilst their spine and backs iced the moments they needed to, their pack set the platform and it’s a pack that has got even better ahead of 2027.

Wakefield Trinity pack to remain a problem for rivals

In terms of outgoings and incomings, Trinity saw just two forwards depart at the end of the year, as well as the August exit of Seth Nikotemo, and it must be admitted that the pair leaving are significant losses.

Tyson Smoothy was arguably the second-best hooker in Super League and certainly the classiest so his absence will be dearly felt. As will the leadership and reliability of Jay Pitts, who bowed out in fine fashion as he retired after the Grand Final

The pair both played 31 games in 2026, Smoothy started 27 at nine, and Pitts starting 13 at loose forward whilst predominantly being used off the bench. As for Nikotemo, the other forward to depart (albeit in August), Wakefield got 16 games from him – 14 of which were starts in the second-row.

Replacing that trio, Wakefield have signed Mason Teague as their new hooker with the Burleigh Bears playing another potential gem sourced from the Australian reserve grade. They’ve also replaced Jay Pitts with the experienced Cam Smith from Leeds Rhinos, who had a storming end to the 2026 season.

As for Nikotemo, he was replaced at the time by Zac Lipowicz, who left to join Perth Bears but has since U-turned and become the club’s latest signing. A dependable second-rower who is still only 24, Lipowicz missed just one game across the entire 2026 season and he’s a more than capable replacement for Nikotemo.

Adding to that, Wakefield also have Emre Guler, who they brought in early for 2026 but the prop found himself banned for the semi-final and Grand Final. Across his four appearances, he started three with Mike McMeeken used in the second-row, allowing for an even more imposing middle rotation when the game got going and that could be the case again in 2027.

Have Wakefield really improved man for man?

Overall, Trinity have got four bodies in for just three bodies out meaning their pack is not only bigger but arguably better, with Teague for Smoothy the only significant downgrade. That said, given the success of the Trinity scouting department, there’s no reason to suggest Teague cannot be a smash hit like the club’s other New South Wales and Queensland Cup recruits.

Moreover, the addition of Cameron Smith as a standout loose forward opens the door for Jazz Tevaga to play hooker, as he has done for Samoa, whilst 20-year-old Harvey Smith has another year or development in an elite system after playing 21 times in 2026, where he hopefully picked up plenty from Smoothy.

Worryingly for all those who are trying to play catch-up with the Trinity pack, it’s arguably got even better for 2027 and there are more rotations than afforded in their play-off run as they welcome back Matty Storton from injury, with the second-rower missing the final six weeks of the season. Meanwhile, Tray Lolesio, Emre Guler, and Zac Lipowicz, who either played limited roles or joined late in the season will all have a full pre-season under their belt.

Factor in what the club have done in their backs, recruiting Roger Tuivasa-Sheck, Davy Litten, and Ned McCormack, there’s a chance Wakefield are yet to hit their ceiling. Of course, they’ll now have the dreaded target on their back that Hull KR found such a burden in 2026, but Trinity have had a far better off-season than Rovers did 12 months ago.

Those naive enough to write Wakefield off in 2026 best think again before they do so in 2027 because the club’s upturn in success could only just be getting started.

Wakefield Trinity 2027 possible pack

Prop: Emre Guler, Hooker: Mason Teague, Prop: Ky Rodwell, Second-row: Mike McMeeken, Second-row: Isaiah Vagana, Loose forward: Jazz Tevaga

Bench: Caleb Hamlin-Uele, Caius Faatili, Matty Storton, Cameron Smith

Depth: Tray Lolesio, Zac Lipowicz, Harvey Smith, Ellis Lingard

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