Jacob Miller’s eight years as a Wakefield Trinity player have probably already secured him a place as one of the club’s modern greats, even if he is about to cross the divide in 2023 and join their fiercest rivals, Castleford Tigers. But if his 85th-minute drop goal here is the moment which keeps this club in Super League next season, his status as a club legend will surely only be enhanced.
With 10 minutes remaining, Wakefield faced an eighth consecutive defeat and, with Toulouse improving at the bottom of the table, Trinity would have been only two points clear of the French side with far less momentum. But recent history has shown that, no matter how bad things seem to get at Wakefield, they always find a way to save their skin.
Two tries in those final 10 minutes from Corey Hall and Lee Gaskell, coupled with two nerveless conversions from Mason Lino, improbably sent the game to extra time. Hull, who would have gone within two points of Catalans in second with victory here, then spurned two glorious opportunities to win the game, Luke Gale skewing both of his drop-goal attempts wide. That left the door ajar for Wakefield and Miller did not disappoint.
“We’d like to keep him but, even if he does go, he could have gone before today with the adoration of the fans,” their coach, Willie Poching, said of Miller. “People will remember that drop goal for a long time.”
Whether Wakefield are in Super League or the Championship next year, there is a break-up of this squad coming. Few players cross the path from Wakefield to Castleford without some level of resentment from supporters but, with contributions like this, Miller may just about be exempt from criticism.
With a four-point gap over Toulouse now established, their meeting at Magic Weekend next month could decisively swing the pendulum in Wakefield’s favour. A victory against Warrington next Sunday could now also, somewhat inexplicably given their spending power, drag the Wolves, too, into the fight.
It is to Wakefield’s credit that they emerged victorious here despite being behind for almost the entire afternoon. “That gives us belief we’re on the right track after a difficult few weeks,” Poching said.
They trailed 18-6 at half-time, as two tries for Adam Swift and another for Darnell McIntosh put Hull in control, with the outstanding Jake Connor at the heart of what they did well. Later in the game, though, Connor’s withdrawal with a knee injury felt decisive and, despite seeming on course to win here, they failed to score a point after such an impressive first-half display. “We should have won the game from where we were at half-time. We need to learn from this,” Brett Hodgson, Hull’s head coach, said.
Connor’s departure midway through the second half certainly stunted Hull’s rhythm. But Wakefield were full of effort and endeavour in response and, when they seized on an error to allow Hall to cross as the game entered the final 10 minutes, the home support began to believe.
That belief was only enhanced with two minutes remaining when Gaskell cut through on the angle and, with Lino converting both, the game was destined for golden point.
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Extra time is so often a test of who can hold their nerve better and, despite Hull’s pack twice putting them into a strong position, Gale badly skewed both of his match-winning attempts. Then the visitors left the door ajar for Wakefield to strike.
With one swing of Miller’s right boot the complexion of Wakefield’s season and the Super League relegation battle, shifted dramatically. The signs of wear and tear around Belle Vue, Wakefield’s famous old home which is in desperate need of renovation, are there for all to see. Thankfully for their supporters, though, there is more life in their playing squad, emphasised by the chaotic celebrations at full time after Miller’s latest heroic act in a red, white and blue shirt.
