Championship success just the start for Wakefield Trinity as they await Grade A confirmation

Trinity's luck had finally run out after years of firefighting at the bottom end of Super League and they faced an uncertain future in the Championship.

Wakefield were later ranked in the top 12 in the indicative phase of the grading system rollout but a score of 12.52 left no room for complacency.

That Trinity stand on the brink of achieving Grade A status is down to the tireless efforts of Matt Ellis since acquiring the club.

The stadium redevelopment gave Ellis something to work with but Wakefield's Belle Vue home still needed work and the team was a long way short of Super League standard.

The millionaire owner of DIY Kitchens wasted no time in putting his stamp on the club, replacing Mark Applegarth with experienced head coach Daryl Powell before the ink had even dried on his takeover.

It was an early statement of intent from Ellis and one that has turned out to be a masterstroke.

Powell transformed the fortunes of near neighbours Featherstone Rovers and Castleford Tigers but had a point to prove after failing to make his mark at Warrington Wolves.

The 59-year-old has done that – and then some.

Saturday's Grand Final demolition of Toulouse Olympique sealed a second-tier treble for Powell's side.

After maintaining a full-time playing squad assembled on a sizeable budget, no team could live with Wakefield.

Trinity racked up a half-century at Wembley to claim the 1895 Cup and cruised to the League Leaders' Shield thanks to 25 wins in 26 games.

Powell's men finished 13 points clear of Toulouse and that gulf was evident in a seven-try rout at a sold-out DIY Kitchens Stadium.

Derrell Olpherts, Matty Ashurst, the retiring Jermaine McGillvary and Iain Thornley all scored in the first half to the delight of the Belle Vue faithful.

The party continued after the break with Olpherts and McGillvary completing their braces after Oliver Pratt added his name to the scoresheet.

If Max Jowitt becoming the first player in British rugby league history to score 500 points in a season was not enough, McGillvary nailed a touchline conversion to put the seal on a memorable night and a stellar career.

Toulouse were the only team to beat Wakefield during the regular season but they had no answer to the Trinity juggernaut.

The exciting part for the jubilant supporters is that the club are only getting started.

Ellis boldly declared he wanted to challenge to be a top-six Super League club in the near future, a statement that raised eyebrows at the end of a torturous season for Wakefield.

As painful as it was at the time, relegation turned out to be a blessing in disguise.

Powell has created a winning culture with Ellis' backing and Trinity return to Super League with a new identity.

Whereas previously they have been happy to just be there, Wakefield are serious about shaking up the established order.

The proof is in the pudding, a mixture that includes marquee men Tom Johnstone and Mike McMeeken.

Jake Trueman, Olly Russell, Corey Hall and Seth Nikotemo are some of the other additions to an already impressive squad.

Some players are moving on, most notably McGillvary, captain Ashurst and Luke Gale.

McGillvary and Gale have retired, while Ashurst is set to stay in the Championship with Oldham.

A top-six finish would take a monumental effort in what has the makings of one of the most competitive Super League seasons ever but one thing is for sure, Wakefield will not die wondering.

Trinity could hardly be in higher spirits ahead of their return to the big time after completing the treble to give the club the final push to a Grade A score that looked beyond them this time last year.

Wakefield must wait until Tuesday for confirmation of their promotion but it is a formality at this stage.

Trinity will replace London Broncos and Super League will be stronger for it.

Although Powell's side will not have everything their own way next year, the foundations are in place for Wakefield to push on.

The Championship is not for everybody but Trinity embraced the challenge and respected the competition in a 36-game slog that began in early February.

Even for a player like McGillvary who has seen it all, his final season with Wakefield was special.

"I've had a long and good career personally but I've not won many things," said the former England winger.

"I've won a couple of series with England and a League Leaders' Shield with Giants but now I've got to play at Wembley, have won a cup, the league and now this, so this is up there.

"This group of players are one of the best groups of men that I've ever come across in my career and I've played for a long time. I'm so grateful that I got to come here and be around them."