Video: Wakefield Trinity 62 Wigan Warriors 0 - Wildcats crush depleted Wigan as Trinity revival gathers speed

On April 11 last year Wildcats were embarrassed 80-0 at Warrington Wolves and at that stage they seemed to be tumbling out of the top-flight.

They survived thanks only to a nervy win over Bradford Bulls in the million pound match and struggled again at the start of the current campaign, but boss Brian Smith’s shock resignation earlier this season has brought about a remarkable turnaround.

Bottom of the table before Easter, yesterday’s 62-0 rout of Wigan Warriors at Belle Vue was their fourth successive victory under Chris Chester and they are now genuine contenders for a place in the Super-8s.

The new coach, sacked by Hull KR earlier in the year, has got his squad playing with fresh confidence and enthusiasm, as well as a huge amount of determination and skill.

Wakefield ran in 11 tries and played some wonderful rugby on attack, but their defensive effort was equally impressive.

After nine minutes Liam Finn and Mickey Sio both went close for Wakefield before the ball was turned over a few metres from Wigan’s line.

Wakefield rocked Wigan with their defence in the next set, keeping them inside their own 40 and preventing a kick.

Back in possession, Wakefield surged forward again and Nick Scruton rolled over for the opening try, from a pass by Scott Moore who has made a big difference following his return from long-term injury.

That set the tone and Wildcats showed similar desire in the final moments, when they were penalised three times on their own line, but refused to concede.

Chester admitted the final scoreline was far beyond anything he could have predicted or hoped for.

“I thought it was going to be a lot closer,” he said.

“It just shows what a bit of belief does to a group of players.

“From one to 17 they were outstanding. We scored some fantastic tries and I thought our execution was very good, but what pleased me was what they did without the ball.

“To keep a Wigan side to nil takes some special efforts.”

Chester added: “It was desire and players not wanting to let their team-mates down. That has been evident these last three weeks.

“They are starting to believe in themselves a little bit more. I am really pleased, it has been a good few weeks, but we need to make sure we keep grounded.

“We are a confident side at this moment in time and we are enjoying the journey.”

Wigan were missing 10 front line players due to injury or illness and had two youngsters on debut.

They attacked in the opening moments, from a couple of knock-ons and a penalty, but rarely got out of their own half once that broke down. It was last year’s league and Grand Final runners-up’ heaviest defeat in the competition since Leeds Rhinos beat then 70-0 at Headingley 11 years ago.

Wakefield had outstanding efforts from Jacob Miller, Anthony Tupou and Max Jowitt, but it was an all-round team effort.

They did not look back after Scruton’s opener. On 24 minutes Miller crossed after offloads by Tupou and Joe Arundel, who is recapturing the sort of form he showed early in his career with Castleford.

Four minutes later on-song Tom Johnstone made a brilliant take from Miller’s angled kick and Finn’s third conversion of the half opened an 18-0 gap.

The best was yet to come as five minutes before the interview Moore kicked for Johnstone, he fed Arundel and the centre’s pass sent Miller over.

On top of that, Wakefield got over the line four times without reward. Sio was denied by a Danny Kirmond knock-on and then a Moore push, Lewis Tierney’s superb tackle forced Jowitt into a knock-on over the line and Miller’s round-his-back pass to Arundel was forward.

The question at half-time was whether Wakefield could keep their foot on the gas. They did so by adding seven more touchdowns. Wigan needed to score first to have any chance of getting back in the game, but Miller landed a 40-20 kick and Finn went over from the resulting scrum.

Then Matty Smith lost the ball and Arundel picked up and dashed away to send Miller in for his hat-trick.

Kirmond crashed over from Finn’s pass and added a second when Josh Charnley slipped trying to deal with Miller’s kick.

Then the dam burst. Ben Jones-Bishop brought up the half-century from Reece Lyne’s pass, the ex-Leeds winger broke clear and picked out Jowitt for a deserved try with an excellent long pass and Scruton’s second touchdown and Finn’s ninth conversion completed the scoring.

Wakefield Trinity Wildcats: Jowitt, Johnstone, Arundel, Lyne, Jones-Bishop, Miller, Finn, Scruton, Moore, England, A Tupou, Kirmond, Sio. Substitutes: Molloy, Simon, Ashurst, Arona.

Wigan Warriors: Sarginson, Charnley, Higginson, Gildart, Tierney, Gregson, Smith, Clubb, Powell, Mossop, J Tomkins, Isa, Sutton. Substitutes: Tautai, Burke, Bretherton, Wells.

Referee: G Hewer (Whitehaven).