Wakefield Trinity 29 Huddersfield Giants 23: Agony and ecstasy as hosts snatch dramatic win
There is a fine line between agony and ecstasy in sport.
Huddersfield Giants experienced both extremes in a frantic finale at Belle Vue.
A breakthrough victory appeared to be within their grasp after Oliver Russell's late drop goal, only for the former Wakefield Trinity half-back to gift Josh Rourke the winning try with 26 seconds remaining.
With golden point looming, Russell opted for a glory play and paid a heavy price as Rourke picked off his loose pass to deny Jim Lenihan his first win as Huddersfield head coach.
But the most painful defeats can sometimes reveal the biggest signs of progress.
Lenihan has spoken consistently about effort, fitness and stripping the game back to its simplest form since his arrival, replacing fear with freedom.
Sunday's performance was the strongest evidence yet that his players are finally beginning to embrace that message.
Although the Giants failed to finish the job, they showed enough to suggest that better days lie ahead under the impressive Lenihan.
For Wakefield, this was an afternoon to forget despite escaping with the win.
With the exceptions of Toulouse Olympique on the opening weekend and Castleford Tigers late last season, Daryl Powell's side have consistently negotiated the fixtures capable of derailing momentum – often with a swagger.
The result is king but Trinity flattered to deceive against Super League's basement side.
Huddersfield arrived at Belle Vue with just two wins to their name, yet found a way to push their hosts all the way.
As sloppy as Wakefield were, the Giants deserve credit for finding the kind of performance that has eluded them for so long.
Ultimately, Powell will take the points and move on at a stage of the season when lulls are not uncommon.
The victory leaves Wakefield just four points behind the table-topping Leeds Rhinos and with a two-game buffer over the seventh-placed Leigh Leopards.
Few will remember this match if Trinity go on to secure a play-off place.
The home side looked on course for a routine win after hitting Huddersfield with an early one-two.
Tom Johnstone had already been denied twice when he opened the scoring in the ninth minute with a flying finish from Jake Trueman's looping pass.
Even at that stage, Wakefield sensed blood in the water. They wasted no time in shifting the ball in the next set and struck gold immediately, Johnstone breaking from deep to give Trinity the field position to strike again.
Huddersfield appeared to have held out but there is always danger on the last tackle against Wakefield. The hosts won the aerial battle from Trueman's cross-field kick and Mike McMeeken was on the spot to finish untouched.
But against all expectations, the Giants turned the game on its head to wipe out Trinity's lead.
Huddersfield took advantage as Wakefield became complacent and loose, rebuilding confidence in the process.
Jacob Gagai gave the visitors the spark they needed with a scintillating 50-metre effort that featured several missed tackles. For all the desire and poise shown by the centre, it was a poor try from a defensive perspective.
Powell's mood would not have improved when Cole Geyer found a gap and streaked clear to score Huddersfield's second.
All of a sudden, this was a different game entirely.
Wakefield remained unconvincing but went into the break with a lead after Jack Sinfield dummied his way through and recovered from a stumble to touch down.
Lenihan had enough positives to work with at half-time, though, and would have been encouraged by what he saw following the restart.
Russell kicked a 40/20 to give the Giants perfect field position and they made it count when Asher O'Donnell benefited from soft defence to power his way over next to the posts.
George Flanagan Jr's third conversion nudged Huddersfield back ahead but they did not appear comfortable as frontrunners.
A Seth Nikotemo break switched the momentum back in Wakefield's favour and they were level again courtesy of Max Jowitt's penalty following a high tackle on McMeeken.
When Rourke produced a strong finish in heavy traffic from Trueman's long pass, there was a sense that Trinity would take the game away from their West Yorkshire rivals.
But Huddersfield were resilient until the end. After seeing Jowitt miss a penalty, the Giants levelled the scores when Adam Swift finished a sweeping move to the left.
Flanagan Jr sent the touchline conversion wide but Huddersfield had Wakefield sweating.
Sinfield's long-range drop goal was cancelled out by Russell at the end of a frenetic passage of play before the playmaker gifted his old club the competition points in dramatic fashion.
As Russell sank to his haunches, Trinity celebrated with the relief of a team that got out of jail.
Wakefield Trinity: Jowitt, Rourke, Scott, Pitts, Johnstone, Trueman, Sinfield, McMeeken, Smoothy, Rodwell, Nikotemo, Vagana, Tevaga. Substitutes: Hamlim-Uele, Smith, Lolesio, Tate.
Tries: Johnstone (9), McMeeken (12), Sinfield (37), Rourke (57, 80).
Goals: Jowitt 4/7.
Drop goal: Sinfield (70).
Huddersfield Giants: Flanagan Jr, Swift, Gagai, Jagger, Milne, Lolohea, Russell, Rogers, Rush, Patolo, O'Donnell, Dunford, Powell. Substitutes: English, King, Cozza, Geyer.
Tries: Gagai (22), Geyer (27), O'Donnell (42), Swift (66).
Goals: Flanagan 3/4.
Drop goal: Russell (79).
Referee: Tom Grant.