Danny Brough spent last year operating in National League One, but the former Hull and Castleford Tigers scrum half demonstrated his top-flight potency with a measured display that proved just enough to secure an upset against Bradford Bulls, the title hopefuls.
Wakefield Trinity Wildcats twice held 12-point advantages during the second half, but the Bulls’ commitment meant that they could never rest. Only Brough’s late penalty - he kicked three others - eventually secured the points in the face of a flurry of tries from the visiting team inside the final quarter.
“He’s a quality player,” John Kear, the Wakefield coach, said. “The bigger the game, the better he plays and he deserves a Super League stage. That’s what he’s got now and I’m sure he’ll grace the competition with great style and skill.”
Terry Newton gave Bradford the early momentum, but Ryan Atkins, the former Bulls youth-team player, responded with a try before Paul Reilly’s score gave the hosts a 10-6 lead at half-time.
Luke George, the Wakefield wing, crossed twice after the interval to give Kear’s side some breathing space, but Michael Platt, Newton and Paul Sykes each touched down to set up a nervous finish.
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“I’m disappointed but I’m not despondent,” Steve McNamara, the Bradford coach, said. “We’d have loved to have got off to a flying start but there were glimpses that would suggest we’ll be a very good side by the end of the season.”
Scorers: Wakefield Trinity Wildcats: Tries: Atkins, Reilly, George 2. Goals: Martin, Brough 4. Bradford Bulls: Tries: Newton 2, Platt, Sykes. Goals: Deacon 4.
Wakefield Trinity Wildcats: M Blaymire; P Reilly, T Martin, R Atkins, L George; D Brough, S Obst; R Bibey, B Drew, R Moore, D Ferguson, B Ferres, J Demetriou. Interchange: K Henderson, T Leo-Latu, D Sculthorpe, O Wilkes.
Bradford Bulls: M Platt; J Evans, P Sykes, S Hape, T Tupou; I Harris, P Deacon; J Vagana, T Newton, A Lynch, C Nero, J Langley, S Burgess. Interchange: G Morrison, M James, W Godwin, B Jeffries.
Referee: R Silverwood.