Grand Final: Johnstone set for dream day with Trinity

Few players understand what a first-ever Grand Final means to Wakefield Trinity quite like Tom Johnstone.

A lifelong Trinity fan and a popular figure amongst supporters, Johnstone has experienced every side of the Wakefield story. Now, after helping his boyhood club to the biggest game in their history, he admits he cannot wait for Saturday's showdown at Old Trafford.

“I’m really excited,” Johnstone said. “I can't wait. It's just such a big occasion for me personally, but for the club and for all the fans as well. The fans are coming in their numbers, so it just shows what it means to the city.

“All those tickets being sold is just something I never dreamed of as a Wakefield player and a Wakefield fan. Hopefully, we can get it done for you on Saturday night."

The winger was at the heart of Wakefield's stunning semi-final victory over the league leaders Wigan Warriors on Saturday, a result which secured their place on Super League’s big stage.

Looking back on the scenes at The Brick Community Stadium, Johnstone reflected on a day that will live long in the memory of everyone connected with the club:

“So, we did the first half, went toe to toe with them and I think it took a lot of energy out of Wigan.

“We were just trying to dominate them down their end, and then we get that Adam Keighran yellow card. I don't even think we’d expected it to go that well and to score three tries in ten minutes and them not touch the ball though!

“But we just went there with what we thought we could do and we had the confidence to go there and the ambition to win.

“We were probably the only people apart from the fans who thought we could go and do that. So, we just went and executed the perfect game, and then afterwards, when we had nearly 5,000 Wakefield fans going crazy, it was pretty special.”

Johnstone has experienced Grand Final week before, having featured for Catalans Dragons against the Warriors the in 2023 showpiece. But representing his beloved club at the Theatre of Dreams carries added significance:

“It's such an incredible experience, just all of it. The run up to a Grand Final is just very, very exciting, and the day itself is just like - there's nothing you can achieve anywhere else really - I don't think.

“I think because it takes so much work to get there. Walking out onto that pitch is just like nothing you've ever experienced.

“Yeah, I've done it before, but I think it's going to be different this time anyway. It's going to mean a lot more to me because of it being Wakefield, and it's going to be crazy busy.”

The scale of Wakefield's rise is perhaps best illustrated by where the club were little more than a decade ago.

Back in 2015, Trinity were battling for their Super League survival in the Million Pound Game against Bradford Bulls. Eleven years on, they are preparing for their first Grand Final appearance.

Would a young Johnstone have ever thought that this was possible?

“Not then, especially not then! I was only a young kid. I think that was only my 11th Super League game, and I don’t think I should have been playing in that type of game. I wasn’t quite ready, so it was a bit daunting experience back then. Fast forward to now, I didn't expect to ever play in a Grand Final when I was in my first stint at this club, but since coming back that's been the ambition of Matt Ellis and Daryl Powell. And although they said they were aiming to do it in four years, we're here in two.”

Wakefield have long embraced the underdog tag, and even after a remarkable season, many still doubted their chances heading into the semi-final against Wigan. For Johnstone, proving people wrong has become something that his side relish:

“It’s good people are starting to recognise Wakefield, but we were underdogs again at the weekend, so that's why we really thrive and we enjoy it.

“But at the same time, we've said if we perform to our potential, no one can go with us. We've had that mentality all year, and we're starting to enjoy it and starting to really go after it and that's what we wanted to be.

“We wanted to be classed as one of the top dogs, and I think we're starting to prove to people that that's achievable.

“At the start of every year you go through your goals, and we discussed going and getting that top four. We set ourselves up into a situation where as long as we do everything right in ourselves, we can get there, which we have done, and know we can win it.

“We've worked hard for this and now we've just got to try and get it done.”

Adding further emotion to the occasion is the fact several squad members will be playing their final game for the club on Saturday night.

Among them are star man Tyson Smoothy who will return Down Under for 2027, retiring veteran Jay Pitts, and hometown hero Max Jowitt, one of Johnstone's closest friends, who heads to York Knights next year.

“It’s going to be so special. We've got some incredible people leaving at the end of the year. Obviously, there’s Tyson. He won it last year with Brisbane, so to back it up would be unbelievable. But for me, the main two, Jay Pitts and Max Jowitt, they've both been unbelievable servants of this club. Pittsy has had an incredible career and if we can send him out with his first Grand Final in his last ever game - I'll probably be in tears about it, so I can only imagine how he feels.”

For Johnstone, who has been on the journey from relegation battles to Grand Final contenders, Saturday presents the opportunity to help create a moment that will be remembered in Wakefield for generations.

Warrington Wolves will face Wakefield Trinity in the 2026 Betfred Super League Grand Final on Saturday 3 October (K.O. 6pm). Don't miss Rugby League's biggest night and get your tickets here!