'Quite crazy': Wakefield Trinity's ex-Leeds Rhinos, Castleford Tigers man Corey Hall talks Grand Final shock

The former Leeds Rhinos and Castleford Tigers back was among the try scorers when Trinity created one of Betfred Super League’s greatest play-off upsets with a 33-6 semi-final win at league leaders Wigan Warriors last weekend. Even he was surprised by how well Wakefield played, but now all thoughts have turned to going one better and beating Warrington Wolves in Saturday’s Grand Final at Old Trafford

Reflecting on events of the past week, Hall admitted: “It’s quite crazy. I sat down when I got in after the Wigan game last Saturday and I thought ‘what have we just done’? The way we went about it, the way we played, the togetherness, the connectivity we had as a team, I just couldn’t believe it.

“I text [teammate] Jack Sinfield that night and said ‘I can’t believe we are in it’, but the important thing now is, we are happy being there, but it’s time to go and win it. That’s what we want to do.”

Hall joined Trinity’s academy from the Hillsborough Hawks community club in his home city of Sheffield and had a spell in Wigan’s system before moving to Leeds. He made his Super League debut in 2020 and returned to Trinity the following autumn.

He was on the move again, to Hull KR, in 2023 and, after a stint on loan at Castleford, joined Wakefield for the third time ahead of last season. Now, the 24-year-old reckons he has found his home.

“If you look at my career and the clubs I’ve been to, it would be easy to piece a story together of what might have been,” he said. “But I feel like I was just trying to find a place I was suited to or I could call home.

“I feel like this place has brought the best out of me. From the get-go Powelly [coach Daryl Powell], Shenny, Kirmo [assistants Michael Shenton and Danny Kirmond] and all the coaching staff were clear and truthful with me and laid out the plan of what was expected and what they were going to do for me as well. That’s all I ever wanted from a club.”

Trinity have a young squad and this season’s Grand Final appearance has come three years into what was a five-year plan by Powell and owner Matt Ellis. “I don’t think anyone in our team is the finished article, I think there’s room for improvement in everyone and everywhere in the team,” Hall insisted.

“Everyone knows that and that’s why we are doing so well. Everyone comes in every day asking questions how they can be better, getting advice - it is a place where everyone wants to be better every day and I think it shows on the pitch.

“This is part of what we have been building, but I think it started way before this, in 2023 when Matt came in and they built a squad to win the Championship. It started then and is coming to fruition at the minute.”

One thing Trinity appear to lack is big game experience. Only Tom Johnstone and Mike McMeeken have played in previous Grand Finals, both for Catalans Dragons, though Tyson Smoothy was an NRL winner last year with Brisbane Broncos. That doesn’t worry Hall.

“We’ve got to focus on what has got us to this point,” he stated. “We don’t need to think about the outcome, we just need to keep doing what we’ve been doing all year. If we do that, I think the outcome will be as expected.”

Whatever the outcome, Trinity are enjoying being back in the limelight. “It is massive for the city,” Hall added. “I was speaking to Clare, Matt’s mum and she was saying it has gone ballistic. The numbers who are going to be there, it is going to be a special day. It is a great occasion - if you haven’t got a ticket, get one bought quick!”