Jacob Miller boosts Wakefield’s survival hopes as extra-time drop goal sinks Hull

Jacob Miller’s eight years as a Wakefield Trinity player have probably already secured him a place as one of the club’s modern greats, even if he is about to cross the divide in 2023 and join their fiercest rivals, Castleford Tigers. But if his 85th-minute drop goal here is the moment which keeps this club in Super League next season, his status as a club legend will surely only be enhanced.

With 10 minutes remaining, Wakefield faced an eighth consecutive defeat and, with Toulouse improving at the bottom of the table, Trinity would have been only two points clear of the French side with far less momentum. But recent history has shown that, no matter how bad things seem to get at Wakefield, they always find a way to save their skin.

Two tries in those final 10 minutes from Corey Hall and Lee Gaskell, coupled with two nerveless conversions from Mason Lino, improbably sent the game to extra time. Hull, who would have gone within two points of Catalans in second with victory here, then spurned two glorious opportunities to win the game, Luke Gale skewing both of his drop-goal attempts wide. That left the door ajar for Wakefield and Miller did not disappoint.

“We’d like to keep him but, even if he does go, he could have gone before today with the adoration of the fans,” their coach, Willie Poching, said of Miller. “People will remember that drop goal for a long time.”

Whether Wakefield are in Super League or the Championship next year, there is a break-up of this squad coming. Few players cross the path from Wakefield to Castleford without some level of resentment from supporters but, with contributions like this, Miller may just about be exempt from criticism.

With a four-point gap over Toulouse now established, their