Jowitt breaks points record as Wakefield cruise to Grand Final win
Max Jowitt kicks a conversion on his way to becoming the first player in British rugby league history to score 500 points in a season
- Published
Betfred Championship Grand Final
Wakefield (22) 36
Tries: Olpherts (2), Ashurst, McGillvary (2), Thornley, Pratt Goals: Jowitt (3), McGillvary
Toulouse (0) 0
Max Jowitt became the first player in British rugby league history to score 500 points in a season as he inspired Wakefield to victory over Toulouse in the Championship Grand Final.
Trinity's triumph reinforces their case for a place in Super League next season, with the IMG gradings to determine clubs’ status next season due to be announced on Wednesday.
Performance is one of five factors that will determine whether Wakefield regain top-flight status and they ticked that box emphatically by adding the Grand Final win to their League Leaders' Shield, their 25 wins from 26 league fixtures and a massive league points total of 1,010.
Toulouse had been the only team to beat Wakefield in their dominant season but the contest was over by half-time at a sold-out DIY Kitchens Stadium.
Jowitt created tries for Championship leading try-scorer Derrell Olpherts, his 25th of the season, and Matty Ashurst to take his personal try assist total to 56 for the season.
Former England and Huddersfield winger Jermaine McGillvary, playing the last game of a stellar career, and Iain Thornley also went over in the opening half.
Jowitt’s three conversions took him past Leeds legend Lewis Jones’ 67-year-old record of 496 points and up to the 500 mark by half-time, but his big night was marred when he was forced off with a head injury in the second half.
Toulouse played for pride after the break but still could not threaten the Trinity line, while Oli Pratt added another try and McGillvary brought his career to a close by scoring his second of the night and then nailing an incredible conversion from the touchline.
Wakefield: Jowitt, McGillvary, Thornley, Pratt, Olpherts, Gale, Lino, Bowden, Hood, Atoni, Ashurst, Vagana, Pitts.
Interchanges: Walmsley, Uele, Rodwell, Doyle.
Toulouse: Ashall-Bott, Ulberg, Armitage, Marcon, Laguerre, Rivett, Shorrocks, Belmas, Gahan, Hansen, Stefani, Peyroux, Marion.
Interchanges: Rennie, Pelisser, Roumanos, Biscarro.
Referee: Aaron Moore.