Wakefield Trinity 30 Salford Red Devils 24: Brilliant Trinity winger Tom Johnstone sends a timely reminder to England coach Shaun Wane

Trinity had yet to win at the time Shaun Wane made his selection, but when he reviews the first half of yesterday’s 30-24 win over Salford Red Devils, the national coach may well be forced into a change of mind.

Johnstone’s head-to-head with Salford right-wing Ken Sio, who was Super League’s top try scorer last year, promised a fascinating individual battle and both finished the game with two tries, but the Trinity man was a clear winner.

He also provided the final pass for a try and was involved in another as Trinity opened a 24-4 half-time lead.

The 26-year-old’s brace took his tally of Super League tries to eight, the second of them being a world class effort.

Jacob Miller’s pass found him tight on the left flank and, with most of Salford’s defence massed in front of him, he cut infield, past a host of would-be tacklers, to score an almost impossible try on the final play of the first half.

That set had begun with Johnstone needing treatment on his back before being able to play the ball, after making a super airborne catch on his own line.