Kear was looking to go a step closer to becoming the first manager to win the prestigious competition with three different teams after previous successes with Sheffield Eagles and Hull FC.

But the Cats’ slow start, which saw them concede three tries in the first 10 minutes, gave the red, white and blues a mountain to climb – and they never recovered.

Man-of-the-match Danny Tickle bagged the opening 12 points for Richard Agar’s men as Wakefield’s left side was caught out on both occasions.

And Graeme Horn added a third just minutes later, Tickle again adding the extra points, to leave the travelling Wildcats fans wondering just where any hope of a comeback would come from.

But, to their credit, the Cats showed commitment and determination which had been distinctly lacking in recent weeks in Super League to mount a fine comeback and leave themselves just four points down at half-time.

Matt Petersen opened the Wakefield account on 13 minutes after good hands from Ryan Atkins before Damien Blanch went over to give the Cats a much-needed confidence boost.

Peter Cusack restored Hull’s two-try advantage but the introduction of Tevita Leo-Latu saw the game turn in Wakefield’s favour, with the hooker going over before Atkins’ try saw the Cats take the momentum into the break.

Kear will have been keen not to see a repeat of the first-half opening when the two sides returned to the field, but it took Danny Washbrook just three minutes to dive his way over the line, Tickle adding his fifth successful conversion.

And the kicking game proved decisive on the day, Tickle ultimately bagging all six of his conversions, while Brough managed just two of his six.

But Brough’s in-play kicking was a spot-on as ever, as was Brad Drew’s, whose inch-perfect kick saw Blanch bag his second try of the match to reduce the arrears to six points.

With almost half-an-hour remaining there was still plenty to play for, despite Danny Tickle’s penalty which proved to be the final scoring of the afternoon.

And Wakefield fans must have thought they were back in when Blanch went over for what would have been his hat-trick try, only for the video referee to rule it out.

Frustrations showed in the latter stages from Cats players and Hull clung on to progress to a final date with St Helens on Saturday, August 30, while Wakefield will turn their attentions to a top-six Super League finish.