Wakefield Trinity boss Daryl Powell has revealed an injury issue that led to him making a key selection call against Leeds Rhinos.
Both Jack Sinfield and Mason Lino were named in the club’s 21-man squad this week, with Lino returning to the initial side after missing two games due to injury.
In the build-up to the game, Powell refused to reveal who he would select to partner Jake Trueman at Headingley, but that decision would be confirmed 90 minutes before kick-off when it was Lino named in the 17.
The veteran playmaker was one of many Trinity players who couldn’t quite find their feet, with fifth play decisions and some poor kick executions hampering Wakefield’s chances in attack in the 40-22 defeat.
Post-match, Powell explained his decision to start the former Samoan international, with injury to Sinfield part of his reasons for the switch.
He said: “I just felt like it was the right time [to bring Lino back].
“Mason has been injured, he comes back in the team.
“Jack’s actually been playing with a fractured sternum, so he’s done a pretty good job. He’s been pretty brave, so hopefully it’ll heal pretty quickly.
“We’ve not got a game next week , so he should be right after that.”
Wakefield Trinity boss discussess upcoming spine selection call
Going forward when both men are healthy, Powell will be left in the same situation, and it is a decision he knows he needs to nail to give his side the best chance of winning.
He continued: “I’ve just got a call to make on the halves. We signed Jack as a long-term half-back, there’s some learning to be done along the way and I think he’s doing a pretty good job with us.
“The key for me is to get right what the team needs and make sure that Jack’s growing and developing and gets enough opportunity to do that.
“Obviously, we need to be winning games as well, we’ve lost our last two now, our next two games are pretty pivotal for our season I think.”
After the Challenge Cup break, Wakefield meet the competiton’s two French sides as they play Catalans Dragons at home before flying out to meet Toulouse Olympique.
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