‘I think he is staying’ – Mason Lino to remain at Wakefield Trinity, says rugby league agent

Wakefield Trinity are in something of a rebuilding stage at present.

Following a brilliant end to the 2022 Super League season – in which the West Yorkshire club won four of their last five games – Willie Poching must have been thinking he had secured a job for 2023.

However, both Poching and his assistant Francis Cummins left Trinity yesterday with their next destinations unknown.

That being said, Wakefield themselves are in a huge transition with a number of stars leaving including captain Jacob Miller and stalwart David Fifita.

However, despite being linked with a transfer earlier in the season, talismanic halfback Mason Lino is staying at Belle Vue – according to leading rugby league agent Craig Harrison of Show Me The Money UK.

“You’re looking at Milky (Jacob Miller) going out, David Fifita, (James) Batchelor, Tom Johnstone, I think Lino is staying but another prop is going,” Harrison said on The Full Eighty Minutes podcast.

“There is a lot of cap space.”

Harrison also believes that Wakefield could go for a coach out of the so-called ‘new school’ of coaching whom the likes of Wigan Warriors boss Matt Peet is included under.

“I think it’s weird isn’t it? If you bring in another Willie and Franny two experienced assistant coaches, Franny has been head coach of Bradford.

“It will be hard for Willie and his family to take, it will be interesting to see who they bring in.

“There is a new school of coaches, Rohan Smith and Matt Peet with the new rules and the six agains.”

It remains to be seen who Trinity appoint to take over from Poching, but the former Leeds Rhinos and Warrington Wolves assistant will have been sad not to continue the good work that he ended the season with at Belle Vue.

For Trinity, it will be one of the most important appointments in the history of their club as promotion and relegation continues into 2023 with the Leigh Centurions looking most likely to become a Super League side next season.