Mark Applegarth raises question about “unseen” Konrad Hurrell tackle that injured star

Whilst Wigan Warriors battle for top spot and Leeds Rhinos, Warrington Wolves, Hull KR and Salford Red Devils battle for play-off spots, Wakefield Trinity are battling Castleford Tigers for survival.

Wakefield lost to St Helens at the weekend which was exacerbated by the loss if Will Dagger to a broken collarbone after a potentially late Konrad Hurrell tackle on the fullback.

Speaking after the game on BBC Radio Humberside, Mark Applegarth said:

“Yeah, I don’t really want to say too much on that incident because it’s in the heat of the moment. I don’t want to say something that I’ll regret but it’s looking like he’s got a suspected broken collarbone which has come from a collision that didn’t get seen.

“So yeah, I think if that’s obviously a broken collarbone which we’re hoping we get some good news on, but that will be him for the year if it is broke.”

He explained the impact this had on Wakefield’s performance:

“I’d still rather be in their shoes if I’m honest with you with two points in front.

“I don’t really look at what we can’t control, I know it sounds really cliché and boring for you all, but I can’t influence that in any shape or form. So I’m just focusing on grinding out what we can.

“There’s six points to play for, two points at a time, so we’re just focusing on making sure that we put as best foot forward as we can.”

Will Dagger going off when they were on top

“Yeah, it’s a bit of a kick in the guts when it happens. I’ve just said to Tanya out there, though, that your good teams find a way of dealing with it, don’t they? And that’s what we’re aspiring to be.

“Yeah, it disrupts you. Especially as Daggs has been looking really sharp all in training all week with how we wanted to play. I thought that sort of game suited how he plays you know of course he’s very direct, direct is quick, but it’s all ifs and buts isn’t it?

“So yeah it probably did disrupt us a bit but as I said I still felt we created enough opportunities even after Daggs had gone off to get some out of that game if we had a little bit more clinicalness and composure about it.”