Wakefield Trinity having four players called up to the 38-man England performance squad is a ‘fantastic’ reflection on the club according to head coach Daryl Powell, who has also revealed what role he played in New Zealand-born Caleb Hamlin-Uele getting the call-up.
Hamlin-Uele is one of several heritage players to have been called up though all the others hail from Australia and play in the NRL, but Trinity’s Kiwi-born prop also has English heritage and that’s something that Powell has been clear about in recent months when putting forward his man for England selection.
Previously asked by Serious About Rugby League if it was on the club to make clear Hamlin-Uele’s desire to play for England or if the RFL would make contact first, Powell explained that he’d made it clear himself and that he expected the RFL and Brian McDermott to be well across the eligibility status of players.
Asked on Thursday, just two days after Hamlin-Uele’s call-up, if he’d had any contact with Brian McDermott over the call-up, Powell revealed: “I’ve had a text message from Brian just asking me if it was okay if he contacted Caleb just about his heritage and what his thoughts were.
“That’s it, really. No in-depth stuff, really. I just said he’s playing at the top level at the moment, which I think he is.
“Statistically, he’s one of the best front rowers in the comp. That’s been it, really.”
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Wakefield Trinity boss delighted at quartet’s England call-up
Whilst Wigan Warriors were way out in front with a total of eight players selected, Wakefield Trinity were alongside the likes of St Helens and Leeds Rhinos as those with four players picked, putting the Belle Vue club in a standing that they’ve not experienced for many a year.
On that fact, Powell said: “I think it’s fantastic that that’s happening at the moment.
“Obviously, these guys have got to get in the squad at the end of the season to really make it happen for them but I think it’s great. We’re a pretty ambitious club.
“We want to be at the top of the comp, competing to be in the finals. We want our players to be striving to play international rugby league. I think that’s what it’s all about, so it’s great to see.”
As for the four players, Mike McMeeken, Tom Johnstone, Jake Trueman, and the aforementioned Hamlin-Uele, Powell expressed delight at their selection, particularly the two new faces in Trueman and Hamlin-Uele..
He said: “Tom and Mike have been in there for a while, so that speaks for itself. Truey, he’s had an outstanding start to the season, some of the things he’s done have been exceptional.
“Caleb’s right up there with the best front-rowers in the comp. He’s been a real handful carrying the ball. He’s got a lot about him. Big, aggressive, he’s got a good offload. I think he’s really advanced himself over the last 18 months.”
Powell added that the ‘beauty’ of having those four players in is that it gives them ‘extra motivation to play well for the remainder of the season’, something that could help return Trinity to the play-offs for a second year in a row.
