Whilst some Super League clubs are struggling with the fitness of their starting full-backs, Daryl Powell and Wakefield Trinity are quite the opposite.
The likes of Hull FC, Castleford Tigers and Hull KR are all missing their starting number ones, with Will Pryce, Blake Taaffe and Arthur Mourgue all sidelined with their respective injuries.
However, Trinity currently have a positive selection headache, with the boss having to decide whether to play Max Jowitt or Josh Rourke in the playmaking role.
Jowitt is the first-choice, and has been for a number of seasons. An impressive 2025 saw him finish as one of the league’s top point scorers, but Rourke has shown on a number of occasions that he is worthy of competing for a place in the side.
After playing in every game so far this year, Jowitt was omitted from Thursday night’s side, with Rourke given the number one spot in victory over Hull FC.
The 26-year-old back-up had played on the wing to start the season, scoring three tries in two matches across league and cup. That form, and his efforts throughout last year, earned him a spot in the side, and yet again he impressed the Trinity boss.
Speaking post-match, Powell revealed the reasons why he opted for Rourke over Jowitt, and he revealed a mixture of both injury and poor performances made him change his mind.
He said: “[It was] A little bit of both. He got a knock last week to his shin, which hampered him a little bit.
“But, I felt like Rourkey [Josh Rourke] deserve a chance to put Max under pressure, and I think he’s done a pretty good job tonight.
“Obviously, we play Leeds next week, and sometimes it’s horses for courses – you’ve got to make the decisions on who you’re playing and what’s the best for the team.
“…We always discuss [decisions] pretty deeply, so it will be an interesting team selection next week.”
After Rourke’s consistent efforts, Powell sees the ex-London man as a potential starter in his side, and believes that the healthy competition between him and Jowitt will only bolter the performances of both men, as they look to claim the starting spot.
“I think he did some great things tonight. I think, towards the back end of last year, he did a similar thing.
“Max wasn’t in his best form and Rourkey came in and played pretty well. Max came back, actually, towards the end and had a great game against Hull KR then got a concussion.
“I’m just challenging players to be their best and to fight hard to be in the team. If we’ve got that, then I think we’re going to constantly improve and keep pushing each other.”
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