Wakefield Trinity injury update with double boost ahead of Castleford Tigers clash

Wakefield Trinity head coach Daryl Powell has provided an injury update on two of his key players, confirming that they’re both expected to return for the clash with Castleford Tigers.

It will be the first meeting between the two since 2023 after Trinity spent a season in the Championship, although that last meeting saw Castleford effectively condemn Wakefield to relegation.

Both teams enter off the back of a loss but Wakefield have had a far better season, boasting three wins compared to Castleford’s one. All of those wins for Wakefield have come away from home, something that Daryl Powell wouldn’t be drawn on, as he instead focused on the positive injury news.

Having named his 21-man squad yesterday, it was confirmed that Max Jowitt and Josh Griffin were back in the frame and Powell has confirmed that both men are set to play.

“Max will play this week,” the Trinity coach confirmed, explaining: “He might play at half, he might play at full-back, he might do a bit of both but he’s back.”

Wakefield Trinity boss gives key Jake Trueman update

On what those combinations could look like if Jowitt plays full-back, Powell said: “Well obviously we’ve got Josh (Rourke) in there, and Jay Pitts played there last week and I thought he did a pretty good job to be honest. We’ve got a couple of options, I think I’ll leave it till tomorrow and we’ll see what we turn up with.

“(Josh) Griffin will be in the team. He came back into the team pretty well when he was in there previously and then just had a little bit of a slight injury. He’s back available so we’ve got a couple of options on what to do with the back row.”

Jowitt, Rourke or Pitts playing in the halves is a result of injuries to Oliver Russell (broken hand) and Jake Trueman (back) and Powell spoke more on the prognosis of the latter.

Speaking on his half-back, he said:  “He’s had a scan and he’s got a little bit of a bulging disc which I don’t think is a major issue, so he’s had an injection in his back to settle it down.

“He’s getting about at the minute, we’re just treating the symptoms at the moment which is that he’s still pretty sore and pretty stiff and he can’t get onto the field this week but I’m hoping it’s not too long term.

“We’re just working through getting him back moving and getting him feeling comfortable with obviously it’s a pretty physical game rugby league so you need to be in a good place physically to play it. He’s coming through a bit of an issue there, but we’re pretty hopeful and confident it’s not going to be long-term.”

💪🏻 Josh Griffin returns to the Trinity 21-man squad for Rivals Round!!

👉🏻 https://t.co/bawlUiO7kt#UpTheTrin pic.twitter.com/J9OEi983L3

— Wakefield Trinity (@WTrinityRL) April 15, 2025