Leigh Leopards

Josh Charnley’s future, Ashes audition, more injury concerns, and other Wakefield Trinity v Leigh Leopards talking points

by
Sam Cook
June 15, 2025

Super League and Leigh Leopards winger Josh Charnley

Wakefield Trinity hosted Leigh Leopards in Round 14 of Super League and here are the key talking points from the game as Adrian Lam’s side won 24-20.

With the scores one a piece in terms of wins so far this season (Leigh in CC and Wakefield in SL), it was Leigh who came out on top as they kept the pressure on third-placed Leeds Rhinos.

Trinity had recalled Jake Trueman to their side whilst Adrian Lam opted to leave Josh Charnley out with Keanan Brand staring on the wing instead.

The win meant Wakefield remain outside the top six despite another very impressive performance. We’ve picked out some of the key talking points to arise from the game.

Wakefield Trinity and Leigh Leopards talking points

Classy Daryl Powell

It was an emotional occasion for Daryl Powell and one that he handled with pure class. Wakefield used the game as a fundraiser for the Candlelighters charity, an organisation that helps and supports those whose loved ones have cancer.

Powell’s grandson Clarke is one of those, diagnosed just before his 1st birthday, and he was in attendance today at the game. Powell walked out with his daughter, granddaughter and grandson ahead of the game whilst also speaking wonderfully pre-match on the BBC to bring awareness to the charity’s excellent work.

For more information on Clarke, Candlelighters and how you can help or support a wonderful cause, click here.

Max Jowitt – Super League’s underrated star

Max Jowitt scored his ninth try in Super League in 2025 and took his overall season total to double figures as he continues to go under the radar as one of the finest players in Super League.

Back to his natural full-back role, Jowitt was excellent once again and can count himself unlucky not to be on the winning side.

After a record-breaking 2024 when he set the all-time record for most points in a season (500), he’s continued that form as the leading points-scorer in Super League this season (112). He was incredibly unlucky not to score the winner as Leigh’s desperate defence held him up.

Devastating David Armstrong

If Max Jowitt is among the standout full-backs in Super League then David Armstrong certainly is but injury issues have stopped him from establishing himself among the very elite so far.

He’s played more than half the games but he has also left some early, including against Huddersfield in Round 13, however, he was good to go from the start here and he proved that as he scored after just three minutes.

Armstrong added a second but that hamstring looked to niggle him throughout which will be cause for concern for Leigh Leopards and Adrian Lam going forward.

Battle of the England props

It’s recently been reported by All Out Rugby League that Owen Trout has been called up to the England training squad by Shaun Wane and it’s fair to see why.

Trout went head to head with another man who is very likely to be leading the line for England in the Ashes in Mike McMeeken. Both club’s enforcing props went toe to toe

The likes of Luke Thompson, Ethan Havard and Tyler Dupree at Wigan, as well as Matty Lees and Alex Walmsley at St Helens will also be in the picture, but Trout and McMeeken are surely strong considerations among others.

Two blueprint teams

It’s easy to forget that Wakefield were in the Championship in 2024 and that Leigh were in the second tier as recently as 2022 given just how far these teams have come.

Not only the on-field product with both teams play-off contenders this year, but the off-field stuff with Belle Vue transformed in the past few years in a process that started under Michael Carter and John Minards and has been continued under Matt Ellis.

Leigh have Derek Beaumont to thank for their success but it’s also a reminder of how important the correct appointments are. For those teams in the second tier knocking on the IMG door, these are two prime examples to follow.

Josh Charnley’s future

Josh Charnley was left out by Adrian Lam having featured on the bench in recent weeks. The veteran winger was named as the 18th man for Leigh and it begs the question of what next for Super League’s second-all-time try scorer.

Ryan Hall continues to extend that lead and could so in 2026 after signing a new deal. On the other hand, Charnley doesn’t have a deal with Leigh for 2026 and his diminishing role raised questions around his future, especially with how well Keanan Brand performed today.