Where Wakefield Trinity need to improve for 2026 after play-off hopes dented v St Helens

The first season back in Super League for Wakefield Trinity has been incredible to say the least. Having been relegated in 2023, they built a squad ready for Super League in their year in the Championship, and only improved on that side with the additions made for the 2025 season. 

Whilst the defeat to St Helens on Friday night shows there is still a long way to go for Daryl Powell’s men, their rise up the table and ability to compete with the big teams show the potential of this Trinity side. Wins over Wigan Warriors and Leeds Rhinos show their talent, but performances and results like the one against Saints show there is still a large room for improvement.

Signings Caius Faatili and Mike McMeeken have shown incredible form, whilst longer serving players such as Max Jowitt and Mason Lino have guided their team to a handy position in the league as we head towards the playoffs. 

But, if Wakefield are to be as successful as they show they can be, they need to be able to build on their current squad and keep the momentum going that currently surrounds the club. S0, what do they need to do if they are to push on and continue to climb up the league? 

Three things Wakefield Trinity need to do to strengthen their current squad 

Bolster the centres:

High flyers Lachlan Walmsley and Tom Johnstone have been on top form this year, with 23 tries between them in all competitions. However, perhaps with some better quality centres inside them, that figure could be a lot higher. 

There is no questioning the fact that 20-year-old Oliver Pratt will be a Super League star in the future. However, on the opposite flank Trinity need some added fire power to their edge that can both score and assist tries. 

Of the current top seven, Wakefield rank bottom for try contributions by centres. Pratt and Corey Hall have nine tries and five assists between them, which compared to the likes of Leeds and Wigan, is almost half of their totals. Being able to have threat all over the field is such a bonus, and bringing in a proven centre that is strong with ball in hand and knows the perfect time to pass will improve them hugely. 

Continue to develop the youth:

Pratt is by far Trinity’s hottest prospect at the moment, having made his debut in 2023, he spent the whole of 2024 as a starting centre, scoring 18 tries in 34 appearances. His talent and ability will only improve the more top-flight experience he gets, but there needs to be more prospects coming from the Wakefield academy.

Jayden Myers, Harvey Smith and Ellis Lingard are other rising stars, but that number will need to improve going forward if they are to continue and improve on their success. Wakefield rank ninth for academy players used in 2025, with just eight homegrown products featuring in Super League.

Their head of youth, Ben Lazenby, left the club last week, giving Powell and owner Matt Ellis an even bigger job if they are to excel their academy.

Halves consistency:

Looking at the the squad numbers, Jake Trueman and Oliver Russell are the starting halves for Wakefield. However, they have not played together as a partnership all season, due to injury to one player or the other. One thing that has remained the same is that Mason Lino has been a more than capable backup, with the former NZ Warriors man playing every game this season.

Trinity have failed to play with the same halves pairing for more than three games in a row all season, with their current partnership of Lino and Trueman the joint-longest run of games Trinity have had with the same six and seven.

Wakefield are the fourth best attacking side in the league, averaging 23.24 points per match. But, you have to feel that with a more consistent playmaker pairing they could push on and build stronger combinations that would lead to more points being scored. Lino, Trueman and Russell all have the ability to change games, but the constant chopping and changing, albeit not by choice, has to be limiting the Trinity attack.