One Super League forward has been confirmed as a member of the coaching staff at a League One side, however, they will resume playing duties with their current club.
Starting his career as a centre, Josh Griffin has progressed into the back row – a position that he shone in for current club Wakefield Trinity last season.
Griffin played 29 games for Trin in the 2024 campaign, scoring 18 tries, as he helped them back to Super League in what was his third spell with the club.
The 34-year-old started his career with Wakefield before returning briefly in 2011, however, he played the majority of his 283-game career with Hull FC – for whom he made 144 appearances and won a Challenge Cup.
Griffin has retained the shirt number 12 ahead of Wakefield’s return to Super League indicating that he is a big part of Daryl Powell’s plans, although he’ll be splitting his time after being confirmed as the new Strength and Conditioning coach at League One club Midlands Hurricanes.
Super League forward secures coaching role in League One
Credit: Ed Sykes/SWpix.com –
The League One club confirmed that Wakefield has “agreed that Josh can juggle his playing duties for Trinity in the Super League 2025 with his new coaching role at the Canes.”
Griffin turns 35 in May and has clearly earmarked a post-playing career in coaching, so much so that he is beginning to gain experience whilst his playing career resumes.
Midlands announced that the Super League forward would be taking on the role in a club statement shared online.
It read: “Eagle-eyed fans may have spotted his cameo appearance in our teaser video from a few weeks ago, but we are delighted to formally announce that Wakefield Trinity’s Josh Griffin has joined the club as our new Strength & Conditioning Coach for the 2025 season.”
Head coach Mark Dunning commented: “I’d firstly like to put on record the thanks of myself and the club to our departing Strength & Conditioning coach who has set a solid base on which Josh can now build, and we all wish him well in his new role within the school he works.
“We’re very excited to welcome Josh and his family to the club and the Canes family. Josh will bring a wealth of experience from his long and quality career as a player as he starts his transition in to Strength & Conditioning Coaching. I’m looking forward to him being part of our staff team and playing a big part of pre-season.
“A big thanks go to everyone at Wakefield for allowing Josh to take up the opportunity alongside his playing career with them.”
Griffin has not been named in Wakefield Trinity’s squad to face Leeds Rhinos on Boxing Day.
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