Wakefield Trinity boss issues injury update in preview for Leeds Rhinos clash

Boss Daryl Powell has given his Wakefield Trinity squad a glowing report ahead of their pre-season opener against Leeds Rhinos on Boxing Day.

Trinity are preparing for a return to Betfred Super League following a triumphant year in the Championship which culminated in them clinching promotion at the first attempt when they hammered Toulouse Olympique in the Grand Final on October 19.

That late finish meant a delayed start to pre-season, but Powell – whose men visit Leeds Rhinos on Boxing Day for the annual Wetherby Whaler Festive Challenge – described preparations so far as “really good”.

He said: “This is our fifth week and it has been going well – working hard, a great set of blokes.

“You never really know until you get into it, but I’ve been through a fair few pre-seasons and this is a decent one, really positive so far.”

The coach confirmed all Trinity’s recruits are settling in “really well” and he is keen to see former Gold Coast Titans forward Seth Nikotemo in live action for the first time this week.

With Trinity retaining their overseas contingent, he is the only signing from abroad ahead of 2025 and Powell said: “He has settled pretty well.

“He’s a good guy and for a young fella really mature and well-balanced.

“It is a strong, positive group – I am really pleased with the squad we’ve put together and they’ve knitted together really well.”

Wakefield Trinity boss outlines squad fitness ahead of Boxing Day

Though Trinity’s Super League opener – at Leeds on Saturday, February 15 – is still seven weeks away, Powell reckons the Christmas fixture is a useful exercise.

“It is early, obviously,” he said. “Some players really look forward to a game and some feel they’d benefit more from a longer pre-season but it is what it is.

“I think we’re pretty excited by it and looking forward to it. Leeds have put pretty much their strongest squad out, barring a couple of players, so it is a good chance for us to go and test ourselves.

“After the couple of years Wakefield have had – one getting relegated and then one really positive one – it gives us an opportunity to see where we are at against a team who’ll feel positive they’ve got the right man as coach.

“Brad [Arthur] has got a good reputation and they’ll feel this should be a decent year for them.

“For us, we’ll just go and really challenge Leeds, find out where we are at and find out whether things we’ve been working on in pre-season have stuck yet or not.”

Seven new signings are included in the Wakefield Trinity 22-man Boxing Day squad, alongside a mixture of established and fringe players, but they will be without several key men.

“We’ve got a couple of injuries,” Powell confirmed. “Thomas Doyle has had an operation on his shoulder and Josh Griffin has had an operation on his groin.

“Tom Johnstone had a bone break which he is still recovering from. He is getting better.

“Mike McMeeken played international and people like Liam Hood and Jay Pitts, our senior players who only finished [last season] at the Grand Final, I am just leaving them out.

“I don’t see any need to play those guys. It is a mixed bag really; we will start pretty strong and, like it does in these games, will sort of taper off a little bit.”