Wakefield Trinity boss Willie Poching gives latest on Tom Johnstone and Bill Tupou

Wakefield Trinity have been hindered in 2022 with injuries to the likes of Jacob Miller, David Fifita and Tom Johnstone all having spent time on the sidelines.

It makes it even more desperate for Willie Poching’s men considering they are sat just above Toulouse Olympique in the Super League table with a two-point gap.

Johnstone has been absent after picking up a groin problem in May, but Poching doesn’t believe he will be out too long.

“We know it will definitely be a couple of weeks,” said Poching of his injury. “Week to week it’s about trying to see him improve, seeing how comfortable he starts to get.

We can’t push him and we don’t want to push him because the outcome could be something more severe.”

Tupou, too, is returning from a long-term absence, having been out for almost a year because of a ruptured patella tendon.

The centre played for Wakefield’s Reserves last week but, like Johnstone, he will likely not feature in Super League until after this month’s international break.

“We could see the glimpses of his class in training leading up to it,” said Poching of Tupou’s return. “He was excited just to be amongst the team and training again.

“He got through the reserves-grade game, he took a little knock on the knee and took a bit of a reaction to it but it’s not too bad.

“We sort of expected it, but we’ll see how he pulls up in the next week or two.”