Wakefield Trinity host Warrington Wolves to round off another great round of Super League action that has seen Catalans stretch their lead at the top, Wigan Warriors have overtaken Leigh Leopards and St Helens and Leeds Rhinos provided another game of intensity on Friday evening.
This afternoon’s game will bring round 20 to an end with all teams, barring Huddersfield and St Helens, having just seven games to go till the end of the season making every game that bit more crucial to secure the two points.
Today’s match between Wakefield and Warrington sees two sides desperate for two points with Warrington eager to end a five game losing streak and solidify their place in the playoff spots.
That’s a sharp downturn from where they were at the start of the season with the Wire touted for silverware after a perfect start of eight wins from eight but they now sit just two points inside the top six.
As for their rivals today in Wakefield it’s been a grim season so far but it’s picking up with Trinity starting with 14 straight losses but since then they’ve notched up three in five.
That leaves them two points adrift at the bottom of Super League but a win today would see them pull level with rivals Castleford Tigers, who they host in three weeks time in a game that could be make or break for their Super League status.
One man who has been vital in those three victories is mid-season signing Will Dagger with the former Hull KR man joining in a swap deal for Corey Hall.
It was Dagger that inspired Wakefield to their first win with his perfect kicking display whilst his drop goal against Wigan secured the game in golden point.
Originally brought in to cover the injured Max Jowitt at full-back Dagger has recently been deployed in the halves, until today.
That’s because he hasn’t been named in the matchday squad despite having been named in the initial 21-man squad and seemingly fit.
This decision has now prompted huge outrage among fans who can’t understand the reasoning behind seemingly dropping dagger for Mason Lino who now pairs Luke Gale.
Where the hell is Will Dagger, our most consistent performer in the last few weeks? If he’s been dropped I’m fuming.
Kershaw dropped over Lineham is also baffling.
I’m so confused https://t.co/UOtVgD5bWJ
— Joe (@JL1894) July 30, 2023
One fan couldn’t understand the logic stating he was “fuming” at the decision.
please let there be a typo error that's not only made a mistake with the kickoff but that's also accidentally spelt Dagger 'L-I-N-O'.
I have nowt against Mason, but Dagger's arguable been our best player – he's also played in each win and Lino's missed all of them ?!1??!— Mark 'kaeft' Drew (@Rumourtrescu) July 30, 2023
Another wished it was a typo noting that the graphic also showed a 2pm kick off time rather than the actual time of 3pm.
Surely Dagger’s pulled up or something, not even 18th man is ridiculous otherwise
— Jack Ellis (@GingertronMk1) July 30, 2023
It was theorised by another that Dagger must have picked up a late knock, such was the confusion behind the decision.
Absolute disgrace that will Dagger gets left out just to put Lino in Dagger would be starting just for his goal kicking alone for me he's shown more in these games we've won than Lino showed all season so far
— THE TRIN (@Michell57045357) July 30, 2023
Another called the call a “disgrace”.
Whether we find out anymore about the mysterious omission before the match is unclear but it’s clear that Dagger has become a fan favourite amongst the Belle Vue faithful.
