In-form Wakefield Trinity prop Caleb Hamlin-Uele has revealed the “unbelievable” teammate who has inspired his impressive start to life in Super League.
Hamlin-Uele has caught the eye with a series of strong performances in the middle of the field, but – ahead of Friday’s visit of Hull FC – reckons he still has a long way to go to match the 80-minute feats of England pack man Mike McMeeken.
“Mikey is a beast,” Hamlin-Uele said of the former London Broncos, Castleford Tigers and Catalans Dragons middle.
“It has been really good to have him, especially during this period when we’ve had so many injuries; a player like that who can play 80 minutes and his last run is going to be as good as his first run, it’s unbelievable.”
“You can tell by his physique, he trains really hard. He has been in the game for so long at such a high level, one of the best players in the comp.”
Wakefield Trinity man “slowly finding form”
Credit: Alex Whitehead/SWpix.com
Known as Uele last season, the 25-year-old Auckland-born prop added Hamlin to his name this year in tribute to his mother’s side of the family. His older brother Braden Hamlin-Uele plays as a front-rower for Cronulla Sharks in the southern hemisphere NRL.
He joined Wakefield Trinity from New South Wales Cup outfit Newtown Jets and made 29 appearances last year – all but three as a substitute – as Wakefield won the 1895 Cup, Championship leaders’ shield and Grand Final.
An injury to Ky Rodwell handed Hamlin-Uele a rare opportunity to start in Trinity’s Betfred Super League round one win at Leeds Rhinos and he has retained the role in the five games since.
“I think I am slowly finding form,” he reflected. “I had a slow start, I didn’t really know what to expect in these first four [Super League] games, but I am pretty happy with myself, but there’s still heaps to learn and get better with.”
Despite not being known for his try-scoring exploits, Hamlin-Uele crossed the whitewash for the first time in Super League when Trinity won at Warrington Wolves two weeks ago, having grabbed a hat-trick in the big Challenge Cup defeat of Goole Vikings.
“When you have got quality players around you doing all the work, it is quite nice, to be fair,” he said. “I am starting to feel like a winger – scoring nice easy tries and getting all the praise for it!”
Trinity star explains Super League and Championship difference
📃 Powell makes four changes to his 21-man squad to face Hull FC!!
Scott, Rodwell and Griffin all return from injury!!
Our Head Coach will be speaking to the press today so look out for our full pre-match press conference later on YouTube!
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— Wakefield Trinity (@WTrinityRL) March 19, 2025
From a team perspective, Trinity have made a solid start in their return to the top-flight, winning two of their opening four fixtures. But both of those were away from home and breaking their duck at DIY Kitchens Stadium, Belle Vue, is the challenge this week against a Hull side on a high from last week’s incredible Cup victory at Wigan Warriors.
“We haven’t had any wins at home yet, so we’ve got to work on that,” Hamlin-Uele conceded. “But I think we’ve done really well for a new team.
“We are gelling together really well and everyone seems happy – not just the players. There’s a buzz around the club this year and it’s great to see – we are all of the same mindset, with the same goals.”
Hamlin-Uele reckons the “quality of player” is the main difference between Super League and the Championship.
“In the Championship you are still getting battered every week – they know how to tackle and run the ball so the physicality is the same, but [the difference is] the quality of player we are up against every week and the speed,” he noted.
“The players are so smart, if you are trying to rest, if you’re not fit enough, they are going to attack you. You can’t let the team down by being unfit or knocking off.”
With Hull’s forwards in good form, Hamlin-Uele and the Trinity players around him will have their hands full in Friday’s round five clash. He predicted: “It’ll be a great game.
“They’ve got a really good team with a good new coach in this year and in their forward pack they’ve got Herman Ese’ese, John Asiata and Liam Knight coming off the bench – it is going to be a good battle in the middle and all over the field.”
