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Wakefield Trinity signing outlines bold ambition and reflects on “tough years” at Hull FC

After a couple of “tough years” at Hull FC, Wakefield Trinity signing Jake Trueman reckons he can get back to his best rugby in 2025.

Trueman played only 26 games during two seasons with Hull FC before being released from the final year of his contract last August.

He joined Trinity with immediate effect, near the end of their promotion-winning campaign, but has yet to make his competitive debut for Wakefield.

The move to Wakefield reunited Trueman with Daryl Powell who was his coach at Castleford when he burst on to the Super League scene as an 18-year-old in 2017.

Having scored a hat-trick away to Wigan Warriors in only his second senior game, the Bradford-born star was touted as a future England stand-off, but injuries in recent seasons have knocked him back.

He suffered anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) damage towards the end of his time with Tigers and a long-term Achilles injury was a huge blow early in his Hull career, but now fully fit he is raring to regain his status as one of Super League’s most exciting play-makers.

Reflecting on his time in East Yorkshire, Trueman, 25, told Serious About Rugby League: “Nothing to do with Hull, just the injuries made it very stop-start. I couldn’t get going. The team as a whole was struggling to compete in Super League so it was a tough couple of years and probably right for myself and Hull that I moved on.”

Wakefield Trinity signing on Daryl Powell impact

- 25/11/2024 - Rugby League - Super League = Wakefield Media Day - The DIY Kitchens Stadium, Wakefield, England - Jake Trueman.

Credit: Allan McKenzie/SWpix.com

Trueman, who played in both Trinity’s warm-up games, is confident the full pre-season he has under his belt will allow him to thrive this year.

“It has been good, I’ve really enjoyed it,” he said. “I think it’s my first one in five years so it has been good to get some hard work done and hopefully that’ll stand me in good stead for the season.

“Pre-season is so important, you get a strong base and I think that’s probably why I’ve picked up so many injuries over the years – I haven’t had that foundation to build on going into the season.”

Working with Powell again has helped Trueman’s transition to his new club. “It’s good to be back with him,” he added.

“I had some good years with him at Cas and I think his coaching style suits me, so I am enjoying it and I’m looking forward to playing in his system again.

“He and [then Tigers assistant-coach] Ryan Sheridan pretty much taught me how to play half-back so I think he knows what my strengths are and what makes me tick. Hopefully I should get to my best this year under him.”

Trinity will go into the new campaign with high hopes after an all-conquering 2024 season in the second tier, when they won the 1895 Cup at Wembley, finished 13 points clear at the top of the table – losing only once – and thumped second-placed Toulouse Olympique 36-0 in the Grand Final.

Since then some big-name signings have joined the club – including England duo Tom Johnstone and Mike McMeeken from Catalans Dragons – and Trueman insisted: “The aim for us is to get into the play-offs.”

He said: “It’s obviously a little bit of the unknown, seeing how the squad goes with a lot of new signings, but training is going well so we are pretty confident we can get in the top-six.”

Trinity’s competitive season begins on Saturday, February 8 with a Challenge Cup third round tie against new professional club Goole Vikings, exactly a week before the Super League opener at Leeds Rhinos.

Goole won at London Broncos in round two and there are some familiar faces from Trueman’s time at Hull in their playing and coaching ranks.

“It could work in our favour to get a game in,” Trueman said. “It has been moved to Wakey so that should be good, in front of our fans in a proper competitive game.

“I know quite a few of their boys and I played with Scott Taylor, their coach, so it’ll be good to see those lads again.”

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