Wakefield Trinity coach Daryl Powell is happy to be opening the new season against third-tier opposition.
Trinity play host to League One newcomers Goole Vikings in the Betfred Challenge Cup third round on Saturday (3pm), exactly a week before returning to Super League in an eagerly-anticipated derby at Leeds Rhinos, and whilst a Championship team might have given Wakefield a sterner test, Powell is unconcerned.
Trinity beat Castleford Tigers in Luke Gale’s testimonial game two weeks ago and a final warm-up match against Doncaster, scheduled for last weekend, was called off. “We feel like we got a fair bit out of the Cas game,” Powell said.
“We cancelled the game against Doncaster because we felt like that would have been a game too many having got what we got out of the Cas one. Our boys all want to play in this [Saturday’s] game. There’s nobody saying they’re not sure about it – we feel like we’ll be ready to go after another hit-out.”
All Super League teams were seeded to be drawn away from home, but Goole switched the tie from their Victoria Pleasure Ground base, which is being redeveloped. “Some of our experiences last year told us that this would be a good thing to do,” Powell – whose side won the Championship in 2024 – stated. “It’s a real positive for us that we’re at home and know everything we’ve got to do facility-wise. That’s a good thing.”
Wakefield Trinity are without new signings Cam Scott (hamstring) and Seth Nikotemo (broken thumb), who are also set to miss next Saturday’s Super League opener. Renouf Atoni, Isaiah Vagana, Josh Griffin and Myles Lawford remain on the sidelines, but recruit Caius Faatili could make his debut just days after arriving in England.
Fellow signings Tom Johnstone – who has returned to Wakefield after two years with Catalans Dragons – and Matty Russell are available after injury, along with Thomas Doyle. Jake Trueman, Mike McMeeken, Olly Russell, Matty Storton and Josh Rourke are other players in contention for their competitive debut.
Wakefield Trinity (v Goole): Jowitt, Walmsley, Hall, Johnstone, Trueman, Russell, McMeeken, Hood, Rodwell, Pitts, Doyle, Hamlin-Uele, Storton, Pratt, Lino, Rourke, Russell, Croft, Shaw, Smith, Faatili.
🏉 Tom Johnstone, Thomas Doyle, Matty Russell and Caius Faatili all could make their first appearances of the year as Daryl Powell names a strong squad for our Betfred Challenge Cup clash with Goole Vikings!
👉🏻 https://t.co/K8Ja8ETJL8#UpTheTrin pic.twitter.com/NZsBwUw2nM
— Wakefield Trinity (@WTrinityRL) February 6, 2025
