In-contract Wakefield Trinity star Max Jowitt signs for rival Super League club

York Knights today (Friday) confirmed Jowitt has signed a two-year deal with them, beginning in 2027. Jowitt has featured more than 180 times for Wakefield since his debut in 2014.

The 29-year-old, who can also play in the halves, scored a world record 500 points in a season, from 26 tries and 198 goals, when Trinity won the second-tier Championship two years ago. He has made 12 Betfred Super League appearances this term, but has largely been second-choice full-back behind Josh Rourke.

Rourke is contracted until the end of next year and New Zealand superstar Roger Tuivasa-Sheck will also be in the reckoning for the full-back role in 2027. Jowitt, whose father Ian is a former Wakefield player, signed a new deal with Trinity last year which was set to keep him at Belle Vue until the end of 2027. It included an option in the club’s favour for 2028.

Trinity coach Daryl Powell described Jowitt as a “phenomenal player for Wakefield Trinity”, but insisted tough decisions have to be made. He said: “We signed Roger primarily as a full-back and then it was ‘does Max fit anywhere else’?

“He is obviously primarily a full-back and once Roger became available we made a decision he could potentially take us to another level. Max has been a phenomenal player for Wakefield Trinity. His form dropped off a little bit this year, which I think is kind of understandable when you get told you are leaving a club, but I think since he’s come back in he has been great.

“It has been more about the evolution of the team and sometimes you have to make tough decisions. It doesn’t mean someone’s not a good player, it just means you are taking a slightly different direction. Roger was that decision.”

Powell added: “We don’t feel like Max is a number two, we feel like he is a number one full-back and he has got that opportunity to do that at York. Obviously we want him to finish unbelievably well here and then to have a fantastic rest of his career because he’s a great fella and he has been phenomenal for Wakefield Trinity.”

Wakefield-born Jowitt, who scored a try and four goals in Trinity’s 28-12 win against the Knights last Saturday, said: “I’m buzzing for the opportunity to have a fresh start at a club like York, especially with the direction the club is heading in.”

The move reunites him with coach Mark Applegarth who was head of youth during his early days at Wakefield and team boss in 2023. Applegarth said: “I’m really glad we’ve got Max joining us.

“He is a proven Super League player with nearly 200 games under his belt and he’ll add a different dimension to us in attack. He’s one of the best passers of the ball in the league in that second phase of attack.

“He’s a lovely person as well. I’m really looking forward to working with him again. He’s a player I know well and I think he’ll help push us as a team on to that next level.”