Wakefield Trinity coach explains Max Jowitt omission, predicts tough chat over Lachlan Walmsley's future
Boss Daryl Powell has explained why Max Jowitt was left out of Wakefield Trinity’s Magic Weekend squad and revealed how he can get back in the team.
Josh Rourke was switched from wing to full-back for Trinity’s 48-6 derby demolition of Castleford Tigers in Liverpool and Jowitt dropped out of the matchday 17. “Rourkey has been playing consistently well and Max didn’t have his best day last week,” Powell said.
“Josh is a genuine option at full-back and it’s that competitive nature in the squad we are going to need. Max needs to dig in and fight his way back, train well and who knows what is going to happen across the season?”
Powell insisted: “We’ve got 10 rounds left and this is when it’s really important, the squad holding tough together, players playing well when they get out there and training well.
“For players trying to find their way back in the team, your avenue is to train really well and get the eyes of the coaching staff. I think we are in a really good place with the culture around the way we train and how hard we work and players putting their hand up to play.”
Lachlan Walmsley took over from Rourke on the right-flank for only his second appearance of the season - having been sidelined since suffering a knee injury in February - and Powell was impressed by his performance. However, Trinity are looking to bring an outside-back into their squad for 2027, leaving the Australian-born Scotland international’s future in doubt.
Of that, Powell said: “Obviously he is out of contract. When somebody’s injured like Lachlan has been and they are in the last year of their contract, then it’s a pretty tough conversation and for us, we’ve been looking to build our squad in the outside-backs.
“I am not 100 per cent sure. It will be an interesting discussion, but I love him, he is a great kid. He bounced around a fair bit in the Championship and then got an opportunity and he is a genuine winger - he scores tries and he has got a great instinct.
“I am not 100 per cent sure the way it is going to go, but regardless, I love him as a kid and as a player I think he has grown immeasurably over the last couple of years.”