Wakefield Trinity news: pivotal duo set to return v Leeds Rhinos after missing huge game at St Helens
Two key players will miss Wakefield Trinity’s huge game away to St Helens tomorrow (Saturday), but are expected back for the derby at Leeds Rhinos six days later.
Trinity began Betfred Super League round nine in second spot - behind leaders Rhinos and ahead of third-placed Saints on points difference - and coach Daryl Powell admits the next two fixtures are “absolutely crucial for us”.
Wakefield will face Saints without full-back Max Jowitt and scrum-half Mason Lino, who both also sat out last Saturday’s 52-12 win against Bradford Bulls. Powell explained: “Mason is a slight patella tendon issue, it’s not bad.
“Max is the same, with an Achilles. We’ve got a couple of tendons causing us a bit of trouble at the moment, but nothing major or long-term. They are going to keep them out for another week. They will be in there as options next week, I am expecting.”
Forward Isaiah Vagana also remains on the casualty list and Powell confirmed: “He won’t play this week or next week, then we’vce got a week off from a game perspective. I am hoping he will be available after that.
“He has got a couple of things, a shoulder and an ankle. The shoulder is probably going to be the slowest to heal. We won’t know until down the track on that.”
Trinity could be unchanged tomorrow, but Powell conceded visiting Saints is “a significant step up”. He said: “We know what’s ahead of us, it’s always difficult going over to St Helens. The team that played last week were excellent and did a lot of good things on both sides of the ball, but we’ll have to be better this week.
“They have stepped up and got a few players back so we know it will be a seriously tough game, but in lots of ways it’s quite exciting because it gives us a decent idea of where we’re at. I think it is awesome at this stage in the season to go and really test ourselves in what’s a pretty tough arena.
“They are the only team we haven’t beaten in the last couple of years in Super League so that makes it something pretty big for us to get after. I do think we are growing and developing as a team and the next step is for everybody to look at us and say these boys are very difficult to beat wherever they go. We want to be a team that doesn’t fear anything.”
Powell insisted he isn’t taking much notice of Trinity’s lofty status on the league ladder. He warned: “There’s a long way to go, we certainly aren’t getting carried away with the table at this point.
“I don’t think it matters too much, though you’d rather be there than down at the bottom. We’ll keep doing what we are doing and focus on performances and getting better. All that will be challenged tomorrow; we are looking to stress test where we are and I think we’ll get stress tested tomorrow. It is a really good opportunity for us.
“The next two games are absolutely crucial for us. Mentally we have to be in the right place and show we can handle the pressure of these games against the better teams.”
St Helens: from Feldt, Robertson, Sailor, Lomax, Walmsley, Clark, Lees, Wright, Klemmer, Delaney, Whitley, Whitby, Stephens, Shorrocks, Dagnall, Macdonald, Davies, Sinclair, Hastings, Humphreys, Keeley.
Wakefield Trinity: from Pratt, Scott, Hall, Johnstone, Trueman, McMeeken, Smoothy, Rodwell, Nikotemo, Storton, Pitts, Hamlin-Uele, Faatili, Smith, Sinfield, Myers, Rourke, Lolesio, Lingard, Tate, Abraham.
Referee: Jack Smith (Wigan). Kick-off: Saturday, 5.30pm.