Wakefield Wildcats: Cup final break will benefit Wildcats, says Smith

Wildcats have boosted their hopes of remaining in First Utility Super League with back-to-back wins in the middle-eight Qualifiers and are fourth in the table with four games still to play.

But injuries are beginning to mount and Smith admitted a two-week break until their next game – away to Ladbrokes Challenge Cup finalists Hull KR on Sunday, September 6 – is ideal.

Full-back/winger Richard Owen underwent surgery on his badly broken leg last weekend and several other players – including prop Nick Scruton, who suffered a cracked rib – picked up knocks in the 17-16 victory at Leigh Centurions.

“We’ve got six guys injured and five of them have got season-ending injuries,” Smith said.

“We’ve not been having little injuries.

“On Saturday we got three or four who I’d say are in serious doubt for a couple more weeks, so hopefully they are not as bad as we are thinking at the moment.”

Meanwhile, Smith – who took over in June – said he has not yet made a decision about his future at Wakefield.

His initial contract was until the end of the season and he stressed: “I am loving what I am doing at the moment, so that’s enough for me at the moment.

“I haven’t discussed it again with (chairman) Michael Carter.

“We made the call we were going to do this and then we were going to talk about it at the end, so that’s what we’ll do.”