Heat is on but Daryl Powell says 'tuned in' Wakefield Trinity can handle big challenge at Catalans Dragons
Wakefield Trinity face hot conditions and a hostile atmosphere at Catalans Dragons tomorrow (Saturday), but coach Daryl Powell has no doubt his side are good and tough enough to cope.
A seventh successive Trinity win would maintain pressure on Betfred Super League leaders Leeds Rhinos ahead of next Friday’s huge meeting between the sides at Belle Vue. Assessing what challenges a trip to Perpignan poses, Powell said: “All sorts of things - the weather, the parochial environment, they are big and physical and they’ve got a new coach so they have changed the way they’re playing a little bit.
“That’s probably one of the biggest ones, a change in style with and without the ball. I think the biggest thing is making sure we are mentally tuned in. We’re in a decent run of form and when you’re in a run of form you’ve got to stay focused on what you’ve been doing and don’t drift from that. I think that’s important.”
Trinity crushed Castleford Tigers 52-14 last week despite having Matty Storton red carded when they trailed 10-6. Powell added: “I think we’re doing really well dealing with all sorts of different challenges at the moment.
“Obviously last week we had a player sent off so we had to deal with a pretty stiff one there and we managed that really well. This one is about managing travel and energy, staying in a hotel and all that brings with it. We’ve been to Toulouse already this year so we’ve got experience of that as a group and hopefully we’ll handle it well again.”
Saturday’s game, which will be shown live on Sky Sports and refereed by Aaron Moore, kicks off at 9pm local time, when the temperature is forecast to be 31 degrees. That adds to the challenge, but Powell insisted: “One thing I’ll say about our team is we’re a pretty fit group of boys.
“While it is difficult, it's the same for both teams. I feel like we're a fit group, the boys are tuned in every week and we should handle that okay. I don't see any reason to think that’s going to be a problem for us.”
Scrum-half Jack Sinfield could return for Trinity following a three-game concussion layoff. Forward Jordan Williams is also back in contention, with Lachlan Walmsley dropping out from last week’s side.
Catalans Dragons: from Staines, Makinson, Cotric, Sexton, Dodd, Satae, Bousquet, Maria, Condon, Garcia, Allen, Leeming, Lipowicz, Laguerre, Aispuro-Bichet, Tison, Martin, Darrelatour, Descalzi, Lis, Cellier.
Wakefield Trinity: from Jowitt, Scott, Hall, Johnstone, Trueman, McMeeken, Smoothy, Rodwell, Storton, Tevaga, Pitts, Hamlin-Uele, Faatili, Smith, Vagana, Sinfield, Myers, Rourke, Lolesio, Williams, Tate.
Referee: Aaron Moore (Wigan). Kick-off: Saturday, 8pm UK.