Wakefield Trinity news: coach Daryl Powell explains why key duo will miss Catalans Dragons clash
Wakefield Trinity coach Daryl Powell has revealed why two star players remain on the casualty list ahead of Friday’s home clash with Catalans Dragons.
Forwards Seth Nikotemo, Jazz Tevaga and Isaiah Vagana are all set to return from injury, but winger Tom Johnstone and full-back Max Jowitt weren’t included in Trinity’s 21-man squad. Johnstone hasn’t played since last month’s big home win against Bradford Bulls and Powell explained: “Tom has a little bit of a problem with his Achilles that’s sort of lingering.”
Speaking at his weekly preview press conference today (Thursday), Powell said: “Obviously he wants to play so he is pretty disappointed, but it is what it is - what we don’t want to risk is a long-term injury for Tom.
“At this point in time he is not able to get on the field. We’ve got a couple of really important games against the French teams and then we get a week off before some huge games down the track and we want to make sure we’ve got our best players out there at the right time.
“There’s a bit of balance there in what we are doing with Tom, but when he is ready to play he will be out there. He is desperate to play. I was hoping he was going to be available for this week, but he’s not.
“Next week would be a push, I think, then we have a week off before we play Hull KR. I am not 100 per cent sure, but I’m hoping he would be available for Hull KR.”
Powell is hopeful Jowitt could be back on the field when Trinity visit Toulouse Olympique next week. His last appearance was against Castleford Tigers at Easter and the coach said: “He’s another one, we’ve had a couple of reactive tendon issues. I don’t really know why.
“He has got a lot of swelling on his Achilles, which is gradually getting better. Tendons are very difficult to manage, but hopefully he’ll be available next week against Toulouse.”
Centre Cameron Scott, who was taken to hospital after being knocked out during the defeat at Leeds Rhinos two weeks ago, has been named in Trinity’s squad and Powell confirmed he is “fine and ready to go”. Half-back Jack Sinfield is also in the 21, but unlikely to feature after being diagnosed with a fractured sternum.
“He is training, but wearing a yellow vest which is non-contact,” Powell said. “We are just looking after the injury. I don’t think it’ll be a long-term one, but clearly a fractured sternum is pretty tough for a rugby league player. I haven’t got a time scale on him and we’ll see how he goes over the next few weeks.”
Initially, Trinity weren’t aware the injury was a fracture. Powell explained: “He was in a bit of pain, but until we got it scanned we weren’t aware of it. He played a couple of weeks before we eventually got it done. We thought it would just settle down, but it didn’t and that’s why the medical team got him scanned.”