Wakefield Trinity news: key forward set to feature in France but star duo target Hull KR return
Wakefield Trinity expect to welcome back a key forward for Saturday’s game at Toulouse Olympique, but two star backs remain on the sidelines.
Pack man Isaiah Vagana is set to feature after a four-game injury layoff, having been an unused member of Trinity’s squad for last Friday’s 58-10 hammering of Catalans Dragons. Speaking at his weekly preview press conference today (Wednesday), coach Daryl Powell - who will name his 21 tomorrow - confirmed: “Isaiah will be in the squad and there is potential he will play.”
He said: “He has stepped up in quite a big way this year. He is a pretty relaxed sort of guy and it’s just about stepping up and realising what your potential is. For him that’s pretty big, so I am looking forward to seeing him get back in and around it. He is big and physical; he has played back-row this year and we feel like he is developing into a pretty potent weapon.”
But full-back Max Jowitt and winger Tom Johnstone will again be missing as they recover from Achilles tendon damage. Trinity don’t have a fixture next weekend and Powell said: “I think Tom will be available for the Hull KR game [on June 6].
“He is a pretty important player for us and I’m looking forward to getting him back out there. Max won’t be far off then as well. He has been a slow burner and tendons can be like that, but I’d be hopeful he will start training next week. Josh Rourke has been going all right so I’ll have a call to make, but Max should be available around that time.”
Of the current state of his squad, Powell insisted: “We are all right. There’s a couple of boys who aren’t available, but we are reasonably strong. We can’t complain, I think we are putting excellent teams out every week - we just need to be a bit more consistent.”