'We'll miss him': coach Daryl Powell's tribute after Wakefield Trinity release Seth Nikotemo

The 22-year-old New Zealander joined Trinity from Australian Queensland Cup side Ipswich Jets ahead of the 2025 season and made 29 appearances. He has been away from the club for several weeks and speaking at his weekly preview press conference today (Friday), ahead of tomorrow’s home clash with St Helens, Powell said: “Seth had an issue back at home that he needed to go and look after.

“It was a real quick one, like an overnight need to go situation. We wanted to look after Seth and make sure everything was all right back at home. The situation is one that he needs to stay there.

“We will miss him as a player and a person, he has been great while he has been at the club, but sometimes there are bigger things at play. I spoke to him the other day and he’s okay, he is cracking on and I wish him all the best for his future.”

Jay Pitts has been ruled out of tomorrow’s game with an arm injury and Powell admitted: “We are a little bit light. Pittsy doesn’t play in the back-row all the time, but he gives us an option there. Mike [McMeeken] played there last week and at a push Cam Scott can as well so we do have options.

“Pittsy will be out for a couple of weeks with his biceps so it does leave us a bit isolated. We have got Jordan Williams, who hasn’t played for us yet, as an option to come in so we are okay. We are a bit skinnier than we’d like to be, but there are teams in worse situations than us so we will just deal with it.”

Nikotemo is the second player released by Trinity this week, after hooker Thomas Doyle. Powell said that was “just to give him an opportunity to get a club moving forward”. Doyle has been on loan at Bradford Bulls and Powell added: “He has had a tough time here with injuries and hasn’t really been able to get on the field and show us what he’s about the last couple of years. That has been enormously frustrating for him, he is a great kid and we just wanted to look after his future.”