Page 29 - Rugby League World (February 2020)

PREVIEW

WAKEFIELD TRINITY

RLW PREDICTS: 9th

There have been quite a few ins and to Wakefield after captaining London
outs at Wakefield during the off-season Broncos in their relegation campaign last
as they attempt to build on what was year. Alex Walker has made the move
a disappointing year in 2019 by their up north from London as well and he
recent standards. will be the club’s first choice fullback.
Since Chris Chester’s appointment, Last year, the club never really settled
Trinity have been looking up rather than on a fullback so this year, with any luck,
down the table but last year, perhaps Walker will have a clean run at the back
due to some injuries to key players, was a after impressing for the Broncos in the
struggle for Wakefield. last few years.
Every year, Tom Johnstone seems to Josh Wood and Adam Tangata add
be hampered by a serious injury. He’s more depth to the forwards while Joe
a quality player and he was rewarded Westerman will be attempting to reignite
with an England appearance in 2018 but his stalling career with Wakefield. Ever
Chester will be hoping that this year, since his move to Toronto, the Castleford
Johnstone can have a full season in the academy product has struggled to re-
team. With him in the side, they have that establish himself properly in Super League.
X-factor they lack without him. Heading out the door are Chris Annakin,
David Fifita was another star player, along Anthony England, Keegan Hirst, Luke
with Bill Tupou, who sustained a serious Hooley and Lewis Wray. Tyler Randell has
injury last year. It’s fair to say they didn’t returned home to Australia and Pauli Pauli
get any luck in 2019. has moved to Salford after his loan spell 2020 SQUAD:
Wakefield have recruited plenty of west of the Pennines last year. 1 Alex Walker
players with Super League experience in Wakefield have a squad with a lot of 2 Tom Johnstone
the off-season. Ryan Atkins has returned young talent but we think their success
to where it all started as another centre will be dependant on injuries to key 3 Bill Tupou
option alongside Tupou and Reece Lyne. players once again. If they can avoid 4 Reece Lyne
Chris Green’s move to Wakefield became them, they could sneak closer to the 5 Ben Jones-Bishop
permanent after his loan move from Hull playoffs this year but there are plenty of 6 Jacob Miller
FC late last year. Jay Pitts also returns teams that think the same. 7 Danny Brough
8 David Fifita
STAR PLAYER COACH 9 Kyle Wood
10 Tinirau Arona
11 Matty Ashurst
12 Danny Kirmond
13 Joe Westerman
14 Jay Pitts
15 Craig Kopczak
16 James Batchelor
17 Chris Green
18 Adam Tangata
19 Jordan Crowther
20 Joe Arundel
21 Max Jowitt
He may be getting on at the age of 36 but 22 George King
Danny Brough will still be the key to any 23 Josh Wood
success Wakefield have in 2020. 24 Jack Croft
Wakefield have great quality in the
backline with the likes of Tom Johnstone 25 Brad Walker
but you get the feeling that Brough is Chris Chester has been in charge at the 26 Titus Gwaze
even more important than the likes of Mobile Rocket Stadium since 2016, 27 Lee Kershaw
Johnstone. taking over from Brian Smith. In that time, 28 Ryan Atkins
Brough is a real journeyman of Rugby Wakefield have enjoyed relative success. 29 Ryan Hampshire
League in Yorkshire having played for They finished fifth in the table in 2017 30 Yusuf Aydin
Dewsbury, York, Hull FC, Castleford and but 2019 was a tougher one for Chester 31 Connor Bailey
Huddersfield as well as Wakefield in two as injuries took hold.
separate spells. Chester previously coached Hull KR 32 Ollie Greensmith
He has a big mouth but his talent more between 2014 and 2016 before joining 36 Kelepi Tanginoa
than matches it. his hometown club.

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