Recharged Wakefield Trinity ready to take French test on return to action
After some intense battles in the last month Wakefield Trinity have recharged their batteries and are raring to go again when they return to action at the DIY Kitchens Stadium on Friday.
Trinity will get back into their Betfred Super League battle after a week off with a home game against Catalans Dragons and are keen to get back to winnings ways after defeats in their last two matches have seen them drop down the table to sixth.
Such is the competitive nature at the top of the table this year that victory over their French visitors could have them right on the heels of top two Leeds Rhinos and St Helens who are only four points above them after 10 matches.
Trinity still got plenty out of their losses to the top two in their last two matches and won their previous five league outings so there has not been any panic at Belle Vue.
But they know they cannot afford another slip up against Catalans if they are to maintain their belief that they challenge the best teams this year.
Quite which Dragons team they will be facing will be a puzzle, however, after they have been hugely inconsistent of late, losing 33-18 at home to Leigh Leopards in their last game and well beaten by the Rhinos before that, but stunning title challengers Warrington Wolves 38-22 on April 18.
They now have Ryan Sheridan in charge as interim coach following the departure of Joel Tomkins and his visit to the DIY Kitchen Stadium will see him no doubt be keen to get one over his long standing friend in Daryl Powell, with who he worked for a number of years as assistant.
Powell will be hoping that the week without a game has helped ease Wakefield’s injury list with Max Jowitt, Tom Johnstone, Jack Sinfield, Seth Nikotemo, Jazz Tevaga and Isaiah Vagana all unavailable for the Leeds game.
The long serving Jowitt, meanwhile, has been granted a testimonial by the RFL after his commitment and contribution to the club and the sport.
Jowitt, who made his Trinity debut back in 2014 and has only ever represented his hometown club apart from loan spells early in his career, has made 183 career appearances, 133 of those in Super League.
The 29-year-old full-back has been a key figure in the club’s return to Super League, playing the best rugby of his career since Powell’s arrival as head coach.