Wakefield Trinity academy duo sign first-team contracts

Wakefield Trinity academy duo Sam Eseh Junior and Patrick O’Donovan have signed first-team deals with the club.
Wakefield Trinity head coach Chris Chester. Picture: SWpix.com.Wakefield Trinity head coach Chris Chester. Picture: SWpix.com.
Wakefield Trinity head coach Chris Chester. Picture: SWpix.com.

Eseh, 17, and O’Donovan, 18, are set to remain with Wakefield until the end of 2024 after impressing with the club's youth teams at scholarship and academy level.

O'Donovan played his amateur rugby with Castleford Lock Lane while Eseh played with East Leeds before joining Trinity.

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“I am over the moon to sign a deal with the first team. It is definitely a proud moment for myself and I’m just excited to get going now," said Eseh.

Belle Vue, Wakefield. Picture: SWpix.com.Belle Vue, Wakefield. Picture: SWpix.com.
Belle Vue, Wakefield. Picture: SWpix.com.

“My first goal is to work hard at training with the first team to become more comfortable in that environment and match the intensity.

"Then I just want to develop as a player and learn from the experienced professionals in the first team. It’s all about hard work for me and that starts now.”

O’Donovan has represented England at youth level and added: “It’s a blessing for me to sign with the first team as it’s something that has been a big goal of mine for a while.

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“It just leaves me excited to start training and showing what I can do. I’m really pleased with the opportunity I have been given at Wakefield and I’m keen to continue developing over the next few years.”

The pair started training with Trinity's senior side last week and have already impressed head coach Chris Chester.

“Sam and Pat came in last week for training and they have just fitted in extremely well,” said Chester.

“I have to take my hat off to Mark Applegarth for how he’s developed those guys through the system. It’s really important that we’ve got that conveyor belt and succession plan and there are two guys there that are both athletes.

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“I get in early on a morning and Sam and Pat are there lifting weights, squatting 150 kilos. I couldn’t do that after ten years of playing!

"They’re both strong individuals and I’m really pleased that they’ve come into training and joined the first team squad. They are two great young kids who are going to learn a lot.”