Wakefield Trinity still to make decisions on which out-of-contract players will be offered new terms

Wakefield Trinity have some decisions to make on which out-of-contract players they plan to keep on board next season.
Wakefield Trinity head coach Chris Chester. Picture: Allan McKenzie/SWpix.com.Wakefield Trinity head coach Chris Chester. Picture: Allan McKenzie/SWpix.com.
Wakefield Trinity head coach Chris Chester. Picture: Allan McKenzie/SWpix.com.

Trinity have eight players whose current deals expire at the end of the year, although just one member of their squad has been presented with terms for next season.

Lee Kershaw has been offered a two-year deal but that is a proposal he has rejected, with Trinity set to demand a fee if he leaves the club.

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Meanwhile, the club are yet to determine if Danny Kirmond, Craig Kopczak, Titus Gwaze, Ryan Atkins and Ben Jones-Bishop will be offered new deals.

Trinity return to action against Wigan Warriors next month and the process of retaining and recruiting players has been delayed due to the financial impact of the coronavirus. Head coach Chris Chester revealed that there are approximately 25 players contracted at Wakefield for next season.

But there are still decisions to be made while Trinity will need to remain patient to see what budget is available, given the difficulties caused by the Covid-19 pandemic.

“It is ongoing, that’s all I can say at the minute,” Chester said of the club’s retention plans.

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“As it stands we have about 25 players signed on for next year.

From left t right: Danny Kirmond, Ben Jones-Bishop and Craig Kopczak are all out of contract at the end of the season. Pictures: SWpix.com.From left t right: Danny Kirmond, Ben Jones-Bishop and Craig Kopczak are all out of contract at the end of the season. Pictures: SWpix.com.
From left t right: Danny Kirmond, Ben Jones-Bishop and Craig Kopczak are all out of contract at the end of the season. Pictures: SWpix.com.

“We are still don’t know as a club, and I don’t know as a coach, what we have got left to spend. Things are changing by the day. We will wait and see at the end of the year.

“We are in a good spot in terms of recruitment and retention. We have got almost everybody signed up that we wanted to get signed up.

“There are still some decisions to be made on about four or five players. Those talks will be going on until about September/October time but it will all depend what we have got left in the budget.”

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George King and Danny Brough are the other two players out of contract at Belle Vue at the end of this season. It has been confirmed that Brough will join Bradford Bulls on a two-year deal from next season while George King is reportedly set to join Trinity’s Super League rivals Hull KR.