WATCH - Wakefield Trinity: Powerful Pauli extends his contract with Wakefield

AUSTRALIAN FORWARD Pauli Pauli will be staying at Wakefield Trinity next season.
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The 23-year-old joined Trinity from Newcastle Knights in the close-season on a one-year deal with the option of another 12 months which he has now taken up.

Pauli was Trinity’s final try scorer in yesterday’s 32-30 home defeat by Warrington Wolves.

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Trinity scored five tries to four, but failed to get on terms after conceding three converted touchdowns and a penalty goal by early in the second quarter.

Trinity coach Chris Chester, left.Trinity coach Chris Chester, left.
Trinity coach Chris Chester, left.

Coach Chris Chester felt it was a “missed opportunity”, but is confident Trinity – who are sixth in the table – will go on to seal a place in the Betfred Super-8s.

He said: “They were far superior to us in that first 25 minutes. We couldn’t get a hold of the ruck, offloads killed us and 25 minutes in we were 20 points behind.

“We didn’t help ourselves with yardage penalties and our contact was a long way off where it needed to be. I have got to be happy with the character we showed in the second half and I’m kicking myself we didn’t take the two when we got a penalty that would have taken it back to six points.

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“But I couldn’t be prouder of the guys. We’ve taken another top-four club right down to the wire and if we continue with that kind of effort over the next six or seven weeks we will find ourselves involved in some big games at the end of the year.”

Replacement hooker Kyle Wood sparked Trinity’s fightback with two tries in as many minutes.

“He quickened the tempo and defended tough as well,” Chester observed. “I thought the guys that came on after about 20-25 minutes – Kyle, Tinirau [Arona], Keegan [Hirst] and Kirmo [captain Danny Kirmond] – really gave us a lift. The starting 13 we had out wasn’t quite there today.”

Chester said his players were “filthy with themselves” after the match and added: “Kirmo has had a pop at the end of the game there.

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“We felt we didn’t deserve the two points, but we certainly wasted an opportunity because of the way we started the game.”

The coach added loose-forward Justin Horo is likely to be out for several weeks with an ongoing calf problem.