2023 Season Preview: Wakefield Trinity

Wakefield Trinity are coming off the back of a difficult 2022. The club were rooted to the bottom of the table for much of last season, until a turn of form in July took them to tenth place. However, they still remain many people’s favourites for relegation this season.

The club has had a solid preseason so far. They started strongly by beating Leeds at Headingley on Boxing Day. Despite the experimental side the Rhinos put out, it is still a big challenge to win at the famous ground, and Wakefield overcame this in style, winning 38-20. They also got over a tough start against Featherstone Rovers to win 24-12 on 29th January. These games gave the club a great chance to test out their full strength team and blood in their new signings; however their fixture against Hull KR on Sunday 5th February will be a much better indicator of how they will play this season.

Wakefield have brought in some solid signings. Renouf Atoni, signed from NRL outfit Sydney Roosters, is a solid prop and has proved himself so far in a Trinity shirt this preseason, especially in the win over Leeds. It is vital for the club that he stays fit, as he will be a key player for them this season.

Speaking on the addition of Atoni, Mark Applegarth said “[Atoni] will add some real size and punch to our pack and we feel he will complement our squad really well. Renouf is a player we were keen to get signed so to have it over the line is great news for the club moving into the new season”.

The acquisition of Samisoni Langi from Catalans is also a great piece of business. He has established himself as a quality Super League centre, whilst also being a versatile player that covers a lot of positions on the pitch.

Mark Applegarth commented on his arrival, saying “I’m really pleased to have Samisoni at the club. He is a player that I have admired for a number of years and I’m sure he will have a massive impact on our squad. He’s a proven player at this level and when we realised he was available, we made a move straight away. He will offer some good competiton for centre spots but he also provides plenty of versatility by being comfortable playing in other area. Samisoni is a great coup for us and we can’t wait to work with him.”

Another major signing for Wakefield is second-row Kevin Proctor, who arrives following his controversial sacking by the Gold Coast Titans in the summer. The New Zealand international will add masses of experience to the club this year, which could provide a crucial element to their Super League survival. Similar to Atoni, it is vital that Proctor stays fit this season, as he will be a key component to the Wakefield pack in 2023.

The club have also faced several big departures, most notably Jacob Miller to Castleford. Miller will be a big loss to Wakefield this season as he was a key player for them in 2022, but the attention now turns to Mason Lino to lead the team this year.

Rumours are also circulating around 20-year-old star Lewis Murphy. The winger is heavily linked with a move to the NRL. He will be a vital part of the Trinity attack this season as he is a fine finisher. In his debut year, he scored 17 tries in 19 Super League games, proving he already has the quality to perform at the top level and will only get better with time. Murphy is a player Trinity cannot afford to lose if they are to survive the drop.

Wakefield Trinity are the bookies favourite for the drop, and it will be tough for them to stay in Super League. They have recruited well, but their major signings will need to stay fit and they will need to carry their form from the end of 2022 to give them any chance of surviving.

Arrivals

Kevin Proctor (unattached), Morgan Smith (Featherstone Rovers), Renouf Atoni (Sydney Roosters), Samisoni Langi (Catalans Dragons)

Departures

Jacob Miller (Castleford Tigers), James Batchelor (Hull KR), Tom Johnstone (Catalans Dragons), Yusuf Aydin (Hull KR), David Fifita (released), Sadiq Adebiyi (Keighley Cougars), Tinirau Arona (released), Brad Walker (Keighley Cougars), Thomas Minns (released).

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