Wakefield Trinity head coach Daryl Powell has confirmed minor injury issues for two spine players and shared an update on one of the club’s top forwards.
Powell made just two changes to his 21-man squad this week with full-back Max Jowitt and half Mason Lino dropping out, though both men had missed out on the matchday squad in the win over Bradford Bulls.
He’s now confirmed that the pair are not long-term injuries though he’s warned that Jowitt could well have a job on his hands to earn his place back, with high praise offered to Josh Rourke.
“Mason is just a slight sort of patella tendon issue. It’s not bad,” Powell confirmed when addressing media ahead of Saturday’s game away to St Helens.
“Max is the same. He’s got an Achilles, so we’ve got a couple of tendons that are just causing us a little bit trouble at the moment.
“It’s nothing major, nothing long-term, but they’re just going to keep them out for another week. They’ll be in there as options next week, I’m expecting.”
Asked about the club’s depth and the fact they already have ready-made replacements, Powell praised Jack Sinfield and Josh Rourke, in particular the full-back.
He said: “I thought that was an outstanding game for him last week. The challenge for Rourkey is to back that up and be consistent, really. Max will have a job on his hands getting him out of the team, he’ll have to work exceptionally hard if he keeps playing like that.”
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Wakefield Trinity man on track for recovery as squad assessed before St Helens clash
Having performed so well against Bradford Bulls last week in their 52-12 win and coming through injury-free regarding the 17 who featured, Powell confirmed it could be a very similar side on Saturday evening.
“There’s always little bits to consider, but I thought they did everything that was asked of them last week,” he said.
“Obviously, it’s a significant step up this week. We know what’s ahead of us. It’s always difficult going on to St Helens, but the team that played last week, I thought they were excellent. I thought they did a lot of really good things.
“In lots of ways, it’s quite exciting because it gives us a decent picture of where we’re at. Going there and doing well has always been a tough challenge, so I think it’s awesome for us at this stage in the season to go and really test ourselves in what’s a pretty tough arena.”
One man who won’t play this week or the next is Isaiah Vagana with Powell offering an update on the forward, who went down in the Challenge Cup loss to Wigan Warriors.
Powell confirmed: “When he’d done it, we were always thinking it’d be after the Challenge Cup break…I’m hoping he’ll be available then, but I think he’s got a couple.
“He’s got a shoulder and an ankle. The shoulder’s probably the one that is going to be the slowest to heal, so we won’t know until down the track on that one, but I’m pretty happy with the way the back row is holding up at the moment.
“Isaiah has been phenomenal for us, but I’m hoping he’ll be available after the break.”
It means Vagana will miss games against St Helens and Leeds Rhinos before potentially being back for Super League round eleven when Trinity take on Catalans Dragons at home.
