Leigh Leopards • 2025 Wakefield Trinity
Confidence is sky high at the DIY Kitchen Stadium. A successful season in the Championship has been the rest the club needed. Fans have rallied around the club and attendances will be way up from their last season in Super League.
Daryl Powell is a quality coach given the right environment can make a team like Castleford tick, alternatively he can turn a club into a nest of vipers like Warrington.
2024 Season Review
The 2024 season was almost perfect for Wakefield. A time to win some games, re-engage with the fan base and rebuild the stadium for the 21st Century. Congratulations must go out on achieving success both on and off the field, picking up a grade A license in the process.
Transfers Out
Luke Gale, Jermaine McGillvary, Liam Kay (all retirement), Matty Ashurst, Iain Thornley, Josh Bowden, Derrell Olpherts, Toby Boothroyd, Romain Franco, Ethan Wood, Will Brough, Joe Law
Transfers In
Tom Johnstone, Mike McMeeken, Cameron Scott, Corey Hall, Olly Russell, Jack Trueman, Matty Russell, Seth Nikotemo, Josh Rourke, Matty Storton
Transfer Analysis
A championship clear-out, players that excelled at that level have been shunted out in favour of players better equipped to face the rigours of Super League. Three great servants of the game have chosen to retire.
Wakefield has secured two top-notch recruits, Tom Johnstone and Mike McMeeken, both from Catalans. The rest of the signings are brimming full of Super League experience with the exception of Seth Nikotemo. Much is anticipated from Nikotemo in his first top flight season.
2025 Predictions
Blending in the new recruits will be a tough job for Powell, and much will depend on the chosen half-back pairing of Trueman and Russell. Trueman has only played half of the last two seasons and really needs to stay fit to cement the partnership with Russell. Olly Russell has also endured time on the side-lines and it is a big ask that the pairing stay fit and gel.
Wakefield may have a potential weakness on one of the flanks, and it is not clear if the pack is going to be able to compete sufficiently.
A tricky start to the season might hinge on the result of Round 5 against Hull FC, otherwise a possible 0 from 6 might put early pressure on the new boys. Reluctantly I predict a 9th place finish, even though a lot of people are bigging this team up.
Statistics: Posted by Septimius Severus — Wed Jan 01, 2025 1:13 pm — Replies 0 — Views 137