WAKEFIELD TRINITY are openly talking trophies – even if Daryl Powell is surprised nobody else is putting the two together.
After a sixth-place finish on their Super League return last year, hopes are high of further progress in a campaign which starts on Saturday at home to promoted Toulouse Olympique.
Head coach Powell told League Express: “We were under the radar last year, but only for one round!
“This year we won’t be under the radar. We’ve a lot of belief that we can challenge anybody.
“We want to be consistent again, we want to be in the six, and I’d like us to have a decent run in the Challenge Cup.
“People may have written us off a bit this year, if you look at the betting odds (Wakefield are ninth favourites to win the Grand Final with Betfred, at 50/1).
“Nobody expects us to win anything, but we talk about it. We want to get in the six and have a pop at it.
“We were last year but we weren’t good enough when we got into the six (losing their play-off eliminator at Leigh Leopards). That’s where we have to be better, that’s the lesson.
“It gives us a good foundation for this year, and there’s knowledge for a lot of players who had their first year in Super League that they can handle that step up.
“They have gone after pre-season a bit harder, knowing the challenge that faces them moving forward in getting better.”
Wakefield have made seven new signings, only two of whom – Brisbane Broncos title-winning hooker Tyson Smoothy and Samoa international loose-forward Jazz Tevaga – have received top-17 squad numbers.
But Powell believes that pair will make an outsized difference to Trinity.
“Tyson has played in two Grand Finals and that sort of experience is very difficult to get,” he said.
“I watched his games last year and there was all sorts of carnage in there. Tyson was getting put on in different positions and at different times in the game, under pressure, and handled it all really well.
“Jazz Tevaga is a proper Rugby League player, with proper energy. He’ll be very difficult to defend.
“I think they’ll both be outstanding.”