WAKEFIELD TRINITY will be without Tom Johnstone for the next few weeks after the winger underwent fresh surgery.
Johnstone had a hernia operation after struggling with his groin at the end of last season and in the autumn’s Ashes series with England.
He was on track to return for the start of the new campaign, only to suffer a knee injury ahead of Wakefield’s Challenge Cup tie at Swinton Lions.
And Trinity head coach Daryl Powell has revealed that Johnstone required surgery on that issue, ruling him out of Saturday’s opener with Toulouse Olympique.
The 30-year-old is also likely to miss away trips to Huddersfield Giants and Warrington Wolves over the following two weekends.
“Tom was flying, then his knee… he’s got a slight tear in his cartilage,” said Powell.
“It’s come up late, he had a jab in there which didn’t work, and we decided let’s just get it done.
“He’s had a minor operation on his knee, so he’s two or three weeks away.”
Fellow back Oliver Pratt is also unavailable for Toulouse, along with prop Ky Rodwell.
Powell explained: “Pratty slipped in training a couple of weeks back and got a really bad dead leg. He’s okay but it swelled up straight away.
“Ky Rowell had an operation. Both should be available next week, they’re not long-termers.”
Powell is also on baby watch, with Isaiah Vagana expecting the birth of his child – coincidentally just days after fellow overseas prop Tray Lolesio’s baby arrived.
As for the game itself, Powell says there is no chance of Wakefield taking Toulouse lightly – especially after another newly-promoted side, York Knights, stunned champions Hull KR.
“We were a new team (to the competition) at this stage last year, and we went to Leeds and won,” he said.
“Last night was a perfect example – you can’t afford to not quite be there. They (Hull KR) got rattled a bit and it easily happens.
“Toulouse have a good team and we have to pay full respect. It was a great lesson.”