DARYL POWELL admits he doesn’t know where Lachlan Walmsley will be playing in 2027.
The winger impressed greatly for Wakefield Trinity in their 48-6 thrashing of local rivals Castleford Tigers at Super League’s Magic Weekend – only his second appearance of the season after a long lay-off with a knee injury.
Scoring two tries, the Australian was in fine form, but with his contract running out at the end of the current campaign, Wakefield boss Powell said he doesn’t know what lies ahead.
“When someone is injured like Lachlan has been and they are in the last year of a contract then it can be a tough conversation,” said Powell.
“We have been looking to build our squad in the outside backs so I’m not 100 percent sure (where Walmsley’s future lies).
“It will be an interesting discussion. I love him, he’s a great kid, he has bounced around in the Championship and got a chance at Super League level.
“He is a genuine winger and scores tries (he scored 40 in his first two Wakefield seasons and has 129 in 133 appearances in the British game). He has got instinct.
“I don’t know which way it (the contract) will go but regardless, I love him as a kid and player.”
Meanwhile, Powell says Max Jowitt needs to “dig in” to find his way back into the starting line-up after being left out at Magic.
After Jowitt took the number one shirt for Wakefield’s distinctly average win over Huddersfield Giants a week earlier, Josh Rourke was preferred against Castleford
And it’s fair to say that Rourke took his chance with both hands, scoring a try and making a number of impressive defensive reads.
“Rourkey has been playing consistently well and Max didn’t have his best day last week,” Powell said.
“I just think Josh Rourke is a genuine option at fullback and it’s that competitive nature in our squad that we will need.
“Max needs to dig in and find his way back, train well and then who knows what will happen across the season.
“This is where it’s really important where the squad holds its own together.”