Wakefield Trinity return to training on Monday, but star forward David Fifita will not be there.
League Express understands that the prop, one of the club’s highest earners, is one of the 32 players who have now committed to revised pay structures for the players at the Mobile Rocket Stadium, with just one first-team regular left to commit.
However, Fifita had not agreed his pay reduction when testing took place last week ahead of Trinity’s return to training today, meaning he was omitted from their original 24-man group pencilled in to begin preparations for the resumption of the Super League season.
Fifita will be unable to return until next week at the earliest, but is expected to return to their group as early as possible now that he and the majority of his team-mates have agreed pay reductions.
Trinity’s players have agreed salary cuts in the region of 16% of their net pay, which will mean a loss of around 11% of their take-home income.
Chief executive Michael Carter said: “I’d like to thank the players that have accepted and look forward to a return to training on Monday.
“I’d also like to add that I have been in constant dialogue with the captain (Jacob Miller) about the new players that we have brought to the club for this season. He understands that in no way have these signings had a detrimental effect to the cuts that players and staff have had to take.
“Through a mixture of self-financing, sponsorship and the furlough scheme, we have managed to bring players in on a cost-neutral basis, and the captain was very understanding of this. I want to reiterate that we are not increasing the cost base of the club whilst asking players and staff to take salary cuts.
“Once again, I would just like to thank everyone, the board, players, staff, sponsors, and supporters for all doing their bit through this crisis. Without all of you pulling together, we wouldn’t have made it through. Stay safe and I look forward to seeing everyone in the not too distant future.”
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