
IT’S a fine time to be a Wakefield supporter, with the club riding high off a treble-winning season in the Championship and having plenty of reasons to be optimistic about their Super League return.
The significant investment of Matt Ellis following his takeover in late 2023 allowed them to dominate the second tier and while key figures including Matty Ashurst, Luke Gale (now on the coaching staff) and Jermaine McGillvary have moved on, plenty of exciting arrivals have joined.
England internationals Tom Johnstone and Mike McMeeken headline the ten new signings, with other established names like Mattys Storton and Russell joined by up-and-comers such as Cameron Scott and Corey Hall (like Johnstone, returning to the club).
Leigh have shown it is possible to make the play-offs straight after promotion, although the Trinity squad does not have quite the same level of top-flight experience.
Can players like Renouf Atoni, Caleb Hamlin-Uele, Isaiah Vagana and Thomas Doyle step up and make Wakefield a force?
Watch out for… The Championship’s Young Player of the Year in 2024, Oliver Pratt. Wakefield’s last Super League game was his first, and the 20-year-old should make many more top-flight appearances after establishing himself as a first-choice centre. Pratt scored 19 tries in 34 games last year, impressing with his powerful running, recently signed a new deal to stay with the club until 2028 and has a big fan in coach Daryl Powell.
Fan’s eye view… The 2025 season is eagerly awaited, with the return to Super League being celebrated at a stadium further modernised over the off-season. Many supporters are relishing the prospect of seeing how outstanding youngsters, like Harvey Smith and Oli Pratt, fare against tougher opposition and what difference new half-backs, Jake Trueman and Oli Russell, might make to the side. Max Jowitt’s continued development at full-back will be crucial to what is hoped will be the successful return of Tom Johnstone. The arrival of McMeekin indicates Trinity have a squad which should more than hold its own. (By David Hinchliffe, former Labour MP for Wakefield and lifelong Trinity fan.)
2025 squad: 1 Max Jowitt, 2 Lachlan Walmsley, 3 Cam Scott, 4 Corey Hall, 5 Tom Johnstone, 6 Jake Trueman, 7 Oliver Russell, 8 Mike McMeeken, 9 Liam Hood, 10 Ky Rodwell, 11 Seth Nikotemo, 12 Josh Griffin, 13 Jay Pitts, 14 Thomas Doyle, 15 Caleb Hamlin-Uele, 16 Renouf Atoni, 17 Matty Storton, 18 Isaiah Vagana, 19 Oliver Pratt, 20 Mason Lino, 21 Mathieu Cozza, 23 Josh Rourke, 24 Matty Russell, 25 Jack Croft, 26 Myles Lawford, 27 Isaac Shaw, 28 Harvey Smith, 29 Noah Booth, 30 Jayden Myers.
Rugby League World predicts: 9th
First published in Rugby League World magazine, Issue 505 (February 2025)