Wakefield Trinity have offered new contracts to Ryan Hampshire, Jordan Crowther and Lee Kershaw as they begin the process of working through their out-of-contract list.
Trinity have almost a dozen players whose contracts expire at the end of this coming season, and while no decision has yet been made on the futures of several big names such as Danny Kirmond and Craig Huby, some have already been offered new deals.
League Express can reveal that one of those is Hampshire, who has excelled at fullback for large parts of this season despite spending the majority of his first season with his hometown club in the halves. He has moved into half-back again in recent weeks following injuries to both Jacob Miller and Danny Brough.
Hampshire could yet have competition for the fullback role long-term from elsewhere however; League Express has this week revealed that Chris Chester’s side are interested in highly-rated London youngster Alex Walker for 2020.
Homegrown forward Crowther has enjoyed somewhat of a breakthrough season so far in 2019. The versatile 22-year-old has become a key component of Chester’s team in light of several injuries elsewhere in the pack, with Crowther deputising at hooker on occasions as well as playing in a more familiar role elsewhere in the pack.
Kershaw burst onto the scene on Easter Monday with a try-scoring debut against Leeds Rhinos, and has since retained his place in the team in recent weeks. He is also understood to have been offered a contract to remain with the club beyond this season.
Forward Tinirau Arona was listed elsewhere as being out-of-contract at the conclusion of this season – but League Express has learned that the forward, who suffered a season-ending injury in Friday’s win at Huddersfield, actually has an option in his existing deal for another year in 2020. That option is in his favour, and the forward has until the end of next month to inform Trinity of his intentions moving forward.
