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2025 Season Preview: Wakefield Trinity

24 Jan 2025

Wakefield Trinity are back in Super League for 2025, and will want to show that they aren’t just there to make up the numbers this time around.

Their previous Super League stint, which was also their first, lasted 25 years, but relegation to the Betfred Championship in 2023 allowed the club a complete and much-needed reset.

A rejuvenated Trinity then went on to enjoy a treble-winning season in the Championship, which included their first Wembley appearance since 1979 in the AB Sundecks 1895 Cup Final and an unbeaten run on their home patch – ultimately breathing life back into Belle Vue and exciting the people of Wakefield again.

Welcome back @WTrinityRL ?#SuperLeague pic.twitter.com/eh9BwCKB7Q
— Betfred Super League (@SuperLeague) October 23, 2024

The club have had an extensive off-season recruitment drive, and with a sapient Daryl Powell steering the ship, his ambition will be to build a squad capable of competing in the top tier – perhaps going on to mirror that of his early Castleford days.

Wakefield are certainly heading in the right direction both on and off the field, but have they got what it takes to produce the performances on the pitch at top level?

In Super League history, Trinity have always found a way to survive, usually finishing at lower end of the table. They’ve managed to reach the odd Play-Off campaign here and there, as well as two consecutive fifth place finishes in 2017 and 2018, but are mostly known for their relegation dogfights.

They may have finally succumbed to the drop in 2023 but are now back in the big time and notorious for causing upsets to bigger teams and defying the odds that have been stacked against them.

As a side that will be fresh and raring to go after conquering all available to them in the Championship, what upsets can they cause in this year’s Super League?

Straight on to the field this morning for the boys on day 1??!!

Some of our new lads looking great in Trinity colours!!#UpTheTrin pic.twitter.com/GKX8YNl9w3
— Wakefield Trinity (@WTrinityRL) November 25, 2024

Ins & Outs

Ins: Mike McMeeken, Tom Johnstone (both Catalans), Cam Scott (Hull FC), Olly Russell (Huddersfield), Corey Hall, Matty Storton (both Hull KR), Jake Trueman (Hull FC), Seth Nikotemo (Gold Coast Titans), Josh Rourke (London), Matty Russell (Warrington), Jayden Myers (Bradford)

Outs: Luke Gale, Jermaine McGillvary, Matty Ashurst, Josh Bowden, Derrell Olpherts, Iain Thornley, Toby Boothroyd, Romain Franco, Ethan Wood, Liam Kay, Will Brough, Luke Bain

Ones to watch

Trinity will have two valuable England internationals in their side for 2025, who have both committed to the club with long-term deals.

Fan favourite Tom Johnstone has received a warm reception as he returns to Wakefield after two years in the south of France. Prior to his Catalans move, Johnstone spent eight years in West Yorkshire, establishing himself one of the league’s sought-after wingers.

Coming home having secured a four-year deal, Johnstone will be hoping to replicate his finest form back at Belle Vue.

Be flying in no time! #UpTheTrin pic.twitter.com/WNDZ9xgITP
— Wakefield Trinity (@WTrinityRL) December 19, 2024

Meanwhile, another major coup for Trinity is Mike McMeeken, who links back up with his former Cas boss Powell and has been awarded captaincy for 2025. McMeeken was one of England's top performers in the series whitewashes of Tonga and Samoa and played in the Grand Final with the Dragons in 2023, as did Johnstone, so are both outstanding pieces of recruitment.

Wakefield’s main man and Betfred Championship Player of the Year Max Jowitt will be ready for Trinity’s Super League comeback. The 27-year-old had a dream season last year, breaking records galore as he became the highest points-scorer ever in a single Rugby League season.

As he enters his 11th season with the club, Jowitt is Trinity through and through and returns to Super League as one of the side's key leaders and decision makers.

Wakefield also have a fresh first-choice half-back pairing in Jake Trueman and Olly Russell to watch out for. With the retirement of veteran Luke Gale and Mason Lino moving to squad number 20, Trueman and Russell have a big responsibility on their shoulders and how they gel together could be a deciding factor for where Trinity finish come the end of the year.

Our new 6??&7?? for 2025!

Looking ready for the new season already! #UpTheTrin pic.twitter.com/u9bSUxwErg
— Wakefield Trinity (@WTrinityRL) December 17, 2024

Next generation

Oli Pratt has been a breakthrough star at Trinity. He burst onto the scene last year, missing just two league games in the earlier stages of the season before racking up an exceptional 18 tries. The exciting young centre became a mainstay in Powell’s backline and scooped up the Betfred Championship Young Player of the Year Award for 2024.

Pratt is another homegrown talent Trinity have managed to retain until at least the end of 2028, and fans should look forward to witnessing him thrive at Super League level.

? What a 2024 for Oliver Pratt!!

Wonder which games he's picked out now the fixtures have been released?#UpTheTrin pic.twitter.com/TuUwTgCpLF
— Wakefield Trinity (@WTrinityRL) November 20, 2024

Defining dates

It is vital that Trinity make a competitive start to their campaign, and what better way to begin than with a trip to AMT Headingley to face local rivals Leeds Rhinos.

The two teams are already familiar with one another after their run out on Boxing Day, in which the Rhinos managed to pip an 18-16 victory – but who will take the first two points in this delicious Round 1 derby?

This is then followed by a string of fixtures against three of the previous top six – Hull KR, St Helens and Warrington Wolves – a tough run in for the newly promoted, where they will need to prove themselves and their ability.

But there will be one fixture in particular all those at Wakefield will be circling, and that’s the reunion against their nearest and dearest, the Castleford Tigers.

Although neither team would like to admit it, these bitter rivals will have undoubtedly missed each other in last year’s campaign but will finally be reconciled in Rivals Round at the DIY Kitchens Stadium, which is set to be an electric encounter and both teams out for blood.

Two weeks later, they will face each other at Magic Weekend in Newcastle, as Trinity eagerly anticipate their involvement in these events once more.

Squad list

1 Max Jowitt, 2 Lachlan Walmsley, 3 Cam Scott, 4 Corey Hall, 5 Tom Johnstone, 6 Jake Trueman, 7 Olly Russell, 8 Mike McMeeken, 9 Liam Hood, 10 Ky Rodwell, 11 Seth Nikotemo, 12 Josh Griffin, 13 Jay Pitts, 14 Tommy 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 Caius Faatili (Sunshine Coast Falcons)

First three games on SuperLeague+

SuperLeague+ is back for another HUGE year of live action, and this is when fans can watch Wakefield Trinity in the opening rounds (UK and Ireland) *…