Wakefield Trinity will be looking to do better in 2019, but here is how their 2018 campaign went.
2018 Club Record
Wins: 13
Losses: 16
Draws: 1
Competition Points: 27
2018 Player Achievements
Most Tries: Tom Johnstone (24)
Most Points: Ryan Hampshire (142)
Season Summary
Wakefield had rather a mixed season with them starting the Super League in a rich vein of form. Winning their opening four, Chris Chester’s men looked as if they could potentially despite playing fixtures against sides who were expected to struggle by many (Hull KR, Salford, Catalans and Huddersfield). This was then followed by five successive defeats which summed up their season. Trinity finished in 7th at the 23-round stage, three points above 9th positioned Leeds. The issue that many sides faced was that they were too far behind the top four with Wakefield included. They started the Super 8s eight points behind fourth and that effectively ruined any hope. However, the side did finish 5th after winning three of their final seven fixtures.
Trinity were affected this season with the injury to club captain, Danny Kirmond. The 33-year old suffered a knee injury and didn’t appear for the club after a home victory against Widnes in June. Kirmond signed a one year contract extension around two weeks before his injury and the side lacked leadership at certain points of the season.
One of the club’s signings for next season is Danny Brough. The former Giant played for Wakefield between 2008-2010 making 57 appearances for the club. Brough,35, signed a two-year deal said in an interview “I have a lot of unsettled business at Wakefield and I owe a lot to the fans after my previous spell,”. The halfback will be looking to regain form that saw him snatch the Man of Steel Award in 2013 and could have a huge impact with his kicking game complementing Jacob Miller’s attacking style of play.
NothingButLeague Player of the Season
Tom Johnstone is argued by many to be Wakefield’s player of the season. The 23-year-old had suffered injuries in previous years but was a real bright sign in their season. Johnstone finished second in the try scoring charts with 24 (Four behind Ben Barba) and he was rewarded with a first England appearance in a friendly against France, which he recorded a hat trick in only 27 minutes. Wakefield back in July handed him a new contract which is a two-year extension on the one he had meaning he is contracted till end of 2022.
2019 GAINS AND LOSSES
Gains
Danny Brough (Huddersfield Giants 2020), Craig Kopczak (Salford Red Devils 2019), George King (Warrington Wolves 2020), Ben Reynolds (Leigh Centurions 2020)
Losses
Liam Finn (Newcastle Thunder), Scott Grix (Huddersfield Giants)
https://nothingbutleague.com/2018/07/21/wakefield-winger-johnstone-signs-new-long-term-deal/
