Wakefield Trinity started the season brilliantly before they missed the playoffs. Here’s a look at their 2019 campaign.
Super League Record
Wins: 11
Losses: 18
Competition Points: 22
Super League: 9th
Challenge Cup: Quarter-finals
What was good about their season?
Wakefield were third in the table in early May, after a string of superb performances. Chris Chester’s men looked like serious play-off contenders and played some excellent rugby and proved on their day they can be a real force to be reckoned with.
Despite a miserable run of form curtailing Trinity’s season, their final day win at home to London Broncos showed they can perform when the pressure is on and more importantly, retained their Super League status for another season.
The club also dealt extremely well with another injury-plagued season that saw several of their key players missing at different times. A fully fit Trinity side in 2020 will hope to mount a serious push for the play-offs.
What was not so good about their season?
Losing Tom Johnstone to injury, so early in the season, was a massive blow to their play-off hopes. Suffering a second ACL injury in two years, Wakefield will hope he comes back stronger from yet another career-threatening injury.
Their lack of consistency. They slid right out of play-off contention after winning just three of their final 15 Super League matches and almost dropped out of the division entirely, if it wasn’t for their final day success against London.
A lack of progress. Having achieved a fifth-place finish in 2018, Trinity took a backwards step this season after sliding four places down the table. With better form and a more consistent line-up Wakefield will want to break back into the top-five next term.
Who was their best player in 2019?
Ryan Hampshire enjoyed an excellent campaign with Wakefield in 2019, bagging 14 tries as well as 14 try assists despite the club’s ninth-place finish in the table.
Hampshire’s versatility in the backs makes him a brilliant asset for any squad to have. Everyone at the club will be delighted Rocky put pen to paper on a new two-year deal last month having looked set to leave Trinity after initial contract negotiations broke down.
