There will be a lot of focus on the likes of Pratt, Hall and Scott etc I would thought to help them reach the next level of their capabilities. That seems to be a focus of the back room. Improving players both physically and mentally seems high up on the agenda.

Probably the two most pleasing things for me this season have been the defence (both resilience and structure) and the fitness (some players look fitter than they did in SL).

Whatever they are doing I hope they keep up and improve it more!

The centre isn't alongside him.
It's his winger and halfback and I think he'll be fine.

I seem to remember Shenton being in a similar position when they went down.
He got used to his game in Championship and then took Super League by storm.

Was told at the match that we've signed Rourke but had agreed with London Bronchials not to announce it until the end of their season. If true I expect he will be the next to be unveiled as a Trinity player, probably fairly soon

Having my doubts about Walmsley's future. Was very hit and miss yesterday which compounded those thoughts.

What makes you say that?

Was that while he was covering the kick through well to prevent a try? The good yardage on carries, the break away to send Pratt in for a try?

Or was it because he dropped one singular ball through the game. That was the only miss yesterday but I’m curious to see what else you saw as a miss in his performance?

I thought he was good at fullback yesterday. Let’s also not forget he’s going to most likely be playing on the wing next season.

Your been way too harsh imo and I’m not sure how you have picked anyone out there, never mind Walmsley.

Dropped two high balls but other than that he looks to be getting better everytime he plays there. Brings more of a running threat than Jowitt. More than adequate as a stand in.

I thought it was Booth who dropped two and Walmsley one?

But the point remains that Walmsley had a pretty good game so I’m confused as to how someone has seen that and has clearly concerns over Walmsley future. Seems a bit extreme.

Doubts about his future.
Well he's signed up so his future is with Wakefield for now.

To be pedantic Trojan I think he dropped 2 but I agree with what you are saying.
He's covering a position he's unlikely to play after this season.
The rest of his game was bang on yesterday.

Whether he'll be a success in SL remains to be seen but it will be with Wakefield and it will be on the wing.

Rourkw will be a great signing puts pressure on virtually all the outside backs , as regards walmsley he’s one of only two wingers we have signed for 2025 so can’t really see an issue if he makes a couple of errors whilst filling in. Assuming the rourke rumour is true he’d be our third or even fourth choice full back next year.

Fair enough if it was two but that’s also unusual having seen a lot of his games this season.

Nobody does know for sure how he will go absolutely. I guess that some fans have more apprehension than others regards Walmsley but I think from the strides he’s made he has set himself up as well as he can do.

Unless we sign another winger he is the best option we have for right wing next season. I’m sure the club and himself will give him the best chance to succeed. Afterall I think that SL was his aim and he’s done it the hard way going up divisions (assuming we get there).

I do wish he would have played more wing this season but needs must and he’s been invaluable switching to full back so that Jowitt can switch to halfback. A move that probably has improved both players skill sets and versitality.

I agree. He's got a lot going for him.
He'll take some time getting used to Super League. There are some big boys on the wing and he won't be able to just rely on speed alone as they are fast too.
Switching to FB has I think given him more range to his game. His passing is better and his evasive running is better. Both will help him when he's back on the wing.

I know I keep repeating this but my source told me again last week that we have definitely signed Matty Russell

Totally agree. I think that’s one of the most important points that our backs have to be prepared for. There are bigger, stronger and faster opponents on the edges next season. Their physical demand will increase. That said I’m positive with the back room team we have they will prepare the players for this.

Regards tackling and Walmsley. I thought the start of the season we were getting a winger who struggled to tackle but was good in attack. Pretty much all year I’ve been impressed by his defensive side. He really doesn’t miss any and certainly makes his tackles.


Really looking forward to seeing how some of these players transition.

Had a conversation about Rodwell yesterday. He will go well in SL but he will come up against some bigger and stronger forwards too so that will be an interesting test for him.

I find he can sometimes be a weak spot at full back but good on the wing. One of the first things you learn when playing rugby is to not let the ball bounce, he seems to sometimes forget this and a full back can't do that. He also didn't look comfortable under a high ball yesterday. I was surprised Booth didn't play FB yesterday after his cracking game there previously.

But that's the point. He isn't a full back.

And Booth playing full back meant changing spine again when we were already changing the others.
It was fine for Barrow.
Some you players got a good test and we still won easily.

In the backline Pratt and Walmesly are the only ones without SL experience.
I think Pratt is ready to take AL by storm I really do.
Walmesley we'll see but at worst he'll be average. He's not a weak link.

The problem for Walmely is that he is seldom selected for his obvious wing position. If we take yesterday’s team we had a winger at FB, a centre on the wing, a FB/ centre in the halves and a fullback at scrum half.

I personally like the way we have quality players able to play in other positions and not just as 'cover' but to a very good standard eg Jowitt, Walmsley, Booth and now Pratt on the wing !
Augers well for the future!

I think we all know it’s because Olpherts is a favourite of Powells.

After Wembley and Walmsley blitzing up to 20+ try’s and looking very potent at left wing Olpherts was shoehorned in without much reasoning from right to left.

Nothing against Olpherts as he’s done a good job this season for us but he was doing a perfectly good job on the right (as he did vs Barrow) so it just seemed very odd that Olpherts sealed that position down after Wembley.

Again I’m happy to have Olpherts and I was the first to champion his signing across many platforms when he signed with a number of fans not keen on his signing and defended him after his Batley away game too. I still think he’s a good championship winger but I really don’t get how he’s been immovable from the left wing this year when he was playing good on the right and Walmsley on left.

Only thing I can think it may be is getting experience on the right wing with an eye on next season. If it’s that fair enough I guess.

Because he makes more yardage out of the back than anyone else.

Which was the case on right wing also?

I'm not saying he's right but that's why he likes Derrell

I know that but I wasn’t questioning why he’s liked or why he was brought in. That’s the whole reason he was brought in and Franco was frozen out. Nobody banged the drum for Olpherts more than me early days and I still do for his yardage carried out the back.

It was just why after playing right wing that post Wembley Olpherts was shoehorned to the left. Some ocassions Walmsley being benched rather than favoured for right wing.

Not that it really matters now though. I just never really understood that.

Injuries to halves, Jowitt moving to 6/7, Walmsley being the more versatile of the two, all contributed to him losing his left wing spot. He's not playing there next season (injury to Johnstone permitting) so perhaps Powell was trying him out in other positions.

I think that's exactly it Trojan - Walmsley will be on the right next year so think Powell's playing him there unless covering at full back. For what it's worth I've not loved Walmsley at full back - his positional sense is pretty good, and he's obviously a real threat pushing on early plays. But I'm not as convinced with his ball playing and short kicking game, which gets called on a lot in SL. No dramas this year, but delighted Rourke's coming in to provide cover for Jowitt. We haven't really had a second full back since Alex Walker, and that stung us last year particularly. Not sure Walker would have made a huge difference to the scorelines, mind.