Wakefield Trinity head coach Daryl Powell has expressed confidence that several of his players could force their way into the England squad for the upcoming Ashes series against Australia later this year. The first Ashes series on home soil since 2003 is set to take place in October and November, and Powell is optimistic that his team will have representation.
“Mike McMeeken and Tom Johnstone are already in the squad, and we have a number of players capable of making the cut,” Powell said, referencing two of Wakefield’s current stars. However, Powell added that the season is still in its early stages, and some players, like Jake Trueman, have been sidelined by injuries. He emphasized the importance of consistency in performance, noting that players need to be consistently at their best in order to secure a spot in the international team. Despite this, Powell believes that several of his players have the potential to reach that level.
Powell acknowledged that while it is still too early to start seriously discussing individual international prospects, his players are certainly in the mix. However, he reiterated that the priority for his team remains their club form. “We need to focus on becoming more consistent and getting more games under our belt before talking about international selection,” Powell said.
Wakefield Trinity has been impressive on the road this season, maintaining a perfect away record. However, Powell’s side comes off the back of a narrow 16-12 loss to Hull FC, which he described as disappointing. The coach emphasized the need for improvement, saying, “We made too many errors last week. We have to tidy up our game and improve our completion rate.” He also warned that the upcoming match against the Leigh Leopards would be a tough challenge. Despite facing a strong opponent, Powell is optimistic about his team’s progress, noting that they have been competitive in nearly every game so far this season.
Looking ahead, Powell is hoping to see his team build on their positive performances and correct the errors that have held them back. “We are in a good place,” he added, “but we need to continue working hard and improving in key areas to keep applying pressure on our opponents.”
Additionally, Powell provided an update on player availability. Isaiah Vagana could make his return from a shoulder injury in tomorrow’s match, and Jake Trueman is expected to return from a back problem. Unfortunately, centre Corey Hall will miss out due to rib damage suffered in the previous game. Full-back Josh Rourke will continue in his role, while Max Jowitt remains sidelined with a leg injury.
As for Wakefield’s upcoming fixtures, they will face Leigh Leopards again next Friday in a Betfred Challenge Cup quarter-final. Powell indicated that his team would take it one game at a time and remain focused on preparing well for the challenges ahead. The coach emphasized that the approach to the two games against Leigh may differ, but the key will be to assess how the team performs in the first match and make adjustments accordingly.
The match against Leigh Leopards will kick off at 8pm on Friday, with Marcus Griffiths serving as the referee. Powell remains hopeful that his team will continue to battle hard and improve as the season progresses, with several players vying for spots on the national stage.