Arona after Trinity charge
Wakefield prop Tinirau Arona says Trinity have the depth next season and competition for places to improve on their 2016 finish.
Wakefield have brought in Sam Williams, Mitch Allgood, Mason Caton-Brown, Keegan Hirst and Huddersfield trio Craig Huby, Kyle Wood and Scott Grix.
A number of players have left the club including Anthony Tupou, Craig Hall, Jason Walton, Scott Anderson, Jordan Tansey, Nick Scruton, Richard Owen, Stuart Howarth and Micka Simon.
Despite the turnover, Arona has been impressed by Trinity’s recruitment.
“I think the coaching staff have done a real good job with our recruitment this year, we did lose some big names from last season but we’ve replaced them with some real quality as well,” he said.
“so those boys have been working hard the last month or so and im excited to play beside each and every one of them.”
Arona knows he will have to be at his best to stay in Wakefield’s match-day 17 with the likes of Hirst, Huby, Allgood, David Fifita, Anthony England and Anthony Walker all pushing for front-row places.
“From day one we said we’ve got a pretty big pack and there’s only 17 players that can take to the field each week,” the New Zealand-born forward said.
“I think we’ve just got 30 players in our squad and each one of those players can have the potential to be one of those 17.
“So no one’s safe. You can’t really have one off game or one off day, everyone’s trying to do their best to play their part for the team and it’s good for the team.”
Wakefield surprised many by avoiding the Middle 8s last season and finishing eighth, also reaching the semi-finals of the Challenge Cup.
Injuries took a heavy toll on the club in the second half of the season and Arona believes they will be better equipped next year to deal with the rigours of Super League with improved depth.
“I don’t think we got a weekend off until that Challenge Cup final when we made the top four and lost to Warrington, he said.
“By that time the boys needed the rest and that Easter weekend playing three games in the space of eights days it took a lot out of every club.
“So its good we have depth in our squad and hopefully we can maintain the team week in week out for the upcoming season.”