Exclusive: Wakefield Trinity turn to Sean Long with Warrington Wolves link dismissed
Sean Long could be heading to Wakefield Trinity.
Sean Long will not be moving to Warrington with Sam Burgess and is instead being lined up to join Wakefield’s coaching staff.
Love Rugby League understands that interest from relegation-threatened Trinity is one of many offers already received by the former Great Britain international since his shock sacking by Championship leaders Featherstone on Monday.
Ironically the job as Mark Applegarth’s number two was vacated by James Ford, who has now been appointed by Featherstone to spearhead their promotion charge following Long’s departure.
Former Wakefield favourite Danny Kirmond appears to have been earmarked for the Trinity job in what would be a popular return to Belle Vue, but he is contracted as a player with York for the remainder of the season.
Long is available immediately after leaving Rovers by “mutual agreement” after their surprise defeat at Halifax in what was just their second loss of the season. Featherstone remain eight points clear at the top and Long’s stock has risen since his appointment at the start of the season.
Sean Long has received multiple offers since leaving Featherstone, but not Warrington
Love Rugby League understands that Long has received multiple offers this week since leaving Post Office Road, with Wakefield one of them.
However a widely-reported link to Warrington Wolves is wide of the mark, with Long having held no discussions about moving to the Halliwell Jones Stadium as assistant to new head coach Sam Burgess.
The timing of Warrington announcing Burgess in the top job, just hours after Long’s sacking, led many to believe the two stories were linked. But Long has received no contact from the Wolves and it remains unclear from where the rumour first surfaced.
Warrington already have their own man in place in Gary Chambers, who will become Director of Rugby next season, with assistant Richard Marshall remaining on the coaching staff.
As for Wakefield, having briefly moved off the foot of the Super League table thanks to Castleford’s defeat against Huddersfield that cost Andy Last his job, they are now bottom again on points difference ahead of next Friday’s derby that could go a long way to deciding relegation.