Trialist Thomas Minns set to play for Wakefield in Boxing Day friendly
Centre Thomas Minns has been named in the Wakefield squad for their Boxing Day friendly at Leeds.
Minns, 27, recently joined Trinity on trial after Newcastle agreed to release him from his contract.
The former Leeds man is looking for a way back to Super League having previously played for Hull KR.
After spending the past two seasons with Featherstone, he had joined Championship side Thunder for 2022.
He is one of two trialists named in the 22-man squad by Willie Poching.
The other is Fijian John Davetanivalu, who has played rugby league for the army.
Davetanivalu, 27, has played rugby union for Wasps, Birmingham Moseley and London Scottish.
New signings feature
Also in the squad are new signings Corey Hall, Lee Gaskell, Sid Adebiyi, Liam Hood and Jai Whitbread.
Poching told the club’s official website: “The lads, as you’d expect, are really excited to get playing again.
“We are excited to see them play and do what they do best. The young lads especially are excited to get in front of a crowd and be on the pitch at Headingley and it will be something for them to remember.
“That in itself really gets me buzzing.”
Reserves players Charlie Abraham, Robbie Butterworth, Oliver Farrar and Kobe Poching are also included.
The squad will be captained by Jordan Crowther.
Leeds coach Richard Agar named his 22-man squad earlier in the week, including youngster Jack Sinfield.
MORE: Boxing Day rugby league: Leeds name strong squad for Wakefield clash
A strong squad has been named by the Rhinos, with new half-back pair Blake Austin and Aidan Sezer set to make their debuts.
It is one of two games to be played on Boxing Day, the other being Bradford’s clash with Halifax.
A third, between Batley and Dewsbury, has been postponed.
Wakefield squad: Abraham, Adebiyi, Arona, Ashurst, Aydin, Battye, Bowes, Butterworth, Crowther, Davetanivalu, Farrar, Gaskell, Hall, Hood, Kay, Thomas Minns, Murphy, Poching, Shaw, Tanginoa, Walker, Whitbread.
Leeds squad: Myler, Broadbent, Newman, Briscoe, Handley, Austin, Sezer, Oledzki, Leeming, Tetevano, Mellor, Bentley, Smith. Subs (from) Dwyer, Donaldson, Gannon, Thompson, Walters, Sinfield, O’Connor, Mustapha, Tindall.