Big blow as Wakefield reveal more on injured trio
Photo: Allan McKenzie/SWpix
Wakefield coach Mark Applegarth has confirmed they will be without full-back Max Jowitt for up to three months after he suffered a freak injury in training.
Jowitt has undergone surgery on an ankle injury he sustained whilst in captain’s run ahead of their 60-0 defeat at Wigan last week.
Applegarth said: “It was a bit of a freak injury actually. We were on our team run last Thursday and about halfway through that he tripped up. There didn’t look anything in it, he just caught someones boot, but he had to have surgery on Monday.
“We are looking at two to three months for Max. That’s a big blow for us because he showed against Catalans that he was looking really sharp. I was looking forward to seeing him show people what we can do this year.”
Tanginoa blow
Star forward Kelepi Tanginoa, meanwhile, will be sidelined for a few more rounds after tweaking a hamstring in their loss at Wigan.
Applegarth said: “We had just got Kelepi back from a hamstring injury. But in the Wigan game, after 30 seconds, he had a tweak on his other hamstring.
“I think we are looking at another few weeks for Kelepi. They are big blows for us because they are key players but it is just part and parcel of the game. Rugby players are going to get injured playing rugby so you just have to deal with it and move on. It creates opportunities for a few others in our squad to step up and show what they can do.”
Lyne latest
England international Reece Lyne didn’t feature last week due to a medical issue.
Applegarth provided the latest: “It is a medical issue as we’ve already released. We are still investigating it and making sure everything is right. As soon as I can give some more info on that, I will make sure its shared.
“I’ve got no real more info on it than we’ve already released. I don’t want to crystal ball it but hopefully a week or two, then we should be able to give a lot more clarity.”
Wakefield hand opportunity to Lee Kershaw
Applegarth revealed he will make a couple of changes to his squad for Friday’s home clash with Huddersfield after their hammering at Wigan.
Lee Kershaw will come in to replace Tom Lineham, who has not been included in Applegarth’s squad.
The Trinity coach said: “We e had 60-0 put on us and I said after the game that we can’t be happy with that.
“It’s definitely something that we aren’t happy with. Naturally there are going to be changes in the squad after that 60.
“With the depth we’ve got in our wingers, I think it was important that we created an opportunity for Lee Kershaw to show what we can do. He has been waiting patiently in the wings and has been training really well and looking for his opportunity.
“And if you don’t get an opportunity after a performance like last week, then I wouldn’t be able to look him in the eye.
“That’s part and parcel of professional sport, players know they need to be performing and that’s what drives them on. Lee now has the opportunity to show what he can do tomorrow night.”
Wakefield are still searching their first win of the campaign after losing to Catalans and Wigan in the opening rounds.
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