The Morning After: Wakefield’s worst start to a Super League season continues
Picture by John Clifton/SWpix.com.
The Morning After looks at three talking points from the latest Super League action.
Woeful Wakefield
Wakefield’s worst start to a Super League season continues following their 16-4 defeat to Castleford – the club’s eighth straight defeat.
The side find themselves four points adrift at the foot of the Super League table following their Rivals Round clash at the Mend-A-Hose Jungle.
Tigers skipper Paul McShane opened the scoring at home, while winger Greg Eden crossed either side of half-time.
Mark Applegarth has endured a tough start to his head coaching career with Wakefield, not helped by the handful of injuries his side have copped including to the likes of Lewis Murphy, Max Jowitt and Lee Gaskell.
Trinity did welcome back ex-NRL duo Kevin Proctor and Renouf Atoni, while hooker Liam Hood returned from his head injury against Castleford. But the trio remained on the wrong side of the score, with a home clash with Leigh up next.
Every cloud
Wakefield did at least avoid breaking a new Super League record thanks to a try from Samisoni Langi.
Ahead of the clash, the side had been nilled four times in Super League against Wigan, Huddersfield, Leeds and St Helens.
They equal the record alongside Celtic Crusaders (2009), but at least prevented making even more history thanks to a try from France international and centre Langi in the second half.
The Belle Vue outfit have only crossed for eight tries so far in 2023 – four of them in the opening game against Catalans in the 38-24 defeat.
It’s a real worry for the side, and one ex-England half-back Kevin Brown has recently assessed with a brutal admission.
Relieved Tigers
It’s a relief for Castleford Tigers, who are now on level points with Tony Smith’s Hull FC – although they host Hull KR later today at the MKM Stadium, live on Sky Sports.
Interim head coach Andy Last has now led the side to two wins so far in 2023 following the departure of Lee Radford, while they came close against Catalans last week in Perpignan with a 22-18 score.
A special mention must go to Jack Broadbent, who helped set up the side’s first try with a slick side-step to break Wakefield’s defence.
The former Leeds outside-back has featured in the halves twice now this season in replacement of Gareth Widdop, and has impressed in his Castleford career so far.
Castleford’s remaining games in April include a trip to Salford before hosting Hull KR.
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