Smith wishes Featherstone well for 2016

Wakefield coach Brian Smith has praised Featherstone, after Rovers pushed his team all the way in a pre-season friendly at the weekend.

Trinity won the game 22-18, with a late try from Max Jowitt sealing the win at the Big Fella’s Stadium.

“To be fair, Featherstone were terrific,” Smith told reporters after the game.

“I thought they played really enthusiastically. I’m pleased for them.

“I hope it’s the start of a big season for Fev. We’d really like to see them do well.

“There’s a lot to be admired about this club, in the way that they’re set up and the passion that’s within the club.

“So I hope they do well, but that they don’t do as well as we do!”

Smith was encouraged by the performance of his team, who showed resilience and fitness to claw their way back from an 18-10 half-time deficit.

“I think the stand-out was probably Jay Walton, the left centre for us today” he said.

“He had some enormous carries for us. He’s a powerful unit and he’s very confident, and he’s very strong.

“So I think he’ll add a bit to us.

“He can play second row as well as centre.

“We’ve changed Joe Arundel around this season as well, we want him to play a bit of second row and centre as well.