Wakefield boss confirms David Fifita interest as forward suffers suspected broken arm 

After enduring their 13th straight defeat of the Super League season, Wakefield boss Mark Applegarth has admitted his interest in bringing forward David Fifita back to the club.

Fifita, now 33, made 141 appearances for Trinity but left the club at the conclusion of the 2022 season to return to Australia.

The prop forward initially made the move midway through the 2016 season from Cronulla Sharks.

Applegarth admits his addition would give the side a much-needed boost, with Kelepi Tanginoa suffering a suspected broken arm in the 36-6 defeat to Catalans in Perpignan in Round 13.

Tanginoa, 29, had only returned from injury for the first time since Round Two to feature against Warrington earlier in May, and was only making his fourth appearance of the season in France. 

Applegarth admits David Fifita interest

“We are looking into it, he would be an incredible boost for our squad,” Applegarth said on Fifita. 

“We’re down on numbers and it looks like Kelepi Tanginoa has broken his arm so we really need the numbers.”

Ex-Wakefield winger Tom Johnstone continued his fine debut season with Catalans by bagging a brace against his former club.

It takes his try-scoring tally to 14 for the season, while Arthur Mourgue and Cesar Rouge crossed for four-pointers, alongside Tanguy Zenon’s first try for the club. 

Liam Kay scored Wakefield’s only try in the second half, with the side currently holding the worst attacking record in the competition. 

Applegarth added: “We were our own worst enemies at times. We came up with 18 errors in that game, it gave us 102 extra tackles to make.

“You won’t win a match against Catalans like that.

“But you’ve got to have self-belief and we thought we could come here and win tonight and after that first 20 minutes it was beginning to show on the field.

“There’s only us that can get us out of this situation.

“It stings, it hurts and there are a lot of dejected bodies in that dressing room and it’s my job to pick them up and get them back out there against Leigh next week.”

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