For all those already writing off Wakefield, rookie boss Mark Applegarth says: “I’ve heard it all before.”
Trinity are favourites for the Super League drop in 2023 with even promoted Leigh better fancied to stay up. They have lost star players such as Jacob Miller, Tom Johnstone and David Fifita and have a severely limited playing budget. At just 38, Applegarth is also the top-flight’s youngest head coach after being promoted from assistant following Willie Poching’s shock September axing.
But ever since going up in 1999, the West Yorkshire club has often flirted with danger and always survived. On all the negative talk, Applegarth admitted: “It’s something I had even when I played at Wakefield and we’ve heard it ever since. But it’s completely irrelevant. I’m not being disrespectful but it’s white noise to us. We control what we can control.
“That’s making sure we have well-planned sessions, have a certain intensity and we focus on that. What people write and say about us, that’s the beauty of sport isn’t it? Everyone is entitled to their opinion but it’s definitely no skin off my back. And I’m sure it’s the same for the players.”
Applegarth, who played for his hometown club from 2004 to 2008, knows Trinity inside out having worked with many of their current players when he was head of youth. He’s relished stepping up to the top job and, with new recruits like Catalans centre Samisoni Langi and NRL prop Renouf Atoni, insisted: “I’m really happy with the team we’ve got. All the new signings have been great and added their own leadership into that playing group.
“With a few of the characters who left last year, it’s been a good opportunity for others to step up and start moulding that team how we want it. We’re refining how we want to play and testing different structures and systems. The players can see we’ve put a lot of thought into it which is how you get buy-in.”
And Applegarth is getting used to the 24/7 pressures of being a head coach. He said: “I was really glad I’d done the head of youth stint as that was 24/7 as well in a different sort of context. It is tough but it’s enjoyable and we’re all looking forward to our round one game against Catalans next month.”
* Samoa hooker Danny Levi, released by Huddersfield on compassionate grounds in October, has signed a two-year deal with Canberra Raiders.
