A Star Player's Surgery Casts a Shadow Over Wakefield Trinity's Season Opener!
It's a tough start for Wakefield Trinity as their star winger, Tom Johnstone, has recently undergone a minor surgical procedure. This news comes directly from head coach Daryl Powell, who has provided an update on the injury status of several key players. Johnstone, a vital part of the team, will be sidelined for approximately two to three weeks.
But here's where it gets concerning: Johnstone heroically played through significant pain for England in the Ashes series, all while dealing with a hernia that required surgery. He had even completed his rehabilitation for this during the pre-season, with Powell himself noting that the 30-year-old was in peak form. However, during his recovery, a slight tear was discovered in his knee cartilage. Rather than risk him playing through further discomfort, the club has opted for surgery to ensure his long-term health.
Powell elaborated on the situation ahead of the club's Super League debut against Toulouse Olympique, explaining Johnstone's absence from the 21-man squad. "Tom was flying actually, and then his knee... he's got a slight tear in his cartilage that we were wondering, 'Do we try and push him through it, or do we just get it done?'" he stated. "He had a jab in there which didn't work, and then we decided to just get it done, so he's had a minor operation on it. He's probably two or three weeks, he's not too far away."
And this is the part most people miss... While Johnstone's absence is a blow, there's a silver lining for two other Wakefield Trinity players! Oliver Pratt and Ky Rodwell, who were also absent from the initial squad, are on track for a return in round two. Pratt suffered a severe dead leg in training a couple of weeks ago, which, despite initial scans showing he was okay, caused significant swelling. Rodwell, on the other hand, has also had an operation. Powell confirmed, "Ky Rodwell had an operation and both those two will be available for next week, so they're not long-termers."
Now, here's a situation that might raise an eyebrow or two. Powell also touched upon the potential impact of player partners being in the late stages of pregnancy. Two of the club's forwards, Tray Lolesio and Isaiah Vagana, have been awaiting the birth of their children. Lolesio's baby has arrived, while Vagana is still waiting. This could lead to scenarios similar to what happened with Matty Lees of St Helens in 2025, who had to be substituted at halftime due to his partner going into labour. Powell mentioned, "Tray and Isaiah have both been expecting babies. Tray’s baby has come, Isaiah’s hasn’t yet, so it’s one of those. I was talking to Isaiah about it last week saying how I’ve seen pretty much everything, so nothing is going to surprise me. He’s trained today and we’re all good and ready to go. We’ll wait and see and be flexible around it, let’s just see what happens."
Powell remains optimistic about the squad's depth, stating, "There are plenty of players putting their hand up to play, and a lot of players have had great pre-seasons. I think it's an outstanding squad, and I'm just looking forward to getting out there now and playing."
What do you think about players having to potentially miss games due to personal circumstances like this? Is it a fair trade-off for the demands of professional sport? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below!
