Wakefield Trinity Wildcats
Encyclopedia
Wakefield Trinity Wildcats are a professional rugby league
club that plays in the European Super League
and is based in Wakefield
. They achieved promotion in 1999 and have remained in the League since. They are known to their fans as 'Wakey', 'Trinity', 'Wildcats', or historically 'The Dreadnoughts'. Their main rivalry is with Castleford
but they also have rivalries with Huddersfield
, Leeds
and Featherstone Rovers
.
Wakefield Trinity is also one of the original twenty-two rugby clubs that formed the Northern Rugby Football Union
in 1895, making them one of the world's first rugby league clubs.
If the pre-war years were austere then the post-war period was bright and bullish for the Dreadnoughts. The first Wembley final after the war produced a return to winning ways as Trinity, with names such as Billy Stott, Herbert Goodfellow and Mick Exley, pipped Wigan to the Cup 12-13.
The club was not destined to return to Wembley until 1960 and had to slake its thirst for silverware on two Yorkshire Cup and two Yorkshire League victories in the 1950′s. Wakefield returned to Wembley emphatically with a record 38-5 win v Hull under the guidance of coach Ken Traill and loose forward Derek "Rocky" Turner. Wakefield won their third Challenge Cup victory two years later in 1962, running out 12-6 winners v Huddersfield.
The successful defence of the Cup the next year iced a spectacular period in the club's history with three Wembley titles in four years. Further renown was arrested due to two Championship Final defeats in 1960 and 1962 v Wigan and Huddersfield respectively. One of Trinity's great servants, centre Neil Fox, who scored a record 6,220 points in his 23 year career (19 with Wakefield) was coming to prominence, however, in Trinity's up and coming side.
The club were victorious in a dour 1962 Challenge Cup win over Huddersfield although the Fartowners went on to deny them the double a few days later in the Championship final. With a victorious defence of the Cup in 1963, their fifth Challenge Cup title, Wakefield had still not been able to achieve the league championship title. The Holy Grail would be achieved in the 1966-67 season when a seasoned, Harold Poynton led side that included Neil and Don Fox, Gary Cooper and Ray Owen, defeated Saints in a replay. They repeated the title feat the following year v Hull KR but were again denied the double when Leeds defeated them in the 1968 'water splash' final at Wembley.
in 1879.
Prior to schism of 1895 which led to the formation of the Northern Rugby Union, Wakefield Trinity participated nine times in thirteen years in the final of the Yorkshire Cup
(T'owd Tin Pot), a trophy that is nowadays contested solely by rugby union clubs.
They were one of the initial 22 clubs to form the Northern Union
after the acrimonious split from the Rugby Football Union
in 1895.
Belle Vue
was purchased in 1895, in order to provide a permanent base for the Trinity. The money was provided by the Wakefield Athletic Club, and was also initially used for cycling
and athletics
competitions.
Trinity won the Northern Union Challenge Cup
for the first time in 1909, beating Hull 17–0 at Headingley
. The corresponding 1914 final saw the result reversed, with Hull winning 6–0.
Jonty Parkin
signed for Wakefield Trinity as a 17-year-old in 1913. In a quiet time for Trinity, they won only one Yorkshire Cup (in 1924–25 against Batley
) and lost four Yorkshire Cups.
Parkin decided he wanted to leave in 1930, at the age of thirty-four, and he was put on the transfer list at £100. Hull Kingston Rovers
would not find the money; so Parkin paid the fee himself to secure his release. The game's bylaws were adjusted shortly afterwards, so that no player could ever do that again.
On Saturday 27 October 1934, Leeds
and Wakefield Trinity met in the final of the Yorkshire Cup at Crown Flatt
, Dewsbury
. The match ended in a 5–5 draw. Four days later the two clubs drew again, with Leeds
eventually lifting the trophy after a second replay, the only occasion it took three attempts to settle a Yorkshire Cup Final. A total of 52,402 spectators watched the three games.
In 1947 Wakefield Trinity centre Frank Townsend was fatally injured in a match at Post Office Road, Featherstone
.
met Wakefield Trinity in the final of the Yorkshire Cup held at Thrum Hall
, Halifax
. Wakefield began the match as favourites, they had lost only one of thirteen matches thus far in the season. However, Bradford won 5–2 and lifted the Yorkshire Cup for the fourth time in six seasons. The first Wembley final after the war produced a return to winning ways as Trinity, with names such as James "Jim" Croston
and Billy Stott
, pipped Wigan to the Cup 13–12.
On Saturday 27 October 1951 25,495 were at Fartown, Huddersfield to see Wakefield Trinity defeat Keighley
17–3 in the Yorkshire Cup Final. The club was not destined to return to Wembley until 1960 and had to slake its thirst for silverware on two Yorkshire Cup and two Yorkshire League victories in the 1950s. Trinity featured in the first league match to be broadcast on British television, a clash with Wigan
at Central Park
on 12 January 1952.
Trinity were runners-up in the league championship in 1959–60, losing in the Championship Final against Wigan.
Wakefield Trinity beat Huddersfield
16–10 in the 1960 Yorkshire Cup
final at Headingley, Leeds
on 29 October 1960.
Wakefield returned to Wembley emphatically with a record 38–5 win v Hull under the guidance of coach Ken Traill
and loose forward Derek 'Rocky' Turner
.
Wakefield won their third Challenge Cup
victory in 1962, running out 12–6 winners against Huddersfield
. Many of the scenes from the film This Sporting Life
were filmed at the Belle Vue
during Wakefield's third round Challenge Cup
match against Wigan. The club were victorious in a dour 1962 Challenge Cup
win over Huddersfield although the Fartowners went on to deny them the double a few days later in the Championship final at Odsal Stadium
, Bradford
. Wakefield also won the Yorkshire Cup final of 1961–62 and the Yorkshire League of 1961–62.
Wakefield Trinity was invited to visit South Africa
during June and July 1962. Neil Fox
, Harold Poynton
, Gerry Round, Derek 'Rocky' Turner
and Jack Wilkinson
, were unable to accompany the team on the six-match tour, as they were in Australia
with the GB tourists. Wakefield Trinity’s Chairman Stuart Hadfield was also touring with the national team as Great Britain manager. Trinity therefore added four South African players who were playing for British clubs at that time to their squad. They were Fred Griffiths
(Wigan
), Tom van Vollenhoven
(St Helens), Wilf Rosenberg
(Hull) and Edward "Ted" Brophy (Leigh
). Wakefield had three South Africans of their own in the squad in Alan Skene
, Jan Prinsloo
and Colin Greenwood, with the rest of the party made up of Frederick "Fred" Smith
, Kenneth "Ken" Hirst
, Kenneth "Ken" Rollin
, Keith Holliday
, Dennis Williamson
, Milan Kosanović
, Geoffrey "Geoff" Oakes
, Brian Briggs
, Albert 'Budgie' Firth
and Don Vines
. It was some squad so, not surprisingly; they were comfortable winners of all six matches. The tour opened on Saturday 30 June 1962 at Milner Park, Johannesburg, where the local Johannesburg Celtic club were overpowered by 52 points to 6.
Despite winning the Challenge Cup
for a fifth time in 1963, Wakefield had still not been able to secure the league championship title. The Holy Grail would be achieved in the 1966–67 season when the experienced Harold Poynton
led a powerful side, which included Neil Fox
, Don Fox
, Gary Cooper
and Ray Owen
, to victory over St Helens in a replay of the championship final. They repeated the title feat the following year against Hull KR
but were again denied the double when Leeds defeated them in the 1968 'water splash' final at Wembley, a match played during a downpour that saturated the pitch. The game produced the most dramatic of finishes, when Man-of-the-Match, Don Fox
had a conversion to win it for Wakefield, but missed it to leave Leeds 11–10 winners.
Trinity were crowned Champions for the only time in successive seasons – 1966–67 and 1967–68. Wakefield Trinity beat St Helens 21–9 in the 1967 Rugby Football League Championship final at Station Road, Swinton on 10 May 1967, and won the Harry Sunderland Trophy
in the 17–10 victory over Hull in the 1968 Rugby Football League Championship final at Headingley on 4 May 1968.
Wakefield absorbed a number of different coaches at the helm in subsequent years but did not return to Wembley until William "Bill" Kirkbride's talented charges fell 12–3 to Widnes
in 1979 in front of nearly 100,000 fans.
Derek Turner was Head Coach for Wakefield Trinity from July 1983 until February 1984. In December 1985, Wakefield did a deal with the local council to enable them to continue at Belle Vue. Five council delegates joined Wakefields's board giving them the majority vote.
The ensuing decline was temporarily halted when Wally Lewis
signed up for a brief spell with the club, playing at Stand-off. But Trinity continued to fluctuate between the two divisions.
Former player David Topliss
stabilised the Dreadnoughts' ship in 1987. He won immediate promotion in 1988 back to the First Division, retiring as a player after the final match of the campaign. He remained at Wakefield purely as a coach and consolidated the club's top tier status by acquiring the services of seasoned internationals like Stephen "Steve" Ella
, new captain Mark Graham
, Brian Jackson
as well as now former Wildcats' coach Andrew "Andy" Kelly
and later John Harbin
.
Wakefield escaped a threat of closure by forming their first ever board of directors in August 1992. Topliss stepped down as coach to concentrate on his business. David Hobbs joined Wakefield Trinity as coach in May 1994. He then went to Halifax
as Director of Football in January 1995.
season and changed from a winter to a summer season. When the Rupert Murdoch
-funded Super League
competition has been proposed, part of the deal was that some traditional clubs would merge. Wakefield were down to merge with Castleford
and Featherstone Rovers
to form a new club, Calder, which would compete in the newly formed Super League. Although Wakefield voted to merge, the other clubs refused to do so; Wakefield finished below the cut-off point of 10th in the existing top flight and were excluded from the new Super League. As the sport in Britain entered a new era, it would be three years before Wakefield rose again to the top level of the game.
Under coach Andrew "Andy" Kelly
, Wakefield earned their place in the top flight on the back of their controversial victory over Featherstone Rovers in the inaugural Division One Grand Final in 1998. Wakefield adopted the "Wildcats" nickname in 1998: the year they entered Super League, having won promotion from the first division.
Wakefield put together a startling series of results early in the 1999 season, beating some of the most fancied sides and ensuring early in the campaign that they would be safe. The club invested heavily in newcomers.
John Harbin
was the coach of Wakefield between October 2000 and October 2001, Wakefield's final game of the 2001 season was a relegation battle with Salford
with Wakefield condemning Huddersfield
to relegation. He decided to leave the club at the end of 2001.
Peter Roe was appointed Head Coach in October 2001. After years of struggling to keep up with the Super League pace which saw Trinity finish next to bottom on most of their attempts they finally got around to making headway up the league. Peter Roe was sacked in July 2002 and was replaced by his assistant Shane McNally
. With Adrian Vowles
as his co-coach the pair guided Trinity to their first-ever SL play-off position, finishing in 6th place.
In 2004 after a slow start to the season Trinity finished stronger than any other team in the competition giving their fans some hope of a little glory at the club which had been missing for too long. Away at the KC Stadium
in Hull
Trinity produced a remarkable performance and managed to beat Hull despite having 2 men sin-binned
.
The semis saw a visit to Wigan and there was real hope in the camp that Wakefield would make the elimination final play off and all looked to be going that way when Trinity led 14–0 but some strange decisions went the way of the Wiganers so it wasn't yet to be but Wakefield fans will look back on these 2 games with fondness for many years, The away support was outstanding for both efforts.
Shane McNally
was sacked in June 2005 after a disappointing start to the season. Tony Smith took over as caretaker coach from Shane McNally and led Trinity to survival in 2005 but following four straight defeats which saw Wakefield drop into the relegation zone Smith was sacked on Monday, 17 July 2006. Smith's last game in charge was a 26–20 defeat against Huddersfield, a match in which his side squandered a 20-point lead – one of several occasions this season Trinity have collapsed in the second half.
On 24 July 2006, Wakefield announced former Hull coach John Kear
as Head Coach until the end of the season.
Trinity defeated their arch-rivals Castleford
by 29–17 at Belle Vue
on Saturday 16 September 2006 to preserve their Super League status in an epic match which saw both teams leading for spells of the game. Had Wakefield not won the match they would have been relegated. Instead, their win, dubbed as "The Battle of Belle Vue" sent Castleford down to the National League One. The match was attended by a sell out crowd of 11,000.
In November 2006 the Wakefield Metropolitan District Council set out plans for a new sporting village to be built at Thornes Park that would incorporate a new stadium to be used by Trinity, along with gymnastics and boxing facilities and swimming pools. The council published results of a feasibility study on 12 September 2008, into the project and which concluded that it is not feasible for a new stadium at Thornes Park.
This now leaves Wakefield Trinity in a precarious position – Belle Vue
is not suitable for the long-term future, and a new stadium is crucial to their Super League survival. In 2009 a new stadium in Stanley was proposed with planning permission expected to be applied for in October 2009.
On 22 July 2008 Rugby Football League
awarded Trinity with a Super League licence for the 3 seasons from 2009 to 2012. They had been widely tipped as one of the existing Super League clubs (along with Castleford
) who were most at risk of missing out on one of the new licences.
The 2009 season was Wakefield's best-ever Super League season with the club finishing 5th on 32 points and qualifying for a home tie in the end of season play-offs.
2010 was a disappointment to the club, after losing Shane Tronc, Terry Newton and Danny Brough, and despite bringing in Danny Kirkmond, Charlie Leaeno and Julien Rinaldi, they still finished in 10th position- 5 lower than the 2009 season.
In February 2011, the club entered administration to avoid a winding up petition
from HMRC over £300,000 in unpaid taxes.
Former Hull FC coach Richard Agar is set to become Wakefield Trinity's head coach before the start of the 2012, Super League XVII season, on a three year deal.
of 1895 which led to the formation of the Northern Rugby Union
, Wakefield Trinity participated in the final of the Yorkshire Cup
(T'owd Tin Pot) nine times in thirteen years, a trophy that nowadays only rugby union
clubs compete for.
, to the south of Wakefield city centre.
The club announced plans to build a brand new 12,000 seat stadium in near,by Thornes Park, but these were rejected by the local council in September 2008 due to likelihood of failing to meet either the £60m budget and the 2012 deadline. New plans for a 12,000 seater stadium near junction 30 of the M62 motorway
, in Stanley
, were unveiled in April 2009, with the development undertaken by Yorkcourt Properties and a community trust, chaired by former Rugby Football League
chairman Sir Rodney Walker.
The 22nd October 2010 has been set for Wakefield Council to review the outline planning permission application of the Newmarket Lane (or Junction 30: Wakefield) development.
The wider development, which includes warehousing and distribution units, is estimated to boost the economy of the district by 4% (upon completion in 2014).
Wakefield College have also committed to the site. The same outline application paves the way for a regional centre for sporting excellence consisting of education facilities, classrooms/lecture theatre, state of the art gym and training facilities, and an indoor full size training pitch. More details are to be unveiled on the evening 12 October 2010, ahead of the application review 10 days later.
The meeting was held at Wakefield County Hall on 22 October 2010, Wakefield council unanimously voted in favour of the development; and saw the educational, sporting and economical benefits of the scheme as "important in equal measure".
Wildcats Chief Executive James Elston said: “This is fantastic news and is the biggest day in the clubs modern history. We are still aware that we have some boxes to tick but now we can move onwards and upwards. I would like to thank all supporters, players and staff who spent three hours outside showing their support for the club this morning and also to Wakefield Council’.
On 14 December 2010 the Secretary of State ruled that the application should be referred meaning a substantial delay in the planning process and Wakefield seeking a new home in 2011 after the sale of their existing Belle Vue ground.
Outs
Rugby league
Rugby league football, usually called rugby league, is a full contact sport played by two teams of thirteen players on a rectangular grass field. One of the two codes of rugby football, it originated in England in 1895 by a split from Rugby Football Union over paying players...
club that plays in the European Super League
Super League
Super League is the top-level professional rugby league football club competition in Europe. As a result of sponsorship from engage Mutual Assurance the competition is currently officially known as the engage Super League. The League features fourteen teams: thirteen from England and one from...
and is based in Wakefield
Wakefield
Wakefield is the main settlement and administrative centre of the City of Wakefield, a metropolitan district of West Yorkshire, England. Located by the River Calder on the eastern edge of the Pennines, the urban area is and had a population of 76,886 in 2001....
. They achieved promotion in 1999 and have remained in the League since. They are known to their fans as 'Wakey', 'Trinity', 'Wildcats', or historically 'The Dreadnoughts'. Their main rivalry is with Castleford
Castleford Tigers
Castleford Tigers are a professional rugby league club based in Castleford in West Yorkshire, England. They participate in the professional European competition Super League. They are sometimes known as 'Cas', 'Cas Tigers', 'Classy Cas' or the 'Black & Amber'...
but they also have rivalries with Huddersfield
Huddersfield Giants
Huddersfield Giants are a professional rugby league club from Huddersfield, West Yorkshire who play in the European Super League competition. They play their home games at the Galpharm Stadium which is shared with Huddersfield Town F.C....
, Leeds
Leeds Rhinos
Leeds Rhinos is an English professional rugby league football club based in Leeds, West Yorkshire. The club won the 2011 Super League and became the most successful club in the Super League era, beating St Helens 32-16 on 8th October 2011. Formed in 1890, Leeds competes in Europe's Super League...
and Featherstone Rovers
Featherstone Rovers
Featherstone Rovers are a semi-professional rugby league club, based in Featherstone, West Yorkshire, England. They currently play in the Championship. The Rovers are one of the last vestiges of "small town teams" that were once common in rugby league during the early twentieth century...
.
Wakefield Trinity is also one of the original twenty-two rugby clubs that formed the Northern Rugby Football Union
Rugby Football League
The Rugby Football League is the governing body for professional rugby league football in England. Based at Red Hall in Leeds, it administers the England national rugby league team, the Challenge Cup, Super League and the Rugby League Championships...
in 1895, making them one of the world's first rugby league clubs.
History
Trinity won the Northern Union Challenge Cup for the first time in 1909, beating Hull 17-0 at Headingley. The corresponding 1914 final saw the result reversed, with Hull winning 6-0, and proved to be an accurate guide to the teams pre-war endeavours, as Trinity lost four Yorkshire Cups in the thirties with a side that included club stalwart Jonathon Parkin.If the pre-war years were austere then the post-war period was bright and bullish for the Dreadnoughts. The first Wembley final after the war produced a return to winning ways as Trinity, with names such as Billy Stott, Herbert Goodfellow and Mick Exley, pipped Wigan to the Cup 12-13.
The club was not destined to return to Wembley until 1960 and had to slake its thirst for silverware on two Yorkshire Cup and two Yorkshire League victories in the 1950′s. Wakefield returned to Wembley emphatically with a record 38-5 win v Hull under the guidance of coach Ken Traill and loose forward Derek "Rocky" Turner. Wakefield won their third Challenge Cup victory two years later in 1962, running out 12-6 winners v Huddersfield.
The successful defence of the Cup the next year iced a spectacular period in the club's history with three Wembley titles in four years. Further renown was arrested due to two Championship Final defeats in 1960 and 1962 v Wigan and Huddersfield respectively. One of Trinity's great servants, centre Neil Fox, who scored a record 6,220 points in his 23 year career (19 with Wakefield) was coming to prominence, however, in Trinity's up and coming side.
The club were victorious in a dour 1962 Challenge Cup win over Huddersfield although the Fartowners went on to deny them the double a few days later in the Championship final. With a victorious defence of the Cup in 1963, their fifth Challenge Cup title, Wakefield had still not been able to achieve the league championship title. The Holy Grail would be achieved in the 1966-67 season when a seasoned, Harold Poynton led side that included Neil and Don Fox, Gary Cooper and Ray Owen, defeated Saints in a replay. They repeated the title feat the following year v Hull KR but were again denied the double when Leeds defeated them in the 1968 'water splash' final at Wembley.
Early years
Wakefield Trinity was founded by a group of men from the Holy Trinity Church in 1873. Early matches were played at Heath Common (1873), Manor Field (1875–76) and Elm Street (1877) before the club moved to Belle VueBelle Vue (Wakefield)
Belle Vue is a rugby league stadium in Wakefield, England. It is the home stadium of Wakefield Trinity Wildcats. It is located beside the A638 Doncaster Road, approximately one mile south of Wakefield City Centre.- Description :Currently, the East stand has a covered stand with seating, with some...
in 1879.
Prior to schism of 1895 which led to the formation of the Northern Rugby Union, Wakefield Trinity participated nine times in thirteen years in the final of the Yorkshire Cup
Yorkshire Cup (rugby union)
The Yorkshire Cup is an English Rugby Football Union competition founded in 1878. It is open to all eligible clubs in the Yorkshire area. It was initially known as the Yorkshire Challenge Cup.-History:...
(T'owd Tin Pot), a trophy that is nowadays contested solely by rugby union clubs.
They were one of the initial 22 clubs to form the Northern Union
Rugby Football League
The Rugby Football League is the governing body for professional rugby league football in England. Based at Red Hall in Leeds, it administers the England national rugby league team, the Challenge Cup, Super League and the Rugby League Championships...
after the acrimonious split from the Rugby Football Union
Rugby Football Union
The Rugby Football Union was founded in 1871 as the governing body for the sport of rugby union, and performed as the international governing body prior to the formation of the International Rugby Board in 1886...
in 1895.
Belle Vue
Belle Vue (Wakefield)
Belle Vue is a rugby league stadium in Wakefield, England. It is the home stadium of Wakefield Trinity Wildcats. It is located beside the A638 Doncaster Road, approximately one mile south of Wakefield City Centre.- Description :Currently, the East stand has a covered stand with seating, with some...
was purchased in 1895, in order to provide a permanent base for the Trinity. The money was provided by the Wakefield Athletic Club, and was also initially used for cycling
Cycling
Cycling, also called bicycling or biking, is the use of bicycles for transport, recreation, or for sport. Persons engaged in cycling are cyclists or bicyclists...
and athletics
Athletics (track and field)
Athletics is an exclusive collection of sporting events that involve competitive running, jumping, throwing, and walking. The most common types of athletics competitions are track and field, road running, cross country running, and race walking...
competitions.
Trinity won the Northern Union Challenge Cup
Challenge Cup
The Challenge Cup is a knockout cup competition for rugby league clubs organised by the Rugby Football League. Originally it was contested only by British teams but in recent years has been expanded to allow teams from France and Russia to take part....
for the first time in 1909, beating Hull 17–0 at Headingley
Headingley Stadium
Headingley Stadium is a sporting complex in the Leeds suburb of Headingley in West Yorkshire, England. It is the home of Yorkshire County Cricket Club, rugby league team Leeds Rhinos and rugby union team Leeds Carnegie ....
. The corresponding 1914 final saw the result reversed, with Hull winning 6–0.
Jonty Parkin
Jonty Parkin
Jonathon "Jonty" Parkin was an English rugby league footballer of the 1910s, '20s and '30s. He joined Wakefield Trinity as an 18-year-old in 1913 and gave 17 years' service, playing 349 times and earning 17 Great Britain Test caps, 12 England appearances and 17 for Yorkshire...
signed for Wakefield Trinity as a 17-year-old in 1913. In a quiet time for Trinity, they won only one Yorkshire Cup (in 1924–25 against Batley
Batley Bulldogs
Batley Bulldogs are an English professional rugby league club from Batley, West Yorkshire. They currently play in the Co-operative Championship. Batley is one of the original twenty-two rugby football clubs that formed the Northern Rugby Football Union in 1895...
) and lost four Yorkshire Cups.
Parkin decided he wanted to leave in 1930, at the age of thirty-four, and he was put on the transfer list at £100. Hull Kingston Rovers
Hull Kingston Rovers
Hull Kingston Rovers or Hull KR is an English professional rugby league football club based in Hull, England. The club formed in 1882 and currently competes in Super League, having won promotion from National League One in 2006...
would not find the money; so Parkin paid the fee himself to secure his release. The game's bylaws were adjusted shortly afterwards, so that no player could ever do that again.
On Saturday 27 October 1934, Leeds
Leeds Rhinos
Leeds Rhinos is an English professional rugby league football club based in Leeds, West Yorkshire. The club won the 2011 Super League and became the most successful club in the Super League era, beating St Helens 32-16 on 8th October 2011. Formed in 1890, Leeds competes in Europe's Super League...
and Wakefield Trinity met in the final of the Yorkshire Cup at Crown Flatt
Crown Flatt
Crown Flatt, known as the Tetley's Stadium for sponsorship purposes, is a rugby league stadium on Owl Lane in Dewsbury, West Yorkshire, England. It is the home of Dewsbury rugby league club...
, Dewsbury
Dewsbury
Dewsbury is a minster town in the Metropolitan Borough of Kirklees, in West Yorkshire, England. It is to the west of Wakefield, east of Huddersfield and south of Leeds...
. The match ended in a 5–5 draw. Four days later the two clubs drew again, with Leeds
Leeds Rhinos
Leeds Rhinos is an English professional rugby league football club based in Leeds, West Yorkshire. The club won the 2011 Super League and became the most successful club in the Super League era, beating St Helens 32-16 on 8th October 2011. Formed in 1890, Leeds competes in Europe's Super League...
eventually lifting the trophy after a second replay, the only occasion it took three attempts to settle a Yorkshire Cup Final. A total of 52,402 spectators watched the three games.
In 1947 Wakefield Trinity centre Frank Townsend was fatally injured in a match at Post Office Road, Featherstone
Post Office Road
Post Office Road, currently styled as the Bigfellas Stadium for sponsorship purposes , is a rugby league ground in Featherstone, near Pontefract, West Yorkshire, England...
.
Post war
If the pre-war years were austere then the post-war period was bright and bullish for the Dreadnoughts. On Saturday 3 November 1945, Bradford NorthernBradford Bulls
Bradford Bulls is a professional rugby league club based in the city of Bradford, West Yorkshire, England. They play in the European Super League and are currently joint 10th in the league....
met Wakefield Trinity in the final of the Yorkshire Cup held at Thrum Hall
Thrum Hall
Thrum Hall was a rugby league stadium on Hanson Lane in Halifax, West Yorkshire, England. It was the home of Halifax RLFC.-Stadium:The site, measuring 55,000 square yards and included a cricket pitch, greyhound track and bowling greens...
, Halifax
Halifax, West Yorkshire
Halifax is a minster town, within the Metropolitan Borough of Calderdale in West Yorkshire, England. It has an urban area population of 82,056 in the 2001 Census. It is well-known as a centre of England's woollen manufacture from the 15th century onward, originally dealing through the Halifax Piece...
. Wakefield began the match as favourites, they had lost only one of thirteen matches thus far in the season. However, Bradford won 5–2 and lifted the Yorkshire Cup for the fourth time in six seasons. The first Wembley final after the war produced a return to winning ways as Trinity, with names such as James "Jim" Croston
James Croston
A. James "Jim" Croston is an English former professional rugby league footballer of the 1930s and '40s, and coach of the 1940s who at representative level has played for Great Britain, England, and Lancashire, and at club level for Castleford, and Wakefield Trinity, playing at , i.e...
and Billy Stott
Billy Stott
William "Billy" Stott is an English former professional rugby league footballer of the 1930s and '40s who at representative level has played for England, and at club level for Broughton Rangers, Oldham, Wakefield Trinity, and Belle Vue Rangers, playing at , i.e...
, pipped Wigan to the Cup 13–12.
On Saturday 27 October 1951 25,495 were at Fartown, Huddersfield to see Wakefield Trinity defeat Keighley
Keighley Cougars
Keighley Cougars are a professional rugby league club from Keighley in West Yorkshire, England. As of 2012 they will play in Co-operative Championship having won the Co-operative Championship 1 play off final 32-12 against Workington...
17–3 in the Yorkshire Cup Final. The club was not destined to return to Wembley until 1960 and had to slake its thirst for silverware on two Yorkshire Cup and two Yorkshire League victories in the 1950s. Trinity featured in the first league match to be broadcast on British television, a clash with Wigan
Wigan Warriors
Wigan Warriors is an English rugby league club based in Wigan, Greater Manchester. The club's first team squad competes in the engage Super League and the team are the current Challenge Cup holders as of the 27th August 2011....
at Central Park
Central Park (Wigan)
Central Park was a rugby league stadium in Wigan, England. It was the home of Wigan RLFC before the club moved to the JJB Stadium in 1999. Its final capacity was 18,000.-History:...
on 12 January 1952.
Trinity were runners-up in the league championship in 1959–60, losing in the Championship Final against Wigan.
Wakefield Trinity beat Huddersfield
Huddersfield Giants
Huddersfield Giants are a professional rugby league club from Huddersfield, West Yorkshire who play in the European Super League competition. They play their home games at the Galpharm Stadium which is shared with Huddersfield Town F.C....
16–10 in the 1960 Yorkshire Cup
Rugby league county cups
Historically, British rugby league clubs competed for the Lancashire Cup and the Yorkshire Cup, known collectively as the county cups. The leading rugby clubs in Yorkshire had played in a cup competition for several years prior to the schism of 1895...
final at Headingley, Leeds
Leeds
Leeds is a city and metropolitan borough in West Yorkshire, England. In 2001 Leeds' main urban subdivision had a population of 443,247, while the entire city has a population of 798,800 , making it the 30th-most populous city in the European Union.Leeds is the cultural, financial and commercial...
on 29 October 1960.
Wakefield returned to Wembley emphatically with a record 38–5 win v Hull under the guidance of coach Ken Traill
Ken Traill
Ken Traill was an English professional rugby league footballer of the 1940s and '50s, and coach of the 1950s, '60s and 70s who at representative level has played for Great Britain, England, and Yorkshire, and at club level for Hunslet, Bradford Northern, Halifax, and Wakefield Trinity, playing at...
and loose forward Derek 'Rocky' Turner
Derek Turner
Derek "Rocky" Turner is an English former professional Rugby League World Cup winning footballer of the 1940s, '50s and 60s, and coach of the 1960s, '70s, and '80s, who at representative level has played for Great Britain, England, and Yorkshire, and at club level for Hull Kingston Rovers, Oldham...
.
Wakefield won their third Challenge Cup
Challenge Cup
The Challenge Cup is a knockout cup competition for rugby league clubs organised by the Rugby Football League. Originally it was contested only by British teams but in recent years has been expanded to allow teams from France and Russia to take part....
victory in 1962, running out 12–6 winners against Huddersfield
Huddersfield Giants
Huddersfield Giants are a professional rugby league club from Huddersfield, West Yorkshire who play in the European Super League competition. They play their home games at the Galpharm Stadium which is shared with Huddersfield Town F.C....
. Many of the scenes from the film This Sporting Life
This Sporting Life
This Sporting Life is a 1963 British film based on a novel of the same name by David Storey which won the 1960 Macmillan Fiction Award. It tells the story of a rugby league footballer, Frank Machin, in Wakefield, a mining area of Yorkshire, whose romantic life is not as successful as his sporting...
were filmed at the Belle Vue
Belle Vue (Wakefield)
Belle Vue is a rugby league stadium in Wakefield, England. It is the home stadium of Wakefield Trinity Wildcats. It is located beside the A638 Doncaster Road, approximately one mile south of Wakefield City Centre.- Description :Currently, the East stand has a covered stand with seating, with some...
during Wakefield's third round Challenge Cup
Challenge Cup
The Challenge Cup is a knockout cup competition for rugby league clubs organised by the Rugby Football League. Originally it was contested only by British teams but in recent years has been expanded to allow teams from France and Russia to take part....
match against Wigan. The club were victorious in a dour 1962 Challenge Cup
Challenge Cup
The Challenge Cup is a knockout cup competition for rugby league clubs organised by the Rugby Football League. Originally it was contested only by British teams but in recent years has been expanded to allow teams from France and Russia to take part....
win over Huddersfield although the Fartowners went on to deny them the double a few days later in the Championship final at Odsal Stadium
Odsal Stadium
Odsal Stadium is a stadium situated in Odsal, Bradford in West Yorkshire, England. The venue is used for rugby league and has been the home ground of Bradford Bulls/Bradford Northern since 1934...
, Bradford
Bradford
Bradford lies at the heart of the City of Bradford, a metropolitan borough of West Yorkshire, in Northern England. It is situated in the foothills of the Pennines, west of Leeds, and northwest of Wakefield. Bradford became a municipal borough in 1847, and received its charter as a city in 1897...
. Wakefield also won the Yorkshire Cup final of 1961–62 and the Yorkshire League of 1961–62.
Wakefield Trinity was invited to visit South Africa
South Africa
The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...
during June and July 1962. Neil Fox
Neil Fox (rugby league)
Neil Fox MBE is an English former rugby league footballer and player-coach of the 1950s, 60s and 70s. A goal-kicking , he is one of the most prominent figures in the history of the sport because he holds the all-time points record, scoring 6,220 points during his career...
, Harold Poynton
Harold Poynton
Harold Poynton is an English former professional rugby league footballer of the 1950s, '60s and '70s who at representative level has played for Great Britain, and Yorkshire, and at club level for Wakefield Trinity, playing at , or , i.e. number 6, or 7....
, Gerry Round, Derek 'Rocky' Turner
Derek Turner
Derek "Rocky" Turner is an English former professional Rugby League World Cup winning footballer of the 1940s, '50s and 60s, and coach of the 1960s, '70s, and '80s, who at representative level has played for Great Britain, England, and Yorkshire, and at club level for Hull Kingston Rovers, Oldham...
and Jack Wilkinson
Jack Wilkinson (rugby league)
Jack Wilkinson was an English professional Rugby League World Cup winning footballer of the 1940s, '50s and '60s, and coach of the 1960s. A classmate of wrestler Shirley Crabtree, he was a Great Britain international , who played at club level for Halifax, Wakefield Trinity and Bradford Northern...
, were unable to accompany the team on the six-match tour, as they were in Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
with the GB tourists. Wakefield Trinity’s Chairman Stuart Hadfield was also touring with the national team as Great Britain manager. Trinity therefore added four South African players who were playing for British clubs at that time to their squad. They were Fred Griffiths
Fred Griffiths
Fred Griffiths is a former rugby league footballer of the 1950s and '60s. He played club football in England for Wigan and in Australia for North Sydney, and also represented the South Africa national rugby league team....
(Wigan
Wigan Warriors
Wigan Warriors is an English rugby league club based in Wigan, Greater Manchester. The club's first team squad competes in the engage Super League and the team are the current Challenge Cup holders as of the 27th August 2011....
), Tom van Vollenhoven
Tom van Vollenhoven
Tom van Vollenhoven is a South African former rugby union and rugby league footballer of the 1950s and 60s....
(St Helens), Wilf Rosenberg
Wilf Rosenberg
Wilfred "Wilf" Rosenberg was a South African rugby union and rugby league player.He was nicknamed the Flying Dentist.He was the son of a rabbi....
(Hull) and Edward "Ted" Brophy (Leigh
Leigh Centurions
Leigh Centurions is an English professional rugby league club based in Leigh, Greater Manchester who play in the Co-operative Championship.The club was founded in 1878 as Leigh Rugby Football Club and is one of the original twenty-two clubs that formed the Northern Rugby Football Union in...
). Wakefield had three South Africans of their own in the squad in Alan Skene
Alan Skene
Alan Leslie Skene was a South African dual-code international rugby union and professional rugby league footballer of the 1950s and '60s who at representative level played rugby union for South Africa, and at provincial level for Western Province, playing at...
, Jan Prinsloo
Jan Prinsloo
Johannes "Jan" Albertus Prinsloo was a South African rugby union and professional rugby league footballer of the 1950s and '60s who at representative level played rugby union for South Africa, and at provincial level for Western Province, playing at Wing, i.e. number 11 or 14, and at...
and Colin Greenwood, with the rest of the party made up of Frederick "Fred" Smith
Frederick Smith (rugby league)
Frederick "Fred" Smith was an English professional rugby league footballer of the 1950s and '60s who at representative level played for Yorkshire, and at club level for Leeds, and Wakefield Trinity, playing at , i.e. number 2 or 5....
, Kenneth "Ken" Hirst
Kenneth Hirst
Kenneth "Ken" Hirst was a professional rugby league footballer who at club level played for Wakefield Trinity, playing at , i.e. number 2 or 5.-Rugby Football League Championship Final Appearances:...
, Kenneth "Ken" Rollin
Kenneth Rollin
Kenneth "Ken" Rollin is an English former professional rugby league footballer of the 1950s and '60s, who at club level has played for Wakefield Trinity, and Leeds, playing at , or , i.e. number 6, or 7....
, Keith Holliday
Keith Holliday
Keith Holliday is an English former professional rugby league footballer of the 1950s and '60s who at representative level has played for Great Britain, and Yorkshire, and at club level for Wakefield Trinity, and Bramley, playing at , /, or /, i.e...
, Dennis Williamson
Dennis Williamson
Dennis Williamson is a former professional rugby league footballer of the 1950s and '60s who at club level has played for Whitehaven, and Wakefield Trinity, playing at , i.e. number 11 or 12, during the era of contested scrums....
, Milan Kosanović
Milan Kosanovic
Milan Kosanović is a Yugoslav former professional rugby league footballer of the 1950s and '60s who at representative level has played for Yorkshire, and at club level for Bradford Northern, Wakefield Trinity, and Featherstone Rovers, playing at , i.e...
, Geoffrey "Geoff" Oakes
Geoffrey Oakes
Geoffrey "Geoff" Oakes is an English former professional rugby league footballer of the 1950s and '60s who at club level has played for Wakefield Trinity , and Warrington, playing at , i.e. number 9, during the era of contested scrums.-Rugby Football League Championship final appearances:Geoff...
, Brian Briggs
Brian Briggs
Brian Briggs is an English former professional rugby league footballer of the 1950s and '60s who at representative level has played for Great Britain, England, and Yorkshire, and at club level for York, Huddersfield, St. Helens, and Wakefield Trinity, playing at , i.e. number 11 or 12, during the...
, Albert 'Budgie' Firth
Albert Firth
-External links:* *...
and Don Vines
Donald Vines
Donald "Don" G. Vines was a Welsh rugby union, and professional rugby league footballer of the 1950s and '60s, and a Heel Wrestler in Professional wrestling of the 1960s, who at club level played rugby union for Newbridge RFC, playing at Centre, or in the Forwards, and at representative level...
. It was some squad so, not surprisingly; they were comfortable winners of all six matches. The tour opened on Saturday 30 June 1962 at Milner Park, Johannesburg, where the local Johannesburg Celtic club were overpowered by 52 points to 6.
Despite winning the Challenge Cup
Challenge Cup
The Challenge Cup is a knockout cup competition for rugby league clubs organised by the Rugby Football League. Originally it was contested only by British teams but in recent years has been expanded to allow teams from France and Russia to take part....
for a fifth time in 1963, Wakefield had still not been able to secure the league championship title. The Holy Grail would be achieved in the 1966–67 season when the experienced Harold Poynton
Harold Poynton
Harold Poynton is an English former professional rugby league footballer of the 1950s, '60s and '70s who at representative level has played for Great Britain, and Yorkshire, and at club level for Wakefield Trinity, playing at , or , i.e. number 6, or 7....
led a powerful side, which included Neil Fox
Neil Fox (rugby league)
Neil Fox MBE is an English former rugby league footballer and player-coach of the 1950s, 60s and 70s. A goal-kicking , he is one of the most prominent figures in the history of the sport because he holds the all-time points record, scoring 6,220 points during his career...
, Don Fox
Don Fox
Don Fox was an English rugby league footballer of the 1950s and '60s for Featherstone Rovers and Wakefield Trinity. He is the brother of Peter and Neil Fox, and together they formed one of the legendary rugby league families...
, Gary Cooper
Gary Cooper (rugby league)
Gary 'Super Duper' Cooper is a former professional rugby league footballer of the 1960s who at club level has played for Featherstone Rovers, and Wakefield Trinity, playing at , or , i.e. number 1, 3 or 5, and at club level has coached for York....
and Ray Owen
Ray Owen
Raymond "Ray" Owen was a professional rugby league footballer of the 1960s, and chairman of the 1980s, who at club level played for Widnes, and Wakefield Trinity, playing at /, i.e. number 7, at club level was chairman for Widnes....
, to victory over St Helens in a replay of the championship final. They repeated the title feat the following year against Hull KR
Hull Kingston Rovers
Hull Kingston Rovers or Hull KR is an English professional rugby league football club based in Hull, England. The club formed in 1882 and currently competes in Super League, having won promotion from National League One in 2006...
but were again denied the double when Leeds defeated them in the 1968 'water splash' final at Wembley, a match played during a downpour that saturated the pitch. The game produced the most dramatic of finishes, when Man-of-the-Match, Don Fox
Don Fox
Don Fox was an English rugby league footballer of the 1950s and '60s for Featherstone Rovers and Wakefield Trinity. He is the brother of Peter and Neil Fox, and together they formed one of the legendary rugby league families...
had a conversion to win it for Wakefield, but missed it to leave Leeds 11–10 winners.
Trinity were crowned Champions for the only time in successive seasons – 1966–67 and 1967–68. Wakefield Trinity beat St Helens 21–9 in the 1967 Rugby Football League Championship final at Station Road, Swinton on 10 May 1967, and won the Harry Sunderland Trophy
Harry Sunderland Trophy
The Harry Sunderland Trophy is awarded to the Man-of-the-Match in the Super League Grand Final by the Rugby League Writers' Association. It is named after Harry Sunderland, who was an Australian rugby league football administrator in both Australia and the United Kingdom...
in the 17–10 victory over Hull in the 1968 Rugby Football League Championship final at Headingley on 4 May 1968.
Wakefield absorbed a number of different coaches at the helm in subsequent years but did not return to Wembley until William "Bill" Kirkbride's talented charges fell 12–3 to Widnes
Widnes Vikings
Widnes Vikings RLFC are an English professional rugby league club based in Widnes, Cheshire. They currently play in the Engage Super League, the top tier of European rugby league, after being awarded a license to compete in the top-flight Super League from 2012 onward...
in 1979 in front of nearly 100,000 fans.
Derek Turner was Head Coach for Wakefield Trinity from July 1983 until February 1984. In December 1985, Wakefield did a deal with the local council to enable them to continue at Belle Vue. Five council delegates joined Wakefields's board giving them the majority vote.
The ensuing decline was temporarily halted when Wally Lewis
Wally Lewis
Walter James "Wally" Lewis AM is an Australian former professional rugby league footballer and coach. Currently a commentator of the sport, he is widely regarded as the greatest rugby league player of all time...
signed up for a brief spell with the club, playing at Stand-off. But Trinity continued to fluctuate between the two divisions.
Former player David Topliss
David Topliss
David Topliss was an English Rugby League World Cup winning footballer and coach. He played and coached with Wakefield Trinity in the late 1970s and early 1980s....
stabilised the Dreadnoughts' ship in 1987. He won immediate promotion in 1988 back to the First Division, retiring as a player after the final match of the campaign. He remained at Wakefield purely as a coach and consolidated the club's top tier status by acquiring the services of seasoned internationals like Stephen "Steve" Ella
Steve Ella
Steve Ella is an Australian former rugby league footballer of the 1980s. He was a utility back for the Australian national team, playing in 4 Tests between 1983 and 1985...
, new captain Mark Graham
Mark Graham (rugby league)
Mark Kerry Graham is a New Zealand retired rugby league footballer and coach. A back-rower and former captain of the New Zealand national rugby league team, he has been named as the greatest player the country has produced in the century from 1907 to 2006.-Playing career:An Otahahu junior, Graham...
, Brian Jackson
Brian Jackson (rugby league)
Brian Jackson is an Australian former professional rugby league footballer of the 1980s and '90s who at club level has played for Parramatta Eels, Wakefield Trinity, and South Sydney Rabbitohs, playing at , or /, i.e. number 2 or 5, 3 or 4, or 6....
as well as now former Wildcats' coach Andrew "Andy" Kelly
Andy Kelly (rugby league)
Andy Kelly is a former professional rugby league footballer of the 1980s and '90s who at club level has played for Wakefield Trinity , Hull Kingston Rovers and Illawarra Steelers, playing at , i.e. number 11 or 12....
and later John Harbin
John Harbin
John Harbin is an Australian sports coach. He first worked in rugby league before beginning a coaching career in association football. He is currently coach of rugby league team Yeppoon Seagulls in the Queensland Rugby League Central Division...
.
Wakefield escaped a threat of closure by forming their first ever board of directors in August 1992. Topliss stepped down as coach to concentrate on his business. David Hobbs joined Wakefield Trinity as coach in May 1994. He then went to Halifax
Halifax RLFC
Halifax RLFC is one of the most historic rugby league clubs in the game, formed over a century ago, in 1873 in the Yorkshire town of Halifax. Known as 'Fax', the official club colours are blue and white hoops, blue shorts and blue socks . They share The Shay stadium with football club FC Halifax Town...
as Director of Football in January 1995.
Summer era
In 1996, the first tier of British rugby league clubs played the inaugural Super LeagueSuper League
Super League is the top-level professional rugby league football club competition in Europe. As a result of sponsorship from engage Mutual Assurance the competition is currently officially known as the engage Super League. The League features fourteen teams: thirteen from England and one from...
season and changed from a winter to a summer season. When the Rupert Murdoch
Rupert Murdoch
Keith Rupert Murdoch, AC, KSG is an Australian-American business magnate. He is the founder and Chairman and CEO of , the world's second-largest media conglomerate....
-funded Super League
Super League
Super League is the top-level professional rugby league football club competition in Europe. As a result of sponsorship from engage Mutual Assurance the competition is currently officially known as the engage Super League. The League features fourteen teams: thirteen from England and one from...
competition has been proposed, part of the deal was that some traditional clubs would merge. Wakefield were down to merge with Castleford
Castleford Tigers
Castleford Tigers are a professional rugby league club based in Castleford in West Yorkshire, England. They participate in the professional European competition Super League. They are sometimes known as 'Cas', 'Cas Tigers', 'Classy Cas' or the 'Black & Amber'...
and Featherstone Rovers
Featherstone Rovers
Featherstone Rovers are a semi-professional rugby league club, based in Featherstone, West Yorkshire, England. They currently play in the Championship. The Rovers are one of the last vestiges of "small town teams" that were once common in rugby league during the early twentieth century...
to form a new club, Calder, which would compete in the newly formed Super League. Although Wakefield voted to merge, the other clubs refused to do so; Wakefield finished below the cut-off point of 10th in the existing top flight and were excluded from the new Super League. As the sport in Britain entered a new era, it would be three years before Wakefield rose again to the top level of the game.
Under coach Andrew "Andy" Kelly
Andy Kelly (rugby league)
Andy Kelly is a former professional rugby league footballer of the 1980s and '90s who at club level has played for Wakefield Trinity , Hull Kingston Rovers and Illawarra Steelers, playing at , i.e. number 11 or 12....
, Wakefield earned their place in the top flight on the back of their controversial victory over Featherstone Rovers in the inaugural Division One Grand Final in 1998. Wakefield adopted the "Wildcats" nickname in 1998: the year they entered Super League, having won promotion from the first division.
Wakefield put together a startling series of results early in the 1999 season, beating some of the most fancied sides and ensuring early in the campaign that they would be safe. The club invested heavily in newcomers.
John Harbin
John Harbin
John Harbin is an Australian sports coach. He first worked in rugby league before beginning a coaching career in association football. He is currently coach of rugby league team Yeppoon Seagulls in the Queensland Rugby League Central Division...
was the coach of Wakefield between October 2000 and October 2001, Wakefield's final game of the 2001 season was a relegation battle with Salford
Salford City Reds
Salford City Reds are an English rugby league club based in Salford, Greater Manchester. Formed in 1873, they currently play in the Super League. They have won six Rugby Football League Championships and one Challenge Cup...
with Wakefield condemning Huddersfield
Huddersfield Giants
Huddersfield Giants are a professional rugby league club from Huddersfield, West Yorkshire who play in the European Super League competition. They play their home games at the Galpharm Stadium which is shared with Huddersfield Town F.C....
to relegation. He decided to leave the club at the end of 2001.
Peter Roe was appointed Head Coach in October 2001. After years of struggling to keep up with the Super League pace which saw Trinity finish next to bottom on most of their attempts they finally got around to making headway up the league. Peter Roe was sacked in July 2002 and was replaced by his assistant Shane McNally
Shane McNally
Shane McNally is an Australian former rugby league footballer and current Queensland Cup coach. He was sacked by Wakefield Trinity Wildcats in June 2005.-Playing career:...
. With Adrian Vowles
Adrian Vowles
Adrian Vowles is an Australian former professional rugby league footballer of the 1990s and 2000s. He played in Australia for several years, gaining State of Origin selection in 1994, but spent the majority of his career in the European Super League...
as his co-coach the pair guided Trinity to their first-ever SL play-off position, finishing in 6th place.
In 2004 after a slow start to the season Trinity finished stronger than any other team in the competition giving their fans some hope of a little glory at the club which had been missing for too long. Away at the KC Stadium
KC Stadium
The KC Stadium, often shortened to the KC, is a multi-purpose facility in the city of Kingston upon Hull , England. Conceived as early as the late 1990s, it was completed in 2002 at a cost of approximately £44 million. It is named after the stadium's sponsors, telecommunications provider KC,...
in Hull
Kingston upon Hull
Kingston upon Hull , usually referred to as Hull, is a city and unitary authority area in the ceremonial county of the East Riding of Yorkshire, England. It stands on the River Hull at its junction with the Humber estuary, 25 miles inland from the North Sea. Hull has a resident population of...
Trinity produced a remarkable performance and managed to beat Hull despite having 2 men sin-binned
Penalty box
The penalty box is the area in ice hockey, rugby league, rugby union and some other sports where a player sits to serve the time of a given penalty, for an offense not severe enough to merit outright expulsion from the contest...
.
The semis saw a visit to Wigan and there was real hope in the camp that Wakefield would make the elimination final play off and all looked to be going that way when Trinity led 14–0 but some strange decisions went the way of the Wiganers so it wasn't yet to be but Wakefield fans will look back on these 2 games with fondness for many years, The away support was outstanding for both efforts.
Shane McNally
Shane McNally
Shane McNally is an Australian former rugby league footballer and current Queensland Cup coach. He was sacked by Wakefield Trinity Wildcats in June 2005.-Playing career:...
was sacked in June 2005 after a disappointing start to the season. Tony Smith took over as caretaker coach from Shane McNally and led Trinity to survival in 2005 but following four straight defeats which saw Wakefield drop into the relegation zone Smith was sacked on Monday, 17 July 2006. Smith's last game in charge was a 26–20 defeat against Huddersfield, a match in which his side squandered a 20-point lead – one of several occasions this season Trinity have collapsed in the second half.
On 24 July 2006, Wakefield announced former Hull coach John Kear
John Kear
John Kear is an English rugby league coach and former rugby league player. Kear is currently the coach of Batley Bulldogs...
as Head Coach until the end of the season.
Trinity defeated their arch-rivals Castleford
Castleford Tigers
Castleford Tigers are a professional rugby league club based in Castleford in West Yorkshire, England. They participate in the professional European competition Super League. They are sometimes known as 'Cas', 'Cas Tigers', 'Classy Cas' or the 'Black & Amber'...
by 29–17 at Belle Vue
Belle Vue (Wakefield)
Belle Vue is a rugby league stadium in Wakefield, England. It is the home stadium of Wakefield Trinity Wildcats. It is located beside the A638 Doncaster Road, approximately one mile south of Wakefield City Centre.- Description :Currently, the East stand has a covered stand with seating, with some...
on Saturday 16 September 2006 to preserve their Super League status in an epic match which saw both teams leading for spells of the game. Had Wakefield not won the match they would have been relegated. Instead, their win, dubbed as "The Battle of Belle Vue" sent Castleford down to the National League One. The match was attended by a sell out crowd of 11,000.
In November 2006 the Wakefield Metropolitan District Council set out plans for a new sporting village to be built at Thornes Park that would incorporate a new stadium to be used by Trinity, along with gymnastics and boxing facilities and swimming pools. The council published results of a feasibility study on 12 September 2008, into the project and which concluded that it is not feasible for a new stadium at Thornes Park.
This now leaves Wakefield Trinity in a precarious position – Belle Vue
Belle Vue (Wakefield)
Belle Vue is a rugby league stadium in Wakefield, England. It is the home stadium of Wakefield Trinity Wildcats. It is located beside the A638 Doncaster Road, approximately one mile south of Wakefield City Centre.- Description :Currently, the East stand has a covered stand with seating, with some...
is not suitable for the long-term future, and a new stadium is crucial to their Super League survival. In 2009 a new stadium in Stanley was proposed with planning permission expected to be applied for in October 2009.
On 22 July 2008 Rugby Football League
Rugby Football League
The Rugby Football League is the governing body for professional rugby league football in England. Based at Red Hall in Leeds, it administers the England national rugby league team, the Challenge Cup, Super League and the Rugby League Championships...
awarded Trinity with a Super League licence for the 3 seasons from 2009 to 2012. They had been widely tipped as one of the existing Super League clubs (along with Castleford
Castleford Tigers
Castleford Tigers are a professional rugby league club based in Castleford in West Yorkshire, England. They participate in the professional European competition Super League. They are sometimes known as 'Cas', 'Cas Tigers', 'Classy Cas' or the 'Black & Amber'...
) who were most at risk of missing out on one of the new licences.
The 2009 season was Wakefield's best-ever Super League season with the club finishing 5th on 32 points and qualifying for a home tie in the end of season play-offs.
2010 was a disappointment to the club, after losing Shane Tronc, Terry Newton and Danny Brough, and despite bringing in Danny Kirkmond, Charlie Leaeno and Julien Rinaldi, they still finished in 10th position- 5 lower than the 2009 season.
In February 2011, the club entered administration to avoid a winding up petition
Liquidation
In law, liquidation is the process by which a company is brought to an end, and the assets and property of the company redistributed. Liquidation is also sometimes referred to as winding-up or dissolution, although dissolution technically refers to the last stage of liquidation...
from HMRC over £300,000 in unpaid taxes.
Former Hull FC coach Richard Agar is set to become Wakefield Trinity's head coach before the start of the 2012, Super League XVII season, on a three year deal.
Rugby League Honours
- Championship: 1966–67, 1967–68 (twice)
- Challenge CupChallenge CupThe Challenge Cup is a knockout cup competition for rugby league clubs organised by the Rugby Football League. Originally it was contested only by British teams but in recent years has been expanded to allow teams from France and Russia to take part....
: 1908–09, 1945–46, 1959–60, 1961–62, 1962–63 (5 times) - Yorkshire CupRugby league county cupsHistorically, British rugby league clubs competed for the Lancashire Cup and the Yorkshire Cup, known collectively as the county cups. The leading rugby clubs in Yorkshire had played in a cup competition for several years prior to the schism of 1895...
: 1910–11, 1924–25, 1946–47, 1947–48, 1951–52, 1956–57, 1960–61, 1961–62, 1964–65, 1992–93 (10 times) - Yorkshire LeagueRugby league county leaguesThe Yorkshire League and the Lancashire League formed two sections of the Rugby Football League Championship for much of its history. Initially, the 22 clubs that broke away in 1895 played in one combined league, however the following season saw the addition of many clubs, and the League was split...
: 1909–10, 1910–11, 1945–46, 1958–59, 1959–60, 1961–62, 1962–63 (7 times) - Division One1: 1998
- Challenge CupChallenge CupThe Challenge Cup is a knockout cup competition for rugby league clubs organised by the Rugby Football League. Originally it was contested only by British teams but in recent years has been expanded to allow teams from France and Russia to take part....
(Runners Up): 1913–14, 1967–68, 1978–79 (3 times) - Yorkshire CupRugby league county cupsHistorically, British rugby league clubs competed for the Lancashire Cup and the Yorkshire Cup, known collectively as the county cups. The leading rugby clubs in Yorkshire had played in a cup competition for several years prior to the schism of 1895...
(Runners Up): 1926–27, 1932–33, 1934–35, 1936–37, 1939–40, 1945–46, 1958–59, 1973–74, 1974–75, 1990–91 (10 times) - Player's No.6 TrophyRegal TrophyThe Regal Trophy was a knock-out competition for British rugby league football clubs between 1971 and 1996.It was initially for professional clubs with the exception of two amateur teams who were finalists of the BARLA National Cup...
(Runners Up): 1971–72
Footnote
- For the seasons 1996 onwards the term Division One in fact denoted the second tier of rugby league, coming below Super LeagueSuper LeagueSuper League is the top-level professional rugby league football club competition in Europe. As a result of sponsorship from engage Mutual Assurance the competition is currently officially known as the engage Super League. The League features fourteen teams: thirteen from England and one from...
.
Rugby union honours
Prior to schismSchism (religion)
A schism , from Greek σχίσμα, skhísma , is a division between people, usually belonging to an organization or movement religious denomination. The word is most frequently applied to a break of communion between two sections of Christianity that were previously a single body, or to a division within...
of 1895 which led to the formation of the Northern Rugby Union
Rugby Football League
The Rugby Football League is the governing body for professional rugby league football in England. Based at Red Hall in Leeds, it administers the England national rugby league team, the Challenge Cup, Super League and the Rugby League Championships...
, Wakefield Trinity participated in the final of the Yorkshire Cup
Yorkshire Cup (rugby union)
The Yorkshire Cup is an English Rugby Football Union competition founded in 1878. It is open to all eligible clubs in the Yorkshire area. It was initially known as the Yorkshire Challenge Cup.-History:...
(T'owd Tin Pot) nine times in thirteen years, a trophy that nowadays only rugby union
Rugby union
Rugby union, often simply referred to as rugby, is a full contact team sport which originated in England in the early 19th century. One of the two codes of rugby football, it is based on running with the ball in hand...
clubs compete for.
- Yorkshire CupYorkshire Cup (rugby union)The Yorkshire Cup is an English Rugby Football Union competition founded in 1878. It is open to all eligible clubs in the Yorkshire area. It was initially known as the Yorkshire Challenge Cup.-History:...
: 1879, 1880, 1883, 1887 - Yorkshire CupYorkshire Cup (rugby union)The Yorkshire Cup is an English Rugby Football Union competition founded in 1878. It is open to all eligible clubs in the Yorkshire area. It was initially known as the Yorkshire Challenge Cup.-History:...
(Runners Up): 1881, 1882, 1888, 1890, 1891
Player records
- Most Tries In A Match: 7 by Frederick "Fred" SmithFrederick Smith (rugby league)Frederick "Fred" Smith was an English professional rugby league footballer of the 1950s and '60s who at representative level played for Yorkshire, and at club level for Leeds, and Wakefield Trinity, playing at , i.e. number 2 or 5....
vs KeighleyKeighley CougarsKeighley Cougars are a professional rugby league club from Keighley in West Yorkshire, England. As of 2012 they will play in Co-operative Championship having won the Co-operative Championship 1 play off final 32-12 against Workington...
, 1959 & Keith Slater vs HunsletHunslet HawksHunslet Hawks is a professional rugby league club based in Hunslet, West Yorkshire, England. The club, sometimes known as 'the Parksiders' after their former stadium, are currently champions of Championship One.-History:-Early years:...
, 1971 - Most Goals In A Match: 13 by Mark ConwayMark ConwayMark Conway is a former professional rugby league footballer of the 1980s and '90s who at club level has played for Stanley Rangers ARLFC, Leeds, Wakefield Trinity, and Dewsbury, playing at /, i.e. number 7, and occasionally /, i.e. number 6...
vs Highfield RLFC, 1992–93 - Most Points In A Match: 36 by Jamie RooneyJamie RooneyJamie Rooney is an English professional rugby league footballer who plays for the Barrow Raiders in the Championship. He is also a former England international, being an integral part of the 2006 Federation Shield winning side. Rooney is equally at home in both the stand-off and scrum half positions...
vs Chorley LynxBlackpool PanthersBlackpool & The Fylde Panthers RLFC was an English professional rugby league club based in Lytham St Annes, Lancashire. They played at Woodlands Memorial Ground owned by Fylde rugby union club...
, 2004 Challenge Cup
- Most Tries In A Season: 38 by Frederick "Fred" SmithFrederick Smith (rugby league)Frederick "Fred" Smith was an English professional rugby league footballer of the 1950s and '60s who at representative level played for Yorkshire, and at club level for Leeds, and Wakefield Trinity, playing at , i.e. number 2 or 5....
1961–62, David SmithDavid Smith (rugby league)David Smith is an English former professional rugby league footballer of the 1970s and '80s who at representative level has played for England, and at club level for Wakefield Trinity, Leeds, and Bradford Northern, playing at , i.e...
1973–74 - Most Goals In A Season: 163 by Neil FoxNeil Fox (rugby league)Neil Fox MBE is an English former rugby league footballer and player-coach of the 1950s, 60s and 70s. A goal-kicking , he is one of the most prominent figures in the history of the sport because he holds the all-time points record, scoring 6,220 points during his career...
, 1961–62 - Most Points In A Season: 407 by Neil Fox, 1961–62
Team records
- Highest Attendance: 28,254 vs WiganWigan WarriorsWigan Warriors is an English rugby league club based in Wigan, Greater Manchester. The club's first team squad competes in the engage Super League and the team are the current Challenge Cup holders as of the 27th August 2011....
, 1962 - Highest Super League Attendance: 11,000 vs CastlefordCastleford TigersCastleford Tigers are a professional rugby league club based in Castleford in West Yorkshire, England. They participate in the professional European competition Super League. They are sometimes known as 'Cas', 'Cas Tigers', 'Classy Cas' or the 'Black & Amber'...
, 2006 - Biggest Victory: 90–12 vs Highfield RLFC, 1992–93
Head coach history
| Name | |Former Wakefield Player | |Contract Started | |Contract Ended | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| James "Jim" Croston James Croston A. James "Jim" Croston is an English former professional rugby league footballer of the 1930s and '40s, and coach of the 1940s who at representative level has played for Great Britain, England, and Lancashire, and at club level for Castleford, and Wakefield Trinity, playing at , i.e... |
Yes | 1946 +/- | 1946 +/- | |||
| Ken Traill Ken Traill Ken Traill was an English professional rugby league footballer of the 1940s and '50s, and coach of the 1950s, '60s and 70s who at representative level has played for Great Britain, England, and Yorkshire, and at club level for Hunslet, Bradford Northern, Halifax, and Wakefield Trinity, playing at... |
Yes | 1958 | 1970 | |||
| Neil Fox Neil Fox (rugby league) Neil Fox MBE is an English former rugby league footballer and player-coach of the 1950s, 60s and 70s. A goal-kicking , he is one of the most prominent figures in the history of the sport because he holds the all-time points record, scoring 6,220 points during his career... |
Yes | May 1970 | March 1974 | |||
| Peter Fox | Yes | June 1974 | May 1976 | |||
| Geoffrey "Geoff" Gunney Geoffrey Gunney Geoffrey "Geoff" Gunney is an English former professional rugby league footballer of the 1950s and '60s, and coach of the 1970s who at representative level has played for Great Britain, and at club level for Hunslet, playing at , i.e... (MBE) Order of the British Empire The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is an order of chivalry established on 4 June 1917 by George V of the United Kingdom. The Order comprises five classes in civil and military divisions... |
No | June 1976 | November 1976 | |||
| Brian Lockwood Brian Lockwood Brian Lockwood was a Rugby League World Cup winning footballer of the 1970s and 80s. He played for Canterbury-Bankstown, Balmain, Widnes, Hull KR, Castleford, Wakefield Trinity and for the Great Britain national side... |
Yes | November 1976 | January 1978 | |||
| Ian Brooke Ian Brooke Ian Brooke is an English former professional rugby league footballer of the 1960s and '70s, and coach of the 1970s who at representative level has played for Great Britain, and at club level for Wakefield Trinity , and Bradford Northern, playing at , or , i.e... |
Yes | January 1978 | January 1979 | |||
| William "Bill" Kirkbride | No | January 1979 | April 1980 | |||
| Bill Ashurst Bill Ashurst William "Bill" F. Ashurst is an English former professional rugby league footballer of the 1960s and '70s, and coach of the 1980s who at representative level has played for Great Britain, and at club level for Wigan , Penrith Panthers, Wakefield Trinity, and Runcorn Highfield, playing at , i.e... |
Yes | June 1981 | April 1982 | |||
| Ray Batten Ray Batten Ray Batten is an English former professional rugby league footballer of the 1960s and '70s, and coach of the 1980s who at representative level has played for Great Britain, and England, and at club level for Leeds, playing at /, i.e... |
No | May 1982 | July 1983 | |||
| Derek 'Rocky' Turner Derek Turner Derek "Rocky" Turner is an English former professional Rugby League World Cup winning footballer of the 1940s, '50s and 60s, and coach of the 1960s, '70s, and '80s, who at representative level has played for Great Britain, England, and Yorkshire, and at club level for Hull Kingston Rovers, Oldham... |
Yes | July 1983 | February 1984 | |||
| "Geoff" Wraith | Yes | February 1984 | May 1984 | |||
| David Lamming David Lamming David W. Lamming is a former professional rugby league footballer of the 1950s and '60s, and coach of the 1980s who at club level has played for Wakefield Trinity, playing at , i.e... |
Yes | October 1984 | April 1985 | |||
| Len Casey Len Casey Len 'Iron Man' Casey is an English former professional rugby league footballer of the 1960s, '70s and '80s, and coach of the 1980s and '90s who at representative level has played for Great Britain, and England, and at club level for Hull Kingston Rovers , Bradford Northern, Hull, and Wakefield... |
Yes | April 1985 | June 1986 | |||
| Tony Dean | No | June 1986 | December 1986 | |||
| Trevor Bailey | No | December 1986 | April 1987 | |||
| David Topliss David Topliss David Topliss was an English Rugby League World Cup winning footballer and coach. He played and coached with Wakefield Trinity in the late 1970s and early 1980s.... |
Yes | May 1987 | April 1994 | |||
| David Hobbs | Yes | May 1994 | January 1995 | |||
| Paul Harkin Paul Harkin Paul Harkin is a former professional rugby league footballer of the 1970s, '80s and '90s, and coach of the 1990s who at representative level has played for Great Britain, and at club level for Wakefield Trinity, Bradford Northern , Leeds, Hull Kingston Rovers, Halifax, and Hunslet, playing at ,... |
Yes | January 1995 | January 1996 | |||
| Mitch Brennan Mitch Brennan Mitch Brennan is an Australian former rugby league footballer and coach. A Queensland State of Origin representative three-quarter, he played club football during the 1970s and 80s in Queensland for Souths and Redcliffe and in New South Wales for South Sydney, Canberra and St. George, with whom he... |
No | January 1996 | June 1997 | |||
| Andy Kelly Andy Kelly (rugby league) Andy Kelly is a former professional rugby league footballer of the 1980s and '90s who at club level has played for Wakefield Trinity , Hull Kingston Rovers and Illawarra Steelers, playing at , i.e. number 11 or 12.... |
Yes | June 1997 | May 2000 | |||
| Tony Kemp Tony Kemp Tony Kemp is a former New Zealand rugby league test representative and former coach of the New Zealand Warriors. He currently is a commentator for Māori Televisions coverage of the Auckland Rugby League competition and also serves on the NZRL Board.-Early years:Kemp was born in Whangarei but... |
Yes | May 2000 | October 2000 | |||
| John Harbin John Harbin John Harbin is an Australian sports coach. He first worked in rugby league before beginning a coaching career in association football. He is currently coach of rugby league team Yeppoon Seagulls in the Queensland Rugby League Central Division... |
No | October 2000 | November 2001 | |||
| Peter Roe | No | November 2001 | July 2002 | |||
| Shane McNally Shane McNally Shane McNally is an Australian former rugby league footballer and current Queensland Cup coach. He was sacked by Wakefield Trinity Wildcats in June 2005.-Playing career:... & Adrian Vowles Adrian Vowles Adrian Vowles is an Australian former professional rugby league footballer of the 1990s and 2000s. He played in Australia for several years, gaining State of Origin selection in 1994, but spent the majority of his career in the European Super League... |
No & Yes | August 2002 | September 2003 | |||
| Shane McNally Shane McNally Shane McNally is an Australian former rugby league footballer and current Queensland Cup coach. He was sacked by Wakefield Trinity Wildcats in June 2005.-Playing career:... |
No | October 2003 | June 2005 | |||
| Tony Smith | No | June 2005 | July 2006 | |||
| John Kear John Kear John Kear is an English rugby league coach and former rugby league player. Kear is currently the coach of Batley Bulldogs... |
No | July 2006 | September 2011 | |||
| Richard Agar Richard Agar Richard Agar is a British rugby league football coach and former player. He is the head coach of Super League side Hull. Richard is the son of retired player coach, Allan Agar.Agar played for Featherstone, Dewsbury and Widnes.... |
No | September 2011 |
Stadium
For most of their history Wakefield have played at Belle VueBelle Vue (Wakefield)
Belle Vue is a rugby league stadium in Wakefield, England. It is the home stadium of Wakefield Trinity Wildcats. It is located beside the A638 Doncaster Road, approximately one mile south of Wakefield City Centre.- Description :Currently, the East stand has a covered stand with seating, with some...
, to the south of Wakefield city centre.
The club announced plans to build a brand new 12,000 seat stadium in near,by Thornes Park, but these were rejected by the local council in September 2008 due to likelihood of failing to meet either the £60m budget and the 2012 deadline. New plans for a 12,000 seater stadium near junction 30 of the M62 motorway
M62 motorway
The M62 motorway is a west–east trans-Pennine motorway in Northern England, connecting the cities of Liverpool and Hull via Manchester and Leeds. The road also forms part of the unsigned Euroroutes E20 and E22...
, in Stanley
Stanley, West Yorkshire
Stanley is an area in the Metropolitan Borough of Wakefield in West Yorkshire, England. It is about north-east of Wakefield city centre.Stanley was an Urban District in the West Riding of Yorkshire prior to 1974, being made up the four electoral wards of Lake Lock, Outwood, Stanley and Wrenthorpe...
, were unveiled in April 2009, with the development undertaken by Yorkcourt Properties and a community trust, chaired by former Rugby Football League
Rugby Football League
The Rugby Football League is the governing body for professional rugby league football in England. Based at Red Hall in Leeds, it administers the England national rugby league team, the Challenge Cup, Super League and the Rugby League Championships...
chairman Sir Rodney Walker.
The 22nd October 2010 has been set for Wakefield Council to review the outline planning permission application of the Newmarket Lane (or Junction 30: Wakefield) development.
The wider development, which includes warehousing and distribution units, is estimated to boost the economy of the district by 4% (upon completion in 2014).
Wakefield College have also committed to the site. The same outline application paves the way for a regional centre for sporting excellence consisting of education facilities, classrooms/lecture theatre, state of the art gym and training facilities, and an indoor full size training pitch. More details are to be unveiled on the evening 12 October 2010, ahead of the application review 10 days later.
The meeting was held at Wakefield County Hall on 22 October 2010, Wakefield council unanimously voted in favour of the development; and saw the educational, sporting and economical benefits of the scheme as "important in equal measure".
Wildcats Chief Executive James Elston said: “This is fantastic news and is the biggest day in the clubs modern history. We are still aware that we have some boxes to tick but now we can move onwards and upwards. I would like to thank all supporters, players and staff who spent three hours outside showing their support for the club this morning and also to Wakefield Council’.
On 14 December 2010 the Secretary of State ruled that the application should be referred meaning a substantial delay in the planning process and Wakefield seeking a new home in 2011 after the sale of their existing Belle Vue ground.
Recent Academy Fixtures
Our first game of the season ended in defeat to York knights academy in a rather one man showing for our opponents. The score was tight with the academy losing 22–20 mainly due to the strength and prowess of one individual, young Dom Golding. Who with muscular physique controlled our forwards. The young Golding scored all of York's points with total solo efforts with one beating every member of our team. The season can only get better for our young academy, however the league will now be aware of Dom "Dynamite" Golding.2012 Squad
As of 3 October 2011:2012 Transfers
Ins| Nat | Name | Signed From | Contract Length | Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 |
Peter Fox Peter Fox (rugby league born 1984) Peter Fox is an English professional rugby league footballer who plays for Hull Kingston Rovers of Super League. An England international representative er, Fox previously played for Wakefield Trinity Wildcats and York City Knights.-International honours:... |
Hull Kingston Rovers Hull Kingston Rovers Hull Kingston Rovers or Hull KR is an English professional rugby league football club based in Hull, England. The club formed in 1882 and currently competes in Super League, having won promotion from National League One in 2006... |
3 Years | July 2011 |
| |
Andy Ellis Andy Ellis (rugby league) Andy Ellis , is an English rugby league player for Harlequins Rugby League in the European Super League competition... |
Harlequins RL | 3 Years | August 2011 |
 |
Oliver Wilkes Oliver Wilkes Oliver Wilkes, is an English born Scottish professional rugby league footballer for the Harlequins club of Super League... |
Harlequins RL | 2 Years | August 2011 |
 |
Vince Mellars Vince Mellars Vincent Mellars is a New Zealand Rugby League player who currently plays for the Crusaders in the European Super League. He has previously played in the National Rugby League and Air New Zealand Cup. His position is in the Centres... |
Crusaders Rugby League | 3 Years | August 2011 |
| |
Ali Lauitiiti Ali Lauitiiti Ali Lauitiiti is a New Zealand professional rugby league footballer for English club Leeds Rhinos in the European Super League. Both a Samoa and New Zealand international representative forward, he previously played in the National Rugby League for the Warriors... |
Leeds Rhinos Leeds Rhinos Leeds Rhinos is an English professional rugby league football club based in Leeds, West Yorkshire. The club won the 2011 Super League and became the most successful club in the Super League era, beating St Helens 32-16 on 8th October 2011. Formed in 1890, Leeds competes in Europe's Super League... |
2 Years | August 2011 |
 |
Steve Southern Steve Southern Steve Southern is an Australian professional rugby league footballer currently playing for English club Wakefield Trinity Wildcats of Super League... |
Newcastle Knights Newcastle Knights The Newcastle Knights are an Australian professional rugby league football club based in Newcastle, New South Wales. They compete in Australasia's premier rugby league competition, the National Rugby League premiership... |
3 Years | August 2011 |
| |
Dean Collis Dean Collis Dean Collis is an Australian professional rugby league player for the Cronulla Sharks club in the National Rugby League competition. He primarily plays at centre.-Career:... |
Cronulla Sharks Cronulla Sharks The Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks are Australian professional Rugby league team based in Cronulla, in the Sutherland Shire, Southern Sydney, New South Wales... |
3 Years | September 2011 |
| |
Danny Washbrook Danny Washbrook Danny Washbrook is an English rugby league player who plays for Hull in the European Super League.... |
Hull FC Hull FC Hull Football Club, commonly referred to as Hull or Hull FC, is a professional rugby league football club established in 1865 and based in Hull, East Riding of Yorkshire, England. The club plays in the Super League competition... |
3 Years | September 2011 |
| |
Kyle Amor Kyle Amor Kyle Amor is an English professional rugby league footballer. He is currently contracted to Leeds. He is on a season long loan to Wakefield Trinity-References:... |
Leeds Rhinos Leeds Rhinos Leeds Rhinos is an English professional rugby league football club based in Leeds, West Yorkshire. The club won the 2011 Super League and became the most successful club in the Super League era, beating St Helens 32-16 on 8th October 2011. Formed in 1890, Leeds competes in Europe's Super League... |
3 Years | October 2011 |
| |
Andy Raleigh Andy Raleigh Andy Raleigh is an English rugby league player from Huddersfield. He currently plays in Super League for Huddersfield Giants. He plays as a or as a .... |
Huddersfield Giants Huddersfield Giants Huddersfield Giants are a professional rugby league club from Huddersfield, West Yorkshire who play in the European Super League competition. They play their home games at the Galpharm Stadium which is shared with Huddersfield Town F.C.... |
2 Years | October 2011 |
| |
Danny Kirmond Danny Kirmond Danny Kirmond is an English professional rugby league player for the Huddersfield Giants, and was on loan to the Wakefield Trinity Wildcats for the majority of the 2010 season... |
Huddersfield Giants Huddersfield Giants Huddersfield Giants are a professional rugby league club from Huddersfield, West Yorkshire who play in the European Super League competition. They play their home games at the Galpharm Stadium which is shared with Huddersfield Town F.C.... |
3 Years | October 2011 |
| |
Ben Cockayne Ben Cockayne Ben Cockayne is an English rugby league player. He plays for Featherstone Rovers in the Championship. He is also an assistant coach at his former amateur club, Normanton Knights.-Career:... |
Featherstone Rovers Featherstone Rovers Featherstone Rovers are a semi-professional rugby league club, based in Featherstone, West Yorkshire, England. They currently play in the Championship. The Rovers are one of the last vestiges of "small town teams" that were once common in rugby league during the early twentieth century... |
1 Year | October 2011 |
| |
Kyle Wood Kyle Wood Kyle Wood is a rugby league player who at currently plays for Huddersfield Giants. He has also previously played for Wakefield Trinity Wildcats, Doncaster & Sheffield Eagles.... |
Huddersfield Giants Huddersfield Giants Huddersfield Giants are a professional rugby league club from Huddersfield, West Yorkshire who play in the European Super League competition. They play their home games at the Galpharm Stadium which is shared with Huddersfield Town F.C.... |
2 Year | October 2011 |
| |
Isaac John Isaac John Isaac John is a New Zealand professional rugby league footballer currently signed with the Wakefield Trinity Wildcats of the English Super League... |
New Zealand Warriors New Zealand Warriors The New Zealand Warriors are a professional rugby league football club based in Auckland, New Zealand. They compete in the National Rugby League premiership and are the League's only team from outside Australia... |
3 Years | October 2011 |
| |
Matt James Matt James Matt James is a Welsh international rugby league player for the Barrow Raiders in the Co-operative Championship. He usually plays as a . He has previously played for Super League sides Harlequins RL and Bradford Bulls.He has made great progress since joining the Bulls from Eastmoor on the advice... |
Barrow Raiders Barrow Raiders Barrow Raiders are an English professional rugby league team from Barrow-in-Furness, Cumbria, who are coached by Dave Clark. Formed in 1875 as Barrow Football Club, the club is the oldest of the current professional sports teams in Cumbria.... |
1 Year | November 2011 |
Outs
| Nat | Name | Sold To | Contract Length | Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| |
Matt Blaymire Matt Blaymire Matt Blaymire is a rugby league footballer who is currently in his fifth season playing for the Wakefield Trinity Wildcats. Matt Blaymire's usual position is fullback, but he can also play in the centre. After impressing for in 2006, Blaymire made the switch to the Wildcats alongside Peter Fox... |
Retired | N/A | August 2011 |
| |
Luke George Luke George Luke George is an English professional rugby league player for Wakefield Trinity Wildcats of Super League.Luke George's usual position is centre and he can play on the wing.Luke is the son of former Halifax favourite Wilf George.... |
Huddersfield Giants Huddersfield Giants Huddersfield Giants are a professional rugby league club from Huddersfield, West Yorkshire who play in the European Super League competition. They play their home games at the Galpharm Stadium which is shared with Huddersfield Town F.C.... |
2 Years | August 2011 |
 |
Julien Rinaldi Julien Rinaldi Julien Rinaldi is a French rugby league player for Harlequins RL in Super League. He was previously playing/coaching Villeneuve Leopards in the Elite One Championship in France. Rinaldi is a French international... |
Harlequins RL | 2 Years | August 2011 |
| |
Chris Dean Chris Dean Christopher David Dean born 17 January 1988 in Higher End, Wigan, Greater Manchester, is a rugby league player for Wakefield Trinity Wildcats in the engage Super League. Dean's position of choice is as in the but he can also operate as a or on the . Chris signed for St. Helens aged 15 from the... |
Widnes Vikings Widnes Vikings Widnes Vikings RLFC are an English professional rugby league club based in Widnes, Cheshire. They currently play in the Engage Super League, the top tier of European rugby league, after being awarded a license to compete in the top-flight Super League from 2012 onward... |
2 Years | August 2011 |
| |
Ben Gledhill Ben Gledhill Ben Gledhill is an English rugby league footballer for the Salford City Reds of Super League. He previously played Wakefield Trinity Wildcats. He plays as a . Gledhill was an academy player at the Castleford Tigers before joining Wakefield.-External links:**... |
Salford City Reds Salford City Reds Salford City Reds are an English rugby league club based in Salford, Greater Manchester. Formed in 1873, they currently play in the Super League. They have won six Rugby Football League Championships and one Challenge Cup... |
3 Years | August 2011 |
| |
Jarrad Hickey Jarrad Hickey Jarrad Hickey is a rugby league player for Harlequins RL in the European Super League.Previously with Canterbury Bulldogs he played several games for the club in 2006 off the bench. He is eligible for Ireland. Hickey has been given the nickname OAF, Hickman and Luva by Bulldogs supporters.He used... |
Harlequins RL | 1 Year | September 2011 |
| |
Aaron Murphy Aaron Murphy Aaron Murphy born 26 November 1988 in Leeds, West Yorkshire, England is a rugby league player for Wakefield Trinity Wildcats in the European Super League.... |
Huddersfield Giants Huddersfield Giants Huddersfield Giants are a professional rugby league club from Huddersfield, West Yorkshire who play in the European Super League competition. They play their home games at the Galpharm Stadium which is shared with Huddersfield Town F.C.... |
4 Years | October 2011 |
| |
Paul King Paul King (rugby league) Paul King is an English rugby league footballer, who at club level has played Hull, and Wakefield Trinity Wildcats, playing at , i.e. number 8 or 10.He went to Secondary School at Sydney Smith School in Hull.... |
York City Knights York City Knights York City Knights Rugby League Club is a British professional rugby league club hailing from York. They play at the Huntington Stadium, situated to the north of York city centre... |
1 Year | October 2011 |
| |
Tommy Lee Tommy Lee (rugby league) Tommy Lee is a rugby league player for Wakefield Trinity Wildcats who play in the European Super League. He was previously playing for Crusaders Rugby League and Hull and became the first signing for the Crusaders since the rebranding. He is a half back who progressed through the club's academy... |
Huddersfield Giants Huddersfield Giants Huddersfield Giants are a professional rugby league club from Huddersfield, West Yorkshire who play in the European Super League competition. They play their home games at the Galpharm Stadium which is shared with Huddersfield Town F.C.... |
1 Year | October 2011 |
 |
Michael Korkidas Michael Korkidas Michael Korkidas is an Australian-Greek rugby league player who currently plays for the Keighley Cougars. He primarily plays at .-Playing career:... |
Keighley Cougars Keighley Cougars Keighley Cougars are a professional rugby league club from Keighley in West Yorkshire, England. As of 2012 they will play in Co-operative Championship having won the Co-operative Championship 1 play off final 32-12 against Workington... |
1 Year | October 2011 |
| |
Jeremy Smith | N/A N/A n/a, which uses lowercase letters, is a common abbreviation for not applicable or not available, used to indicate when information in a certain field on a table is not provided, either because it does not apply to a particular case in question or because it is not available... |
N/A | November 2011 |
| |
Kevin Penny Kevin Penny Kevin Penny is an English rugby league for Swinton in rugby league's Championship. He has previously played for Warrington, Wakefield Trinity and on loan for Harlequins RL and Widnes. Penny is also a youth level international for England.... |
N/A N/A n/a, which uses lowercase letters, is a common abbreviation for not applicable or not available, used to indicate when information in a certain field on a table is not provided, either because it does not apply to a particular case in question or because it is not available... |
N/A | November 2011 |
| |
Josh Veivers Josh Veivers Joshua Veivers is a professional rugby league player, currently contracted to Wakefield Trinity Wildcats in Super League. The son of former St Helens player and Wigan Warriors assistant coach Phil Veivers, Josh joined the Wildcats from Wigan, where he made no first team appearances, only playing in... |
N/A N/A n/a, which uses lowercase letters, is a common abbreviation for not applicable or not available, used to indicate when information in a certain field on a table is not provided, either because it does not apply to a particular case in question or because it is not available... |
N/A | November 2011 |
| |
Stuart Howarth Stuart Howarth Stuart Howarth is a professional rugby league player, currently playing for Wakefield Trinity Wildcats in Super League. A product of the Wigan Warriors academy, Howarth is a versatile player; having played at fullback and stand off as a youth and in the Wigan set-up, while he now plies his trade as... |
N/A N/A n/a, which uses lowercase letters, is a common abbreviation for not applicable or not available, used to indicate when information in a certain field on a table is not provided, either because it does not apply to a particular case in question or because it is not available... |
N/A | November 2011 |
| |
Kevin Henderson Kevin Henderson (rugby league) Kevin Henderson is a British professional rugby league footballer for the Wakefield Trinity Wildcats of Super League. A Scotland international representative forward, Henderson previously played in Australia for the Newcastle Knights and in England for Leigh Centurions... |
N/A N/A n/a, which uses lowercase letters, is a common abbreviation for not applicable or not available, used to indicate when information in a certain field on a table is not provided, either because it does not apply to a particular case in question or because it is not available... |
N/A | November 2011 |
| |
Glenn Morrison Glenn Morrison Glenn Adam Morrison is a former Australian professional rugby league player. He played for the Parramatta Eels, Balmain Tigers, North Sydney Bears, and the North Queensland Cowboys in the National Rugby League before moving to England to play for the Bradford Bulls and then the Wakefield Trinity... |
Retired | N/A | November 2011 |
| |
Liam Higgins Liam Higgins Liam Higgins is a rugby league footballer who currently plays for the Wakefield Trinity Wildcats in the Super League. He has previously played for Hull, Castleford Tigers and Sheffield Eagles. His usual position is .-International Career:Higgins qualifies for Serbia through his Serbian mother... |
N/A N/A n/a, which uses lowercase letters, is a common abbreviation for not applicable or not available, used to indicate when information in a certain field on a table is not provided, either because it does not apply to a particular case in question or because it is not available... |
N/A | November 2011 |
| |
Sammy Masselot | N/A N/A n/a, which uses lowercase letters, is a common abbreviation for not applicable or not available, used to indicate when information in a certain field on a table is not provided, either because it does not apply to a particular case in question or because it is not available... |
N/A | November 2011 |
 |
Semi Tadulala Semi Tadulala Semi Tadulala is a Fijian professional rugby league football winger for English club Wakefield Trinity Wildcats. He has also played for Gloucester Rugby and Leeds Carnegie at rugby union... |
N/A N/A n/a, which uses lowercase letters, is a common abbreviation for not applicable or not available, used to indicate when information in a certain field on a table is not provided, either because it does not apply to a particular case in question or because it is not available... |
N/A | November 2011 |