10 May 2023 , 20:37
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Big hitter Kelepi Tanginoa insists the only place he’s going is upwards with winless Wakefield.
The barnstorming Aussie second-row, 29, hopes to kick-start troubled Trinity’s relegation fight when they face Hull FC on Thursday. It will be only his second game back since recovering from annoying recurring hamstring issues which had sidelined him since February. But there had also been talk that wobbling Wakefield might cash-in on their star forward with circling Super League rivals waiting to pounce.
Ex-Manly ace Tanginoa, under contract until the end of 2024, said: “There was lots of speculation about me. But my only focus is playing my best for Wakefield and trying to get us off bottom. It’s been frustrating for myself, the boys and coaching staff but I’m focused on helping us get away from there.
“I had setbacks with the injury three times and didn’t want it to get worse. It was tough. Even though I wanted to play and help the guys play good footy, I knew I couldn’t just rush back. I had to do the rehab and get it right so I could now play 100 percent for Wakey. It was hard because I missed ten rounds of Super League and some big games. But I’m back now. And I’m happy here.”
Boss Mark Applegarth is still awaiting a first win after suffering 11 straight defeats and his side are four points adrift of safety. But Combined Nations All Star Tanginoa, a huge fans favourite since joining Trinity in 2019, reckons they are edging closer to a much-needed success. They were level 12-12 at Warrington on Friday and fighting hard when ex-Kiwi forward Kevin Procter was dismissed for a 53rd minute high tackle.
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Wakefield then crashed 32-18 but Tanginoa - who played 80 minutes on his try-scoring return from injury - insisted: “If we’d have kept 13 players on we’d have maybe won. We played the Wakey way. The boys like to throw the ball around and we did that. It gives us confidence. That’s how we want to play.
Wakefield Trinity's Kelepi Tanginoa (PA)“We’re getting bodies back now and there were plenty of positives especially given Warrington were top of the table not long ago. If we do that against FC, we’ve a good chance of getting that first victory but we know they won’t be easy. They’ve had two massive wins and are wanting a third.
“But we’re looking for that crucial first. Things can easily then snowball from there. And I don’t think there’s any pressure on us at the moment.”
Hull were on a seven-match losing run before beating Huddersfield and leaders Wigan. They have activated one-year contract extensions for loose forward Joe Cator, 24, centre Cam Scott, 23, and prop Jack Brown, 22, who will now all stay until at least the end of 2024.