Josh Rourke, a teenage fullback for Wakefield Trinity, had a difficult night, but after the Challenge Cup loss to Leigh Leopards, coach Daryl Powell offered him encouragement.
Rourke is filling in for starter fullback Max Jowitt, who will be sidelined for the next four months due to knee surgery.
Even though Jowitt had been one of Wakefield’s best players so far in 2025, Leigh scored two tries thanks to two mistakes made by Rourke: one from a dropped ball following a Leopards kick, and another from a pass to winger Matty Russell in front of his own posts.
Wakefield Trinity boss makes Josh Rourke comment after costly mistakes vs Leigh Leopards
It was a tough night for young Wakefield Trinity fullback Josh Rourke but his coach Daryl Powell offered him support following the Challenge Cup defeat to Leigh Leopards.
With starting fullback Max Jowitt out of action for the next four months following knee surgery, Rourke is stepping into his shoes.
Jowitt himself had been one of Wakefield’s star performers in 2025 so far and despite a solid performance, two of Rourke’s errors led to Leigh tries, first from a dropped ball after a Leopards kick and then passing the ball to winger Matty Russell in front of his own posts.
His coach wanted to reassure the youngster that he would look out for him as he gets more game time under his belt.
Speaking post-match to the media, Powell said: “I just think it was a poor decision, passing to Matty Russell, he’s got two broken ribs anyway so probably shouldn’t be giving him that sort of hospital ball there.
“We need to look after him (Rourke) because he’s done some great thing, his high ball stuff is phenomenal and he scores tries.
“He’d been great all night. Look, this happens, he’s still a pretty young player so we just need to look after him.
