Wakefield Trinity recruit Mike McMeeken says the prospect of achieving “something special” inspired his return to West Yorkshire.
McMeeken, 30, will join promoted Trinity from Catalans Dragons in pre-season on a four-year deal. He began his career with London Broncos in 2012 and spent five seasons at Castleford Tigers, under current Wakefield boss Daryl Powell, before moving to France in 2021.
“I am definitely excited to start at Wakey,” McMeeken – who is set to feature for England in Saturday’s second Test against Samoa at AMT Headingley – insisted. “Once this series is out of the way. I’ll have a few weeks off to rest and do a few things with my family, then start back in early December.
“I’m looking forward to it; they’re developing something amazing there, which was one of the primary reasons I spoke with Powelly. I know him as a person, and I know he wants to create something exceptional. I’d like to be involved in the path he and Matt [Ellis, Trinity’s owner] see for the club.”
Powell spotted Basingstoke-born McMeeken playing for London during their 2014 relegation campaign, when they won only one Super League game. He went on to play for Castleford in the 2017 Grand Final, after helping them to that year’s league leaders’ shield and also appeared at Old Trafford with Catalans in 2021 and 2023.
“He is certainly a massive part of why I am where I am now,” McMeeken said of the coach who guided Wakefield to an 1895 Cup, Championship league leaders and Grand Final treble this year. “I came to him as a very inexperienced 20-year-old and he took my game to the next level.
