Wakefield Trinity have made another huge signing for 2025 to follow Mike McMeeken, with Trin now confirming the signing of former player Tom Johnstone.
Just like McMeeken, Tom Johnstone will sign a four-year deal keeping him at the club until 2028 with the aggressive recruitment part of the club’s rebuild after relegation from Super League last year.
The recruitment comes on the back of investment from new owner Matt Ellis and is part of the club’s long-term plan to establish themselves as a top-four side in Super League.
Earlier this week, recruitment manager Ste Mills outlined the plan for Wakefield Trinity to become one of the sport’s elite. Speaking on the club’s YouTube channel, he explained that new recruit McMeeken and all of the coaching staff had signed four-year deals. Tom Johnstone now joins that club now.
“For us, it’s about making sure that all the work we do is a long-term plan. It’s not a two or three-year project, this is a long-term plan to make sure we get the targets that we need.”
They’ve now landed target Tom Johnstone and confirmed so last night.
Wakefield Trinity return for Tom Johnstone
Credit: Imago Images
After news broke earlier this week from Catalans Dragons that their star winger had refused a “marquee” contract with a “significant pay increase”, it was clear that Johnstone was close to being confirmed for his Wakefield Trinity return.
The winger had made 115 appearances for Trin before his move to the South of France, where had made it to Old Trafford, but the call of home and his boyhood club has swayed Johnstone.
Wakefield confirmed his arrival via a club statement: “Wakefield Trinity have secured the return to the club of Tom Johnstone on a four-year deal from Super League side, Catalans Dragons!
“The 28-year old becomes the second current England International to commit to Trinity in 2024 following his Catalans teammate, Mike McMeeken. Johnstone appeared in all three of England’s recent test series against Tonga, scoring two tries in the first game. ”
His arrival now means that Wakefield Trinity are building an incredibly impressive team for next season and it would appear that the recruitment doesn’t end with Johnstone.
Head of Recruitment Ste Mills had promised signings that would “ignite” Super League and help make the club one of the sport’s elite.
With that in mind, Serious About Rugby League compiled a possible thirteen-man squad that Wakefield Trinity could be set to play with in 2025. Since the creation of that piece, both McMeeken and Johnstone have been confirmed as leaving the Stade Gilbert Brutus for Belle Vue. Could any of the other predicted players also follow suit?
