Grix and Trinity gearing up for new challenge

FORMER Huddersfield Giants fullback Scott Grix has taken his first step playing for new club Wakefield Trinity.

The 32-year-old played in Trinity’s 30-6 Boxing Day win at Leeds Rhinos as Wakefield head coach Chris Chester’s side prepare for the 2017 Super League season when they will be looking to build on last term’s top eight finish.

The ex-Giant was joined by fellow close season signings Mitch Allgood, Sam Williams, Keegan Hirst and Mason Caton-Brown in the pre-season success at Headingley Carnegie – though Grix’s former Giants colleague Craig Huby missed the Leeds match – and Trinity’s squad certainly appears stronger than last season.

However, Grix feels there is plenty more work to be done and said: “The score on Boxing Day doesn’t really affect us.

“We’ve got plenty of friendlies to figure out where we’re going to be come the start of the season.

“But the quality of the young lads in the squad – who are going to get a taste of the action over the next few weeks – is very good.

“I’ve been impressed by them and I think we will be in good shape.”

While the Giants will just have outings against Bradford Bulls on Sunday, January 22 (3pm) and at Warrington Wolves on Wednesday, February 1, in contrast their Super League rivals Wakefield have a busy pre-season schedule as they travel to Dewsbury for their second warm-up match on Sunday, January 8, then are at home to Castleford Tigers a week later and then visit Featherstone Rovers on Sunday, January 22.

“We’ve got a few people to come back in and plenty of time to get ready for round one,” added Grix, who played 161 games for the Giants, scoring 288 points between 2010 and 2016.

“In terms of the Leeds game it was a nice box ticked to see where we are at.

“We can have a good look at the tape, but I thought we showed some good touches.”

Grix, who scored 18 tries in 42 Super League appearances for Wakefield in 2008-2009 before spending seven seasons with the Giants, reckons Trinity are capable of doing well in Super League 2017. “I am enjoying being back,” he said. “There was a nice picture in the Boxing Day programme from this time nine years ago when I made my first Wakefield debut.

“That brought back some memories. I hadn’t played on Boxing Day since I left Wakefield the first time and, all in all, it was a good day.

“It was the first time I’d played on Boxing Day for a while and obviously the game was what pre-season is all about – in theory it is another training session.

“We’ll pick it to bits, but we’ve got the first one under our belts and I enjoyed it.”