Anderson and Lyne poised for Wakefield Wildcats return

Wakefield TRINITY WILDCATS have lifted the suspension on two of the four players stood down a week ago pending the outcome of internal investigations.
Wakefield Wildcats' Scott Anderson.Wakefield Wildcats' Scott Anderson.
Wakefield Wildcats' Scott Anderson.

Forward Scott Anderson and three-quarter Reece Lyne resumed training earlier today and look set to return to the Wildcats team for Sunday’s final match of the Super 8s Qualifiers against Sheffield Eagles at Bramall Lane.

Full-back Kevin Locke and scrum-half Tim Smith remain suspended and the subject of a police investigation into a car crash in Hull 10 days ago.

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Lyne was also thought to have been involved in that incident but it is understood he played only a minor role, while Anderson’s disciplinary issue was unconnected.

“The investigation into Reece has been concluded,” said Wakefield chairman Michael Carter.

“He’s been fined for his part in the incident and he’s back in the squad.

“It’s pretty much the same with Scott Anderson and he’s also training today.

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“The other investigation is still ongoing. I was hoping to get it concluded last night but it was not possible.”

Smith has been bailed to appear before magistrates later this month charged with driving without due care and attention.

Meanwhile, Carter says he is confident the club will still be playing at their historic Belle Vue home next season after successfully re-negotiating a rent reduction.

Carter had threatened to move the club out of the ground because of the high costs and had lined up a temporary ground-share with Championship club Dewsbury for 2016 if talks with owners Bank of Ireland failed to resolve the impasse.

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“We’ve got agreement in principle to carry on using the ground,” Carter said. “We have to firm things up but I don’t see any obstacles.

“The plan will be to remain at Belle Vue, certainly for next year, but the ultimate aim is to move into a new community stadium at Newmarket and we’ve got to keep the pressure on the council and the developer to deliver on the promise they made at the public inquiry.”

Carter says alternative plans to develop Belle Vue, which is one of only five grounds still in use from the time of the breakaway from the Rugby Football Union in 1895, were impractical.

“It became more difficult,” he said. “It’s an old facility.”

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Belle Vue will be full to the rafters on Saturday week if they beat Sheffield on Sunday to earn home advantage against Bradford in the ‘Million-Pound Match’ to determine the 12th and final place in Super League for 2016.

In 2006, 11,000 people crammed into the ground to watch Wakefield beat Castleford in their promotion decider but the current ground capacity is expected to be confirmed at just short of 8,000.