‘No excuses’ for Wakefield Trinity as coach Brian Smith arrives

The centre hopes to overcome a hamstring strain to retain his place in the side for Sunday’s visit from leaders Leeds Rhinos.

Wakefield have not won in the league since February and seen coach James Webster leave after a hapless losing streak.

Veteran coach Brian Smith has taken over until the end of the season and he hopes to be in attendance – caretaker Stuart Dickens will still be in charge – on Sunday after flying in from Australia.

Lyne said: “We’re back at home and what better place to do it (get a win). We’ve a new coach and a first chance to impress him, too, so there should be no excuses.

“We know he’ll be watching so everyone who has got that shirt has first chance to impress.

“I suppose that adds an extra bit of pressure to go out and do well but I just think we need to improve ourselves.

“Obviously Webbo’s a great coach and we let him down.

“Now Stu’s in and then Brian and it’s down to us as players to produce a performance on the pitch.”

Facing Leeds, of course, won’t be an easy task even given their West Yorkshire rivals’ growing injury problems.

“It is an exciting challenge,” said ex-Hull FC star Lyne, as Trinity try to avoid another embarrassment like Sunday’s 56-16 Magic Weekend loss to Castleford Tigers.

“It’s a local derby and they are sitting at the top of the league so we know it’s going to be another tough one, but there’s no excuse not to get up for this game.

“Leeds are a top team and have strike all over the pitch but we’re not really worried about them.

“We are worried about our own game and putting our own performance in.

“We were 16-0 down against Cas after giving easy points away but we got into the grind of the game and found ourselves just four behind.

“We had a foothold in that game but unforced errors cost us.

“We are moving in the right direction but at this level you have to do it for 80 minutes. If we don’t do that, it’s just letting ourselves down and we have to improve on Sunday.”

Wakefield back-row Kyle Trout, 23, has joined Hunslet Hawks on loan for the rest of the season and is set to debut against Whitehaven on Sunday.