Video - Wakefield Trinity 20 Castleford Tigers 58: Wildcats sign Smith to replace sidelined star Locke

The New Zealand Test full-back, who was a World Cup finalist less than two years ago, was touted as one of the club’s biggest-ever signings when he joined them after ‘resigning’ from Salford Red Devils.

Locke proved his class as he 
inspired Wakefield to a first win in 17 Super League games, against Hull, on his debut at the start of this month, but yesterday’s defeat at home to Castleford Tigers was only his third appearance and he lasted less than a quarter of the game.

“Kevin has got a serious arm and chest injury,” coach Brian Smith revealed after the match.

“He has gone to hospital and we’re not too hopeful that it will be anything but season-ending for him, unfortunately.”

Wakefield acted quickly to bring in a replacement for Locke, re-signing their former player Lee Smith, who has been training with them, on a contract until the end of the season. Locke would have been the highest-profile player in the Qualifiers.

“It is a blow,” Smith conceded. “We were counting on Kevin being an important part as we developed. It is an horrendous injury and he is in a fair bit of pain.”

The loss of Locke added injury to insult for Wakefield, who were blown apart by five tries in 12 minutes either side of the interval.

Castleford scored 40 points in the second half and Smith admitted it was a backwards step for his team, after weeks of improvement.

“In some ways it’s good for us that there was no way of hiding from where we failed,” Smith said. “I made way too many changes and gave some guys a shot at it who are just not ready to play at this point in time.”

Wakefield made a positive start and led early on through a try by Reece Lyne, who touched down from Tim Smith’s kick.

Joe Arundel landed the first of two conversions against his former club, but then mistakes and poor defence began to mar Wakefield’s game, as they have done all season.

The home defence should have been strong enough to keep Grant Millington out on 14 minutes, but the in-form prop proved too powerful from 20 metres out and Locke was hurt trying to make a tackle.

Then, just three minutes later, Ali Lauitiiti attempted an offload in front of his own posts and Luke Gale, who was restored at scrum-half for Castleford after illness and proved to be their most effective player, pounced to nip over.

Wakefield levelled when front-rower Anthony Walker crashed over from close-range off Paul McShane’s pass three minutes before half-time, but Mike McMeeken touched down from Junior Moors’s pass and Gale landed his third goal of the half after the hooter had sounded.

McMeeken was playing in the right-centre after Denny Solomona, who had scored in Castleford’s previous six games, hobbled off with an ankle injury which could keep him out of action for a month.

Castleford moved further ahead three minutes into the second half when Oliver Holmes backed up Michael Shenton’s break, before Luke Dorn touched down and Justin Carney displayed his football skills to cross from Gale’s kick, then added a second from the same player’s pass.

Young winger Tom Johnstone scored a rapid brace for the home team, but Castleford signed off with three more tries in the final seven minutes, Carney crossing either side of Dorn’s second.

Castleford are likely to finish the weekly Super League rounds in fifth spot, unless they can beat Warrington Wolves on Sunday and Huddersfield Giants, who are fourth, slip up unexpectedly at home to Wakefield.

But coach Daryl Powell was happy with his team’s response following defeat at Hull in their previous game. He said: “Overall we showed a great attitude and it was a really strong performance. There were some great individual performances and the execution of some of our plays was sublime at times.”

Wakefield: Locke, Tansey, Arundel, Lyne, Johnstone, Miller, T Smith, Scruton, Howarth, Anderson, Lauitiiti, Molloy, Simon. Substitutes: McShane, Washbrook, Walker, Mullally.

Castleford: Dorn, Solomona, Gibson, Shenton, Carney, Finn, Gale, Lynch, Milner, Millington, O Holmes, McMeeken, Springer. Substitutes: Roberts, Cook, Boyle, Moors.

Referee: R Hicks (Oldham).