Wakefield Trinity: Josh Rourke out for four weeks with knee injury

Wakefield Trinity full-back Josh Rourke will be out for “at least four weeks” with a knee injury in a blow to Daryl Powell’s side.

Rourke hurt his knee against St Helens in Saturday’s 46-16 defeat and head coach Powell said he would see a specialist but has ruled the 26-year-old out of the remainder of the regular season and potentially the first play-off match next month.

“Josh Rourke, he’s at least four weeks,” Powell told BBC Radio Leeds. “He’s in a brace at the moment. His timescale needs to be assessed when he sees a specialist, which he’ll do pretty soon.”

Powell, whose side face Wigan Warriors at the Brick Community Stadium on Friday, reported better news on Tom Johnstone, Isaiah Vagana and Mason Lino.

Winger Johnstone should return from his knee injury against York Knights next Saturday, while a scan has revealed prop Vagana has not badly damaged his shoulder.

“Tom Johnstone, I think, is one week, I think it’s ok next week,” said Powell. “Isaiah, I’m unsure, but the scan’s not as bad as we thought it might have been.”

Powell said half-back Lino could return before the end of the regular season after being out for 10 weeks.

“Mason’s pretty close,” he said. “I think he just needs to get fit now. I think he’ll be maybe a couple of weeks before he could get his fitness up to a level where you’d be comfortable putting him out there.”