Josh Griffin feels like he’s coming home joining Wakefield Trinity.
The strong-running second-row, 33, has completed his switch after being released from Hull on Monday. He has signed an 18-month deal but won’t be able to make his debut until next month as he completes a seven-game ban for questioning the integrity of referee Chris Kendall. Wakefield are bottom of Super League having lost their opening 14 games.
But since then they have won three of their last four to offer real hope of avoiding relegation - and Griffin's arrival fuether bolsters that. They are now just two points behind nearest rivals Castleford and he says their improving form was one of numerous reasons why he opted to join. The experienced player, who had spent the last seven years in Hull colours, said: "That was part of the reason.
“Definitely. I had a few different offers on the table. Obviously, I’m settled in Hull. I live in Hull. I wasn’t looking to move away from the area. Location-wise it made sense to go to Wakefield. But deep down I’m a Wakey boy. I grew up in Wakefield, my first-born was born here, I went to school in Wakefield and my family still lives here - my mum’s two miles around the corner.
“But as well as that I came through their scholarship system, made my Academy debut with Wakey as well as reserves and first-team debuts. For me, it’s a club close to my heart and when they came about there was only really one option: to rejoin them. I’d hate to see them relegated. At heart, I’m probably a Wakefield fan. When I was growing up it was always a dream of mine to play for Wakefield so, in a way, it’s nice to go back.”
It’s actually Oxford-born Griffin’s third stint at Belle Vue: he made his debut in a Challenge Cup game against Salford in 2008 when the likes of Danny Brough, Ryan Atkins and Scott Grix were all team-mates. But that was his solitary appearance and he moved onto Huddersfield at the end of that season. After two years at Giants, including most of 2010 spent on loan at Batley, Griffin rejoined Wakefield in 2011 and finally established himself as a Super League player, scoring seven tries in 20 games.
However, he moved again to Castleford the following season, crossing 14 times in 21 outings before making a cross-code switch to Leeds Carnegie. A return to Batley two years later led to an important return to Salford in 2014 and his impressive form there saw him secure a deal with Hull three years later. Griffin, a team-mate of current Trinity boss Mark Applegarth during his first spell at Belle Vue and also played alongside him at Batley, has spent most of his career at centre.
But he made the successful switch to second-row this term and said: “Mash (Applegarth) has said to me he sees me as a back-row. I think that is my best position these days. I’ve hit some good form there and I sat down with Mash and said ‘look, if you want to get the best out of me, put me in the back-row.’ I see myself as a left-side back-row. I’m not sure if that will continue here but I do see that as my strongest position. I’ll be working hard until I’m available to play again and I’ll make sure to hit the ground running. There’s plenty of competition for places in the back row, which is only a good thing.”
Griffin, ironically, could make his ‘third’ Trinity debut against relegation rivals Castleford - and brother George - on Friday August 18. He said: “The Cas game is massive, but I also think every game is just as important. Winning three out of the last four, the momentum is with us but it’s important not to look too far into the future and just concentrate on the next game. My goals are to help the club and team out in any way that I can, I will help prepare the boys for the upcoming games.”
Applegarth added: "I’m delighted we have secured Josh’s services for the rest of this year and next. Not only is he a top quality Super League player, he’s a great person who will help drive standards up in training. I’m looking forward to him joining up tomorrow. He’s a strong runner of the ball and hopefully he will continue his great form that he was in before his ban.”
