Wakefield release Dean Collis in blow to Brian Smith
Thursday 11 June 2015 17:27, UK
New Wakefield coach Brian Smith has suffered a blow ahead of his first game in charge after Australian centre Dean Collis was released by the club with immediate effect.
Collis, 29, is to return home to Australia for family reasons after making 63 Super League appearances since joining the Wildcats from Cronulla in September 2011.
Wakefield chairman Michael Carter said: "Dean expressed a desire to return home for family reasons. I was sorry to let Dean go and I wish him and his family all the best in the future."
Collis is the second overseas player to quit the club in the last month following prop Lopini Paea's decision to return to Australia and former Crusaders and Bradford half-back Jarrod Sammut is poised to follow them out of the exit door at Belle Vue, although he is expected to continue his career in the Championship.
Smith’s first game as coach, after succeeding fellow Australian James Webster on a short-term deal, sees the Wildcats face fellow strugglers Salford at home on Sunday.
He is confident of bringing in replacements for the departed players, although they are unlikely to arrive in time for Sunday's game.
"Sometimes they come to us," said Smith. "Our phones have been ringing the last few days so, without getting everybody too excited, something will happen in the next week or two.
"We've got some space now, finance-wise and quota-wise."
Clean slate
Smith, who previously coached in England at Hull and Bradford, does not expect any more departures and says the rest of the players will start the new regime with a clean slate.
"Blokes being tapped up is always a distraction but, from my time here before, it just goes on incessantly, you've got to learn to go with the flow," he said.
"Unless someone wants to go, they're here to stay, certainly for my five months. I made a commitment to work with the guys that are here, both staff and players, and I'm happy to do that.
"They should be jumping out of their skins. It's not about me, it's just anybody coming in, it gives everybody in the place a fresh start. Everybody's a chance while I'm here."
Smith, who arrived from Australia in time to watch the Wildcats go down 58-26 to leaders Leeds last Sunday, says he is down to just 19 fit players for the visit of the Red Devils.
Ali Lauitiiti, Matty Ashurst, Reece Lyne and Scott Anderson remain sidelined and Craig Hall and Richie Owen joined them on the injury list after Sundays' game.
"We've got a squad of 19 for Sunday so can afford for a couple more to drop out and still have 17 but I hope we don't," Smith said.
