Noah Booth has thanked Wakefield Trinity for setting him on the way to becoming a Super League player with Hull KR. The young winger hopes to face his former club on Friday having scored another two tries in Thursday’s win at hometown Castleford.
The 20 year-old now has four in as many games for the Super League leaders since making his debut at Magic Weekend. Booth, stepping in for the injured ex-England international Joe Burgess, was signed from Wakefield on a four-year deal in January.
He made six appearances for them in the Championship last term. Booth, who came through the Warrington Wolves academy system, said: “Wakefield were unbelievable for me. Daryl Powell gave me an opportunity and I’ll always be grateful for that.
“They were brilliant with me last year and playing in the Championship with them, I wouldn’t be where I am now without them. I came on leaps and bounds at Trinity and it’s great to see them doing so well back in Super League. Hopefully I get chance to play against them but it all depends on how Budgie [Burgess] is.”
Promoted Wakefield gained their biggest scalp yet when stunning champions Wigan 16-10 on Friday. Warriors had only previously been beaten twice before in Super League this season so the West Yorkshire club have done Rovers a huge favour as they bid to chase down the League Leaders’ Shield.
It means Willie Peters’ side now have a four point lead at the top and they also have a vastly superior points difference to Wigan. On his own form for the Challenge Cup winners, Booth admitted: “Every time I take to the field with these lads, it’s a dream come true. But to not just step out on the field with them but to then get tries it’s an incredible feeling.”
At Wheldon Road, just a few hundred yards from his old junior club Lock Lane, he linked superbly with Jack Broadbent who is filling in expertly at centre for the long-term injured Oli Gildart. Booth, who scored six tries in eight games on loan for Hunslet earlier this year, said: “Broady’s unbelievable. He’s a class player.
“He’s so versatile; he can play anywhere in the back five and what he’s doing in the left centre is brilliant. He’s putting me in for tries and I think we work very well together as two young lads. Looking forward, I think it’ll be a really good partnership.”
And has he been getting any winger’s tips from Burgess, the 30 year-old former Wigan star who also played in the NRL for South Sydney and Sydney Roosters?
Booth replied: “I keep asking him stuff and am constantly asking him for advice. As a senior player like he is, any advice you can get you take it.”
Remarkably, even though he’s only played four games, Thursday was the third time Booth featured in a Rovers side that nilled an opponent.
He scored a try on a 54-0 debut against Salford at Magic and featured in the 34-0 rout of Huddersfield while steely KR even only conceded one try when he scored again in the 68-6 destruction of Catalans.