The former Hull FC half-back will play in the Super League Grand Final on Saturday.
Wakefield Trinity’s Jake Trueman in action against Hull FC.
Ex-Hull FC half-back Jake Trueman has certainly done the hard yards in his career.
Suffering ACL and Achilles tendon ruptures in back-to-back seasons, the now Wakefield Trinity star was due some luck, but that luck didn’t come by chance.
Knuckling down, Trueman got himself fully fit and, by his own admission, is now in career-best form.
Playing every game in Wakefield’s incredible run to Old Trafford, the 27-year-old is ready to top off an outstanding season with a Grand Final victory.
It would be just deserts for the Bradfordian, who has gone full circle alongside Trinity coach Daryl Powell and finally has the rugby league gods shining down on him.
“Hopefully they are shining on Saturday as well,” Trueman, speaking to Hull Live sister title All Out Rugby League, smirked. “There were some tough years early on in my career but I’m surrounded by great people.
“I’ve been at some great clubs, Cas to begin with and then Hull, and while Hull didn’t go the way I wanted on the pitch, they were great with me and my injuries. I was lucky to be there and have the people around me that I did.”
Asked if 2026 has been his best yet, Trueman, who made his 50th appearance for Wakefield in their semi-final win over Wigan last week, said: “I’d say so. It’s the most I’ve played. I’ve played every game (32).
“I was pretty confident if I put some games together, I’d be happy and I’d have a good year. I feel like I’m as fit as I’ve ever been. I’m in a good place right now.”
It’s no coincidence Trueman has hit top form again playing under Powell, the coach who gave him his Super League debut back in 2017.
The pair have a great relationship both in and away from rugby, with the half-back, as relaxed as they come, able to play with freedom and a swagger about him.
“He just knows my strengths,” Trueman said. “He knows what I’m good at. He builds the team in that way and he’s flexible to the players he’s got in his team.
“He’s also relaxed, but he’s very demanding off the pitch in what he expects at training every day and the work ethic. He keeps you on your toes.
“It’s really enjoyable to play under him. He doesn’t put the shackles on us. He lets us play and lets us express ourselves.
“Then there’s Michael Shenton and Danny Kirmond as well, who do a lot of work in the background with how we want to play and our game model.
“We’ve got a great way of playing that really suits us as players. There’s that massive pack that can go forward, but we can also play some rugby as well.”
Among the enjoyment, there’s also hard work. You don’t get to rugby league finals if you’re not prepared to dig in, and Wakefield, from last November to last week’s semi-final, have done exactly that, a path Hull FC must follow under Steve McNamara this winter.
“You’ve got to train hard from the start of pre-season; otherwise, this doesn’t happen,” Trueman admitted. “Sometimes it’s tough, hard, and intense, but it’s what you’ve got to do to win.
“The teams who don’t do it don’t win. You look at Wigan; they are the perfect example, and every year they’re on it. You can imagine Matty Peet being relentless in what he expects from the group. You’ve got to be like that if you want to win.”
But that hard work only added to Wakefield’s belief – belief that success could follow after a project led by Powell, general manager Ste Mills, and owner Matt Ellis that has come to life.
“We always believed this could happen,” Trueman said. “We had a good year last year and then we added some really good players into the group, Jazz Tevaga and Tyson Smoothy, who have been great for us and have just gone to another level.
“They’ve all been huge for us this year. They’ve been so good. We’ve got such a good mix of players here who complement each other well and that makes my job so much easier as a half-back.”
Of course, Trueman signed for Wakefield from Hull when the former wasn’t certain of their fate. They stormed the Championship in 2024, but their Super League place, due to IMG-ball, was still up in the air.
But once the gradings gave them Grade A status and the green light, the only way was up.
“It’s a strange one,” Trueman recalled. “I remember going to watch games in the Championship and I didn’t even know if they were going to get into Super League, as they didn’t get told until after the Grand Final.
“It was pretty much nailed on, but we weren’t certain that the club would get promoted. I wasn’t too sure how it would end up, but then when you spoke to Daryl, Ste, and Matt, you could see where the club wanted to go.
“There’s just so much passion here, coaching knowledge with Daryl, and then Matt, with his investment, puts his money where his mouth is.
“When you’ve got guys like that, who are real meticulous and who love the game, it’s just a great set-up. Looking back, it was never going to fail.”