Wakefield Trinity bring forward Emre Guler arrival for Super League run-in
Wakefield Trinity have fast-tracked prop Emre Guler's arrival from the NRL to bolster their Super League run-in, with the 28-year-old named in head coach Daryl Powell's 21-man squad for Friday's clash against Wigan Warriors.
Guler had been due to join Trinity on a three-year contract starting next season. Instead, St George Illawarra Dragons granted him an early release from his deal with immediate effect, allowing the Yorkshire club to register him in time for the final weeks of the 2026 campaign (BBC Sport).
Wakefield confirmed Guler's signing for the 2027 season back in June, with the prop lined up alongside fellow recruits Cameron Smith and Roger Tuivasa-Sheck. The club's desire to get him on the pitch sooner rather than later is understandable: Trinity sit fourth in the Super League table, and a front-rower with 126 NRL appearances brings immediate muscle to the forward pack.
Guler made his name at Canberra Raiders before joining St George Illawarra at the start of 2025. He has been ever-present for the Dragons this season, featuring in all 16 games and taking his total for the club to 29 since his arrival (Super League). A Turkish international, he now swaps the Australian winter for an English autumn and a playoff push.
Dragons chief operating officer Ben Creagh thanked Guler for his contribution and wished him well, confirming the parting was amicable (BBC Sport). The release also came ahead of the Super League transfer deadline, allowing Trinity to beat the cut to register their new man (Serious About RL).
For the uninitiated, a prop is one of the two biggest forwards in a rugby league side, packing the front row of the scrum and carrying the ball into contact to lay the platform for the backs. In Super League, the table determines playoff seeding — fourth place puts Trinity comfortably in the postseason mix, and a strong finish could secure a home tie.
Whether Guler makes his debut against Wigan on Friday evening may come down to match fitness and how quickly he adapts to the pace of the English game. But his inclusion in Powell's squad suggests Trinity intend to waste no time putting their new arrival to work.
The scheduling adds a layer of intrigue. Wigan Warriors are one of Super League's powerhouse clubs, and a Friday night fixture under lights is about as demanding an introduction as Guler could ask for. If he does take the field, it will be a swift test of how quickly a player can transition from one hemisphere's rhythms to another's — and whether Trinity's ambitious recruitment can translate into results when it matters most.
