Demetriou thanks 'rugby family'

Demetriou's Wildcats are sixth in Super League

Wakefield Trinity Wildcats captain Jason Demetriou has thanked the "rugby league family" for their continued support of the Adam Watene Fund.

The 31-year-old died suddenly during a gym training session eight months ago and a memorial dinner was held in his honour on Friday, 19 June.

"Thanks has to go to the public for all this," Demetriou told BBC Radio Leeds.

"The rugby league family has been absolutely outstanding. They keep supporting the fund."

He added: "Without them we wouldn't have any more, and anytime you ask someone to help out they are always willing, for instance the MC on Friday night did the event for free and that shows what the rugby league community is all about.

"It's great to be a part of and it just humbles you to now that the game can do such things."

Demetriou, a good friend of Watene, took over his number for the 2009 season and will return to action this weekend after a knee operation.

He added: "Over the past few weeks I have been battling with a knee injury and I've probably pushed it too far because I've been wearing Adam's number and wanted to play for him.

"I've had the knee fixed now and I'm looking forward to going on and honouring his name and his shirt.

"If we can make the play-offs and I can continue the form I was showing previous to my injury then I know I've done well.

"I'll keep doing what I always do, I know he'd be proud of that and it's something his kids can look at and see what he meant to all of us."

The fund's upcoming events will see a Wakefield-to-Huddersfield walk on Sunday, 5 July; a Castleford-Wakefield walk on Sunday, 26 and a golf day at Wakefield Golf Course in Lupset on Wednesday, 19 August.