A wheel assembly for use with a turbine, said wheel assembly comprising: a turbine wheel (116,118,120,122) comprising a plurality of retaining slots defined therein, wherein each of said plurality of slots is sized to receive a dovetail of a turbine bucket (124,126,128,130) therein, the wheel assembly further comprising at least one cover plate (200,501) configured for attachment to said turbine wheel on at least one of an upstream surface (214, 502) and a downstream surface of the turbine wheel, the cover plate including a radially outer end (326, 540), wherein at least one projection (216, 506) extends outward from the turbine wheel, the at least one projection defining a radially outer retaining groove (320, 508), wherein the radially outer end (326, 540) of the cover plate (200, 501) is configured to be inserted within the radially outer retaining groove, wherein a retainer is formed integrally with turbine wheel or with an adjacent turbine component such that a radially inner retaining groove is formed, said radially inner retaining groove configured for a radially inner end of the cover plate to be inserted therein; and the wheel assembly further comprises at least one fastening mechanism (220, 534) sized for insertion through an opening (222,536) to secure said cover plate against said turbine wheel so as to provide said cover plate extending across at least one of said plurality of retaining slots, characterized in that the wheel includes dovetail posts spaced circumferentially about the wheel and extending radially outward from and integrally formed with the wheel, wherein each dovetail post includes a projection (216, 506) that extends inward from the wheel such that said radially outer retaining groove (320, 508) is defined by the projection, wherein each dovetail post is positioned between a pair of circumferentially adjacent buckets coupled to wheel, and wherein at least one of said projections (216, 506) comprises at least one of said opening (222, 536) extending therethrough. a turbine wheel (116,118,120,122) comprising a plurality of retaining slots defined therein, wherein each of said plurality of slots is sized to receive a dovetail of a turbine bucket (124,126,128,130) therein, the wheel assembly further comprising at least one cover plate (200,501) configured for attachment to said turbine wheel on at least one of an upstream surface (214, 502) and a downstream surface of the turbine wheel, the cover plate including a radially outer end (326, 540), wherein at least one projection (216, 506) extends outward from the turbine wheel, the at least one projection defining a radially outer retaining groove (320, 508), wherein the radially outer end (326, 540) of the cover plate (200, 501) is configured to be inserted within the radially outer retaining groove, wherein a retainer is formed integrally with turbine wheel or with an adjacent turbine component such that a radially inner retaining groove is formed, said radially inner retaining groove configured for a radially inner end of the cover plate to be inserted therein; and the wheel assembly further comprises at least one fastening mechanism (220, 534) sized for insertion through an opening (222,536) to secure said cover plate against said turbine wheel so as to provide said cover plate extending across at least one of said plurality of retaining slots, characterized in that the wheel includes dovetail posts spaced circumferentially about the wheel and extending radially outward from and integrally formed with the wheel, wherein each dovetail post includes a projection (216, 506) that extends inward from the wheel such that said radially outer retaining groove (320, 508) is defined by the projection, wherein each dovetail post is positioned between a pair of circumferentially adjacent buckets coupled to wheel, and wherein at least one of said projections (216, 506) comprises at least one of said opening (222, 536) extending therethrough.