TIME FOR A SHAKE-UP RAPS COACH CHESTER

CHRIS CHESTER says it’s vital that fresh blood from outside rugby league is brought in to shake up the sport.

The RFL are looking for a new chief executive, with Nigel Wood stepping down after 10 years at the helm.

Roger Draper, the chief commercial officer and Super League executive director, will also leave at the end of this month.

Behind the scenes, the 12 Super League clubs are trying to gain more power for themselves.

Stale

But Wakefield coach Chester believes it is important that this chance for change is not wasted.

He said: “The game has gone a little bit stale and we need some fresh ideas.

“Nigel Wood has done a great job but it is time we brought someone in from outside to reinvigorate the sport.

“We want to try and get it back to where it was 10 to 15 years ago. It’s time for someone to come in and take the bull by the horns.”

Chester has also called on clubs to be forced, in the near future, to run reserve teams. Only Wakefield and ®Êby JULIE STOTT Wigan, possibly St Helens, and three Championship clubs will stage reserve games this season.

It’s a haphazard system with no competitive structure, and Warrington and Hull recently withdrew partly because of the problems.

But Chester insists a reserve grade is vital to give fringe players games and to stop youngsters from quitting the sport.

He said: “Every club should have a reserve grade and I hope in the next couple of years that it will be made compulsory.

“It should be something that is non-negotiable. I get the fact it costs money but in the long run it is better.

“It will be nothing compared to what you’d have to pay in a couple of years to bring over an Australian, with the way the salary cap is going.

“We don’t want young kids to be lost from our sport and who knows what talent might come through a reserve system?

“It is important that we continue to grow our own young kids and the reserve grade is going to play a big part in that.”