Chester’s new approach ahead of resumption
CHRIS CHESTER and his coaching staff at Wakefield Trinity have been determined to use their time in lockdown wisely.
Wakefield return to Super League action, over four months since their last league outing, against Wigan Warriors at Headingley on Sunday.
Trinity head into the game having won two of their opening five games in league competition and they have got the most out of their unplanned hiatus.
Chester has assessed where it has gone wrong for Trinity in the last 12 months, after two consecutive top-five finishes in 2017 and 2018 was followed by a relegation scrap in 2019.
Relegation has been scrapped this time and Chester has been developing a different approach to games with his squad since returning to training.
The Australian NRL has been back in action since May 28 and Chester says: “We have used the time to assess where we have gone wrong over the last 12 months. We have watched a lot of the NRL and tried to pick some things up from there and have spoken to some coaches.
“We are just trying to find a way to play that might suit us.
“The pressure has been lifted, it is a good opportunity to throw the ball around and I think we are a good footballing side when we do throw the ball around.
“It is the defensive side of the game we need to be a lot better at. There is a good footy team in us and we need to make sure we are ready to go at the weekend.”
The revised fixture list has not been kind. Trinity restart their campaign against Wigan on Sunday before facing St Helens the following week.
A sixth-round Challenge Cup tie against Catalans Dragons is next on their agenda before a fixture against Warrington Wolves to finish the month. But after months of uncertainty, Chester is just happy to be preparing for a game.
“Just getting back out there is a bonus,” he said. “We have had three weeks of trying to get the guys fit and trying to change a few things. It is nice that we finally have got a start date and we are looking forward to the game. We just want to get out there and have a good crack at it.”
Chester is anticipating a strong forward battle with the Warriors, who sat top of the Super League table before lockdown.