‘We must Wake-up without Chezzy’
TOM JOHNSTONE has vowed to help Wakefield finish with a bang to help banish the blues currently hanging over the club.
Trinity sprung a surprise by sacking coach Chris Chester this week in the wake of their embarrassing loss to Huddersfield.
The 22-18 defeat, having been 18-0 up after 14 minutes, was their fifth on the trot. Only promoted Leigh have a worse record.
It’s a sorry saga that winger Johnstone insists has to end, starting with a rousing display against high-flying Warrington this afternoon.
He said: “We were under the illusion that Chezzy was going to be here next year so we were all a bit shocked to get told he had gone.
“It is kind of our fault that this has happened and we need to pick it up.
“There is a bit of a buzz to try and finish the season well. It has been pretty awful this year and we need to try and redeem ourselves for our pride.”
Assistant coach Willie Poching (above, top) has been put in interim charge following the exit of Chester (above) after more than five years at the club.
Johnstone said Poching has already had an impact on the squad, and added: “After five-and-ahalf years things can get a bit samey but everyone knows things have to improve now.
“We had a meeting with Willie about what we want for the rest of the season and we’ve definitely set our aims on finishing well, rather than just falling away.”
It was confirmed this week that one team will definitely be relegated this season, despite the problems Covid has wreaked on teams and fixtures.
That leaves Leigh in grave danger, having lost all 16 of their games so far, with only a few weeks of the regular season left.
But Johnstone (above), who turned 26 on Friday, insists Wakefield cannot afford to get complacent about their eightpoint cushion on the Centurions.
He said: “I do not think any team is capable of going a whole season without a win, because every team has some great players.
“If Leigh go on any sort of run, we could end up in trouble.
“That’s why we need to rescue our season and play well for our remaining fixtures.”
Visitors Warrington have won eight of their last nine league games but coach Steve Price has only been able to name a 19-man squad due to suspensions and injury problems.
Price is also wary of the effect Poching could have and said: “It may give them a different stimulation.
“As an 18 to 19-year-old I played with ‘wild Willie’ at St George Illawarra Dragons and he’s a terrific guy.
“He’s a bit older than me and helped me out coming through the grades. He understands the game really well and I’m sure he will have a good impact.”
Wolves star Gareth Widdop returns after four weeks out with a knee injury and Matty Ashton makes his first appearance since an ankle injury picked up in May.