Chris Chester ready to ring the changes at Wakefield Trinity for Challenge Cup contest with Catalans Dragons

Wakefield Trinity head coach Chris Chester. Picture: Allan McKenzie\SWpix.com.Wakefield Trinity head coach Chris Chester. Picture: Allan McKenzie\SWpix.com.
Wakefield Trinity head coach Chris Chester. Picture: Allan McKenzie\SWpix.com.
Chris Chester could ring the changes at Wakefield Trinity this weekend as he looks for a response from Saturday’s 58-0 humiliation against Catalans Dragons.

Trinity conceded 10 tries against the French outfit at St Helens’ Totally Wicked Stadium last weekend and will face the same opponents in the Challenge Cup on Saturday.

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Chester was disappointed with the effort from his players, feeling that Catalans outshone Wakefield in every department.

As a result, he has suggested that he could give some of his squad’s younger players the opportunity to step up for the sixth-round Cup clash.

“It is very un-Wakefield like that we get beat on effort and we certainly did,” said Chester.

“There are a few decisions to be made for next week.”

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He continued: “That is the good thing about having young kids in your squad.

Alex Walker is still young, we have got Jack Croft, Connor Bailey and Yusuf Aydin that are all chomping at the bit.

Picture by Alex Whitehead/SWpix.com - 15/08/2020 - Rugby League - Betfred Super League - Wakefield Trinity v Catalans Dragons - Totally Wicked Stadium, St Helens, England - Wakefield's Jacob Miller.Picture by Alex Whitehead/SWpix.com - 15/08/2020 - Rugby League - Betfred Super League - Wakefield Trinity v Catalans Dragons - Totally Wicked Stadium, St Helens, England - Wakefield's Jacob Miller.
Picture by Alex Whitehead/SWpix.com - 15/08/2020 - Rugby League - Betfred Super League - Wakefield Trinity v Catalans Dragons - Totally Wicked Stadium, St Helens, England - Wakefield's Jacob Miller.

“Having watched the way that team performed, I reckon they will perform a lot better than some of the senior guys we had out there today.”

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Wakefield were originally scheduled to face St Helens last weekend but after 12 cases of Covid-19 were found at Hull FC, the fixture list was rejigged.

It left Trinity with a day less to prepare for their new opponents. Chester took responsibility for the change in approach but insisted there were players who performed “way below” the standard he expected.

He said: “First and foremost we are going to get an opportunity to prepare for the right team.

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Picture by Allan McKenzie/SWpix.com - 15/08/2020 - Rugby League - Betfred Super League - Wakefield Trinity v Catalans Dragons - The Totally Wicked Stadium, Langtree Park, St Helens, England - Catalan's Julian Bousquet is congratulated by Michael McIlorum & Josh Drinkwater after his try against Wakefield.Picture by Allan McKenzie/SWpix.com - 15/08/2020 - Rugby League - Betfred Super League - Wakefield Trinity v Catalans Dragons - The Totally Wicked Stadium, Langtree Park, St Helens, England - Catalan's Julian Bousquet is congratulated by Michael McIlorum & Josh Drinkwater after his try against Wakefield.
Picture by Allan McKenzie/SWpix.com - 15/08/2020 - Rugby League - Betfred Super League - Wakefield Trinity v Catalans Dragons - The Totally Wicked Stadium, Langtree Park, St Helens, England - Catalan's Julian Bousquet is congratulated by Michael McIlorum & Josh Drinkwater after his try against Wakefield.

“Obviously, we were the only team last week hampered by the changed fixtures. We were due to play Sunday so it didn’t give us a great deal of time to prepare.

“The biggest lesson I learnt is that we are a better team when we try and move teams around. We changed the plan to try and challenge Catalans middles and it back-fired on us. In that respect I will take the responsibility.

“But there were some individuals out there, and senior guys as well, that were way below any standards of a Wakefield Trinity player.”

Wakefield’s clash with Catalans kicks off at 2.30pm on BBC One.

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