Chris Chester reflects on Wakefield Trinity's 2020 Super League season

THERE is a lot of work to be done at Wakefield Trinity ahead of next season but head coach Chris Chester feels there are still positives to take from an otherwise arduous campaign.
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.

Trinity lost their final fixture of the year against Salford Red Devils last week to finish 10th in the Super League table.

They won three of their last five fixtures but struggled when the season resumed in August, going on a 10-game losing streak before finally picking their first win since the restart last month.

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They only lost their final two outings by a narrow margin and a scathing report in a national newspaper last month, which claimed that Chester had lost the dressing room at Belle Vue, proved the catalyst for an encouraging end to the campaign.

Trinity refuted the accuracy of the report and the performances on the field suggested it could not have been further from the truth.

“That report didn’t just galvanise me, it was the whole group,” said Chester as he reflected on what has been a peculiar 2020 season for all clubs

“It brought us a hell of a lot closer together. There are a lot of positives to take out of the year but there is a lot of work we need to do between now and the start of next season.

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“Tying people like Kelepi Tanginoa up and trying to sign a class half-back and trying to bring more quality into the club under quite a strict budget is a priority.”

He added: “We started in November and we are still going in November, it has been a long 12 months for every team.

“I couldn’t be more proud of the players and how they have had to adapt over these last four months.

“It has been tough on the players, having to take pay cuts, just to make sure that not just the club but the game survives as well. The players have gone through the mill, the fans and the staff have gone through the mill as well.”

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Chester will use the weeks ahead to reflect on things he can improve heading into next season. The Trinity head coach is also eager to spend some time with his family and most of his break will be taken up looking after a new dog.

“It is time for a break. I think it is time for me to assess and reflect and have a look at the things I could have done better during the year,” he added.

“It is time to get some good quality downtime with the family. We have bought a dog, that is going to take up most of my time the next three to four weeks.

“The kids and the family suffer as much as what I do. The big lesson, and it’s something I haven’t quite got right, is I need to stop taking my work home.

“It is easier said than done. That is one of the biggest lessons for me and something I need to get better at.”