David Fifita back in Wakefield Trinity training as GPS issue resolved

The forward was stood down from action by the club for refusing to wear the GPS vest, which is used for test and trace analysis if any players test positive for Covid-19.

However, Chester insisted the issue was now “water under the bridge” with Fifita making his return to training this week, although he will not be available for tonight’s trip to Huddersfield Giants.

“It has been resolved. He’s back in training,” confirmed Chester.

“I wasn’t privy to the conversations that the CEO and chairman had with Dave and his agent but I’ve been told there’s been a real buy-in from Dave moving forward and it’s water under the bridge now.

“We look forward to getting Dave back to the form he was in at the start of last season. He’s back in training and it’s a real positive for everyone.

“That means he has to wear a GPS tracker, yes. We need a buy-in from everybody and everybody includes David Fifita.

“But from what I’ve seen these last three days he’s working hard away from the group, training with the guys who have been away for Covid reasons, and I’m looking forward to seeing Dave get back out there sooner rather than later.”

Tonight’s opposition, Huddersfield, were due to lose head coach Simon Woolford at the end of the season but the Australian shockingly left his post yesterday afternoon.

Luke Robinson will take charge of the Giants first team but Chester is more concerned by the threat of star half-back Aidan Sezer.

“Every single time we’ve played against them it’s been very close; they’re very competitive, very direct, they have an aggressive pack and some real smart halves,” added Chester.

“You saw in the Hull game when Aidan Sezer wasn’t around, they lacked any direction and on the flip side when you look at how they played you could tell they’d grown legs with Sezer in their team.

“He’s their biggest threat and organiser and a player I’ve watched a lot of in the NRL and I like the way he gets his teams around the park.”

Both sides are without a win since the restart but Chester said of the Giants: “They are a good team and well coached. They’ve been unlucky in a couple of games and it’s a local derby for us and I’m looking forward to seeing some new combos there.”

Meanwhile, Trinity have received another positive Covid-19 test but it will not affect tonight’s game at the John Smith’s Stadium.

The player in question is self isolating with no other squad members affected after the case was confirmed yesterday morning.