Super League games behind closed doors 'not ideal' for Wakefield Trinity head coach Chris Chester

The date and format for the top flight’s return is due to be decided at a meeting on Friday, with matches, initially, set to be staged behind closed doors.

Trinity have not played a competitive fixture since beating Bradford Bulls in the Challenge Cup on May 13 and only two of their five Super League matches took place on home soil.

Chester insists supporters make a “massive difference” and it will be hard to play home games without them present.

“It is not ideal, out of the five games, we had two home games and three away,” said Chester.

“It is always nice to have your home fans, they make a massive difference.

“But as long as we get back playing in some shape or form then everyone will be happy.

“We have a Sky deal and we need to make sure we fulfil all our fixtures. The sooner everyone knows what is going on the better and the sooner the restrictions are lifted, I can’t see it being too long before we are back in.”

Chester has started planning for a return to training and revealed his squad could hold sessions together within the next two weeks.

Precautions will be taken, with protocols put in place at Belle Vue to make training safer for his squad.

“There’s nothing in concrete at the moment, but we are just putting plans in place to make sure the stadium is safe [for training]. The players are going to have to come in one door and leave by another,” he added.

“It is going to be like a conveyor belt, there’s all kinds of safe zones you need, testing stations and things like that.”

Chester added: “We had a Zoom meeting the other day with our doctor, who explained the things we are going to have to do and how we are going to do it and what parts of the stadium we’ll be able to use.

“It is all very complicated, but in terms of the start I am hoping we can get into training in the next couple of weeks.

"A lot will depend on public health advice. There is some light at the end of the tunnel, it’s just taking some time to get there.”

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