Wakefield Wildcats: Self-belief is key to locking down next win says Finn

Chester was unveiled as Wakefield’s latest coach six days ago and had a watching brief at last weekend’s 22-4 defeat away to Hull.

Assistant-coaches Stuart Dickens and Lee Gilmour were in charge for that match, but Chester took the reins for the first time yesterday.

It is a tough situation for the Wakefield-born former Hull KR coach, who has inherited a team bottom of the First Utility Super League table and on a run of four straight defeats.

But Finn said the appointment of a new coach so quickly, replacing Brian Smith who quit two weeks ago, gives Wildcats some stability and will boost preparations for Friday’s visit of second-bottom Huddersfield Giants.

“He has been good,” Finn said of the incoming team boss.

“The first thing is we’ve got someone in place, which settles everything down a little bit.

“We know who we are going to and who’s in charge.

“He’s had a few chats with people and I’m sure he’ll get round everyone and start to implement his own structure this week.

“From what he has had to say he is really positive about the job and I think the lads are positive about him coming in, so that’s a good start.”

The loss at Hull left Wildcats with just two points after seven matches, which is two fewer than this time last year when they went on to finish bottom of the table.

They have played one game more than most of their rivals and Finn insisted they need to start picking up points if they are to have any chance of finishing in the top-eight.

Wildcats are only three points behind eighth-placed Castleford Tigers and played well in patches at KC Stadium.

“There are positives to take, but we are sick of having to take positives out of games,” Finn admitted

“We need to start winning, that’s the simple, harsh reality of it.

“Hopefully over the next couple of weeks we can start doing that.”

Wildcats have an opportunity to get back to winning ways on Friday against a Huddersfield side who are also low on confidence and form.

Giants have won just once this season and were crushed 46-26 by Catalans Dragons at John Smith’s Stadium on Sunday, when they had second-row Joe Wardle sent-off and key men Eorl Crabtree and Danny Brough failed to finish the match due to injury.

Both teams are in a losing habit and Finn reckons the side which goes into this week’s game in the best frame of mind will take the points.

“It is probably a mentality issue for us,” he said.

“We are capable of winning these games and once we start believing that and playing to our potential I think things will start to happen that way.

“One of the things Chezzy [Chester] has alluded to straight away is that we need to start believing in ourselves.

“That can be a big thing in rugby league, having belief in yourself. If you are playing without it you’ve no chance.

“Hopefully he will bring that in.”