Super League title race 'wide open' says Wakefield Trinity boss

Trinity take on one of the favourites, Warrington Wolves, at Mobile Rocket Stadium, Belle Vue, on Sunday.

Wakefield were crushed 30-12 at Hull KR in round one before last weekend’s visit of Catalans Dragons was postponed.

Warrington look look like a tall order for Trinity, but Chester believes anything can happen.

“Looking at Hull KR against Hull FC the other night, I know they didn’t quite get the result, but Hull FC are tipped to finish in the top two or three this season and Hull KR took them right to the wire,” he pointed out.

“I think that’s the sort of season we are going to have again this year. I don’t think there’s going to be anybody run away with it like St Helens did last year. I think it is a good, open contest.”

Warrington were narrowly beaten at Wigan Warriors in round one, after having pack leader Chris Hill sent-off and then kept champions Saints scoreless last week.

“They have been excellent,” Chester said. “I thought they were the best side against Wigan and they did beat Saints. They are a team littered with international players and we’ve got to be at our best to get a result this week, we know that.

“We will have to do all the little things well and kick the ball well. The weather forecast is for rain and strong winds so it’s not going to be a nice place for them to visit. We can go into the game with high hopes and hopefully we can get our season up and running.”

After two weeks to dwell on their below-par performance against Hull KR, Chester stressed his players “want to get back out there”. He said: “They were really positive on the day after the game, we have highlighted a few areas we were really, really disappointed in, around the ruck and some of the effort levels and we know we need to be a lot better this weekend.”

Chester admitted he won’t know until Sunday if last week’s enforced break has helped or hindered his side.

“We won’t find that out until we play,” he said.

“That’s two games now we have to arrange, with going into the Challenge Cup a round early.

“It’s not ideal, but it was a very sensible decision and the only one the club could have made when you see the floodlights swinging the way they did.

“We are going to be fresh, but they played on the Thursday so they are going to be quite fresh as well.

“It’s not ideal we didn’t play, but it gives us an opportunity to maybe get some bodies back - and one positive is we didn’t pick any new injuries up.”