Wakefield Trinity boss backs his young guns

Top-flight clubs are hoping to resume fixtures from August 16, though teams with games in hand - including Trinity - could play those in the first two weeks of that month.

The restart plan includes a number of midweek matches, depending on how late the season finishes.

In one scenario, the season could be completed by the end of November, so 22 league rounds, plus games in hand, Challenge Cup ties and play-offs, would need to be squeezed into just four months.

Other options are for the Grand Final to be played in December or mid-January.

Clubs - who are normally guaranteed at least five days between matches - will be facing a hectic schedule, whatever is decided, but Chester insisted he is not concerned by the prospect of a fixture pile-up.

“There’s going to be some midweek games, certainly for us because we’ve only played five games so far,” said the Trinity boss, who is also a member of the Rugby Football League’s laws committee.

“There’s going to be plenty of catch-up games, but if there’s no relegation - which I am led to believe there’s not, though I don’t think it is set in stone - I think we can use it as an opportunity to blood some young kids.”

Chester insisted he has faith in Trinity’s youngsters.

“I have got people like Brad Walker who has still not played,” he said.

“Jack Croft trained really well all pre-season, is looking fit and still only young and Connor Bailey as well, who has played with the reserves and is close to the first team.

“Those kind of guys can gain a hell of a lot in these 20-odd games - or however many games we end up playing.

“I think that is probably how we will be using certainly the midweek games.”

Trinity avoided relegation on the final weekend last year and were ninth in the 12-team competition when Covid-19 forced a stoppage three months ago.

The team finishing bottom of Super League in 2020 is due to be relegated and replaced by this season’s Championship Grand Final winners, but Chester doesn’t believe that’s realistic, under the new circumstances.

“I think the whole season has been compromised,” Chester said.

“I don’t see how you can get through this season and have relegation.

“I don’t see how the Championship is going to reopen.

“They are heavily dependent on matchday revenue, it’s not like Super League clubs who, every month, get a contribution from Sky.

“At the moment they are getting 80 per cent of their wages paid [under the government’s furlough scheme] and there’ll be a lot of clubs who won’t be able to afford to start the season behind closed doors.”

Chester, though, said he has been impressed with the way the sport has pulled together in the face of arguably its biggest crisis.

“Everyone’s doing their bit, players and staff,” he said. “They have all taken large cuts, but we are in it together - the game is larger than any individual. The sooner we get the game back up and running, the better. If it is behind closed doors, so be it.”

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