Chester confident tide will turn for Wakefield

Wakefield Trinity head coach Chris Chester has told his players to relax as they make their latest attempt to end their long losing run tonight.

The West Yorkshire club head to St Helens having suffered 11 consecutive defeats dating back to last July.

Hopes of ending that dismal sequence are not aided by the fact they have also lost their last nine games against tonight’s opponents and not prospered at Saints since 2009.

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However, Wakefield have shown plenty of positives in their opening two Super League games this term, leading at home to both Hull FC and at Huddersfield Giants before eventually losing out.

“For two weeks running we’ve put ourselves in a position to win the game and for one reason or another we’ve not been able to close the game out,” said Chester.

“It’s disappointing. Whether it’s a confidence thing or we’re just not getting our game-management right I am not too sure.

“There’s bags or effort, but it feels like they get a bit nervous when they get in front – like it is unfamiliar territory for them.

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“It is frustrating more than anything, but there’s still 21 games to go and if we were getting beaten by 20 or 30 points we would be scratching our heads.

“But we are putting ourselves in winning positions and playing some good football to get there.”

Wakefield’s progress has been further hindered by the irritating loss of players to injury via foul play. Winger Ben Jones-Bishop misses tonight due to facial injuries suffered last Friday.

Giants’ Ukuma Ta’ai later admitted a high tackle and was suspended for one game. Similarly, Matty Ashurst left the field following a high tackle by Hull’s Albert Kelly in Trinity’s opener. That was also referred by the match review panel and Kelly received a one-match ban.

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Chester bemoaned: “Two games running foul play has not been penalised or seen by the referee and two touch judges.

“We didn’t get rewarded on the day and the team Huddersfield played next did get the benefit, like Catalans did from Kelly not playing last week. It’s mind-blowing they have been missed, but we can only control what we can control.”