Hull FC v Wakefield Trinity - Danny Washbrook happy for former team-mate Chris Chester .... until kick-off

Hull FC's Danny Washbrook.
Picture: Jonathan Gawthorpe. — Hull FC's Danny Washbrook. Picture: Jonathan Gawthorpe.

Washbrook spent the last four years with Trinity before rejoining his hometown club ahead of the 2016 campaign.

He meets his former colleagues for the first time since when Hull, having lost their last three games, take on struggling Wakefield at KC Stadium tonight.

Chester – who won the 2005 Challenge Cup with FC alongside Washbrook – was appointed as their new coach on Wednesday just three weeks after being sacked by Hull KR.

Danny Washbrook, in action for Wakefield Wildcats against Bradford Bulls last year. Picture: James Hardisty.

“I played with him when I first started at Hull,” recalled utility player Washbrook.

“He was one of the senior players back then. Obviously you don’t want anyone to be out of a job so I’m pleased for him.

“And, speaking to a couple of the boys at Wakey, they’re glad to have him, too.”

Brian Smith quit last week after just nine months in the job.

NEW BOSS: Chris Chester is introduced as Wakefield Trinity Wildcats new head coach at their Belle Vue ground on Thursday. Picture: Scott Merrylees

“I didn’t see it coming the way it did,” said Washbrook, who played under the Australian at Trinity last season.

“Obviously they’ve not had the best of starts and any club that has results like thery have, people will put pressure on.

“But the way he decided to leave himself is a strange one.

“I really enjoyed my time at Wakefield. I had four good years there, made a lot of friends and enjoyed my rugby.

“It will be good to see some familiar faces Friday and three of them – (former Hull players) Milky (Jacob Miller), Joe (Arundel) and Craig (Hall) – will certainly be out to prove a point.

“But I’m a Hull player now and, first and foremost, it’s about us getting that win.”

The Airlie Birds certainly need it especially after a dreadful 46-6 loss at Widnes last Thursday.

Washbrook, 30, admitted: “Wakefield will probably be looking at the video from that match rubbing their hands.

“But we are talking about the Widnes game as a blip. We’ve put it to bed. We are five games into the season and that’s probably the first time we played awful.

“There’s certain areas we need to improve on and this now is a very big game for us.

“If we win, we’ll have started the season with three wins and three losses. We’d obviously want better than that but you can’t be too disappointed with a 50/50 record especially coming into a busy Easter period.”