Wakefield Trinity boss Chris Chester says it is "madness" to finish Super League season now

Given the number of games being postponed or cancelled - two more have gone today - Super League have been in discussions about finishing the regular campaign early this weekend and holding an extended play-off system instead.

The initial season is due to finish in a fortnight’s time on November 12 before top-four semi-finals take place.

However, under new plans, that could be increased to the top-six or even the top-eight to create more meaningful games.

But Chester, whose side sit 11th having battled on through numerous issues with Covid, is insistent that should not be the case with the campaign already reduced to just 20 games and so close to its completion.

“I think it’s madness, crazy,” he said, with his improving side looking for a third win in eight days when they face Leeds Rhinos tomorrow.

“I’ve not had anything from Michael (Carter, Trinity’s chief executive) or the people upstairs, but we have worked so hard as a club to make sure we fulfil our obligations to Sky.

“With everything we’ve gone through, as a club, I would be really, really disappointed if they went down that route.

“At times we’ve had 11 people stood down, nine people stood down - we could very easily have said we can’t play, we’re not playing, we’ve got too many players out.

“We’ve not done that, we have fulfilled our fixtures.

“There was one game we had to call off against Leeds, but that’s a game we are picking up now.

“We have got 20 games to play in the comp' and I think let’s get it played, let’s get it done.

“It has been a difficult year for everybody, but I would be disappointed if it finished early.”

Castleford Tigers this morning cancelled Friday's game against Huddersfield Giants - planned for John Smith's Stadium - after reporting 12 positive Covid tests.

It is the second time Daryl Powell's side have pulled out of a fixture for pandemic reasons having also done so when due to face Leeds earlier this month.

Not long after Castleford's decision was announced, Salford Red Devils revealed they had actually forfeited Friday's televised game against Warrington Wolves at St Helens.

However, that was not due to the pandemic - they have no positive Covid cases - but because they are down to just 13 fit players after a hectic run; Monday's loss against St Helens was a seventh game in under a month for the beaten Challenge Cup finalists.

It is the first time a game has been forfeited this season and, under competition rules governing such instances, it meant Warrington were awarded a 24-0 victory with the matter also referred to the RFL’s Compliance Department for further consideration.

Nevertheless, Huddersfield will instead now meet Warrington at Totally Wicked Stadium on Friday (5.30pm) to fill the hole in the broadcast schedule

The clubs were due to meet in Round 21.