Wakefield Trinity coach Chris Chester planning a change in type of player he recruits

FOLLOWING a disappointing 2020 Super League season, Wakefield Trinity will be making a change in tack with their recruitment for the 2021 campaign.
Vital signing: Wakefield coach Chris Chester was delighted to retain the services of Dream Team player Kelepi Tanginoa. Pictures: AllanMcKenzie/SWPix.comVital signing: Wakefield coach Chris Chester was delighted to retain the services of Dream Team player Kelepi Tanginoa. Pictures: AllanMcKenzie/SWPix.com
Vital signing: Wakefield coach Chris Chester was delighted to retain the services of Dream Team player Kelepi Tanginoa. Pictures: AllanMcKenzie/SWPix.com

Trinity finished the season second from bottom, winning just five of their 19 fixtures as they became one of the clubs hit hardest by Covid-19.

Wakefield were forced to stand players down for a number of fixtures due to positive coronavirus tests as they struggled upon the season’s resumption in August.

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They lost 10 games on the spin before recording a victory over Huddersfield Giants, they would win their next two fixtures before ending the season with two defeats.

Change of plan: Trinity chief Chris Chester is looking to add a couple of middles to his squad. Picture by Allan McKenzie/SWpix.comChange of plan: Trinity chief Chris Chester is looking to add a couple of middles to his squad. Picture by Allan McKenzie/SWpix.com
Change of plan: Trinity chief Chris Chester is looking to add a couple of middles to his squad. Picture by Allan McKenzie/SWpix.com

Head coach Chris Chester admits he got things wrong on the recruitment front ahead of the campaign and for 2021 will aim to create a better culture within the playing group as he eyes new signings.

“It has been really difficult for obvious reasons. There are a lot of things in terms of recruitment that I got wrong,” he admitted.

“The biggest thing for us is to make sure we bring good people into the club this year and probably go down the route of culture over talent.

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“It was a bit of a stop, start year. We got off to a disappointing start in the very first game against Hull KR but then we did well against Warrington and Salford with some losses in between.

“It was a bit of an inconsistent start and then the Covid hit. It has just been one nightmare after another to be honest.

“When we came back from that there were key players unavailable.

“If you take the likes of Jackson Hastings, Tommy Leuluai and Bevan French out of Wigan, then that is a totally different team.

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“That happened regularly to us for one reason or another, mainly to do with Covid.

“I am not using that as an excuse but with that you don’t get any continuity in your training, in your squad and that had a massive adverse affect on how we played.

“The amount of times we turned up for training on Monday and did some decent work before getting positive test results on Tuesday night for games on Thursday or Friday – we ended up with a totally different team to what was training at the start of the week. We are not just talking squad players, we are talking about actual first-team players; people like Jacob Miller, Ti Arona and Jay Pitts.

“Jay Pitts got stood down three times but didn’t test positive once. You take those types of big players out of our team, we are always going to be fighting. It is always going to be a tough battle.”

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Despite the challenges, Chester feels Wakefield’s end to the season gives plenty of encouragement looking toward next year.

He added: “The start of lockdown when we came back, we had more than our fair share of Covid-related issues. In that respect, it has been unbelievably difficult and challenging.

“The way the guys stuck together and finished the year, it gave the players and the staff lots to be positive about going into pre-season.”

Chester’s top priorities before the off-season were to tie Kelepi Tanginoa down to an extended deal and sign a new half-back.

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He has accomplished both of those already, with Tanginoa remaining at Belle Vue until 2024 while Mason Lino has signed a three-year deal after spending the first part of his career in the NRL with New Zealand Warriors and Newcastle Knights.

Tanginoa has undoubtedly been Trinity’s best player in 2020 and was the sole inclusion from the club in the Super League Dream Team.

Chester is hoping to sign more forward players that would allow the versatile Tangiona to play in the back row more regularly.

The Trinity chief is happy with his options in the outside backs and hopes to retain Ben Jones-Bishop next year with the winger out of contract.

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Wakefield have no overseas quota spots remaining so are exploring the domestic market.

“We are always looking to strengthen, I feel we need a couple of middle men,” he added.

“I want to give Kelepi Tanginoa as much opportunity as possible to play in the back-row. If we could get a couple of middles, it would give us an opportunity to do that.

“In terms of the halves and the outside backs, I am really comfortable with where we are at.

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“We have got people like Tom Johnstone, Bill Tupou, Liam Kay, Reece Lyne and hopefully Ben Jones-Bishop as well. If we can keep all those guys fit, then we have got a pretty impressive back-line.

“The recruitment is ongoing. As it stands, we haven’t got a quota spot available but we have got the budget to bring in players in this country.

“Should a quota spot become available then we should be competitive in that market.”

Wakefield normally play West Yorkshire rivals Leeds Rhinos on Boxing Day but with the area in Tier 3 coupled with the late finish to the season, that game will not be going ahead.

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Trinity players will return to pre-season training on December 21 with the 2021 Super League campaign set to start on March 11.

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