WE need to stay strong in adversity says Wakefield Trinity captain Jacob Miller

Trinity won two of their opening five fixtures before the campaign was brought to an abrupt standstill in March.

The Belle Vue outfit’s top-flight status was under threat until the final day of the 2019 season after a poor run in the second part of the campaign left them fearing relegation.

They survived with a 19-10 victory over London Broncos, in a result which condemned the Broncos to the drop.

Miller, who has been with Trinity since 2015, feels Wakefield need to respond better to adversity on the pitch, as they seek to resume their season in winning fashion.

“I think when things go against us we need to be mentally stronger and tougher,” he admitted.

“It is about not letting a mistake get to you or allowing one try become two or three tries and before you know it the game is over.

“It is about trying to stay in games a little bit longer and also getting the hang of these rule changes.

“I think the teams who do that as quick as possible will benefit.”

The rule changes will see scrums scrapped for the remainder of this season, in a bid to try and reduce the amount of close contact between players.

The six-again rule has also been introduced, which gives a team a set restart if there is an infringement at the ruck, rather than a penalty.

It is a law that has been already been adapted in Australia’s NRL competition and Miller feels that Wigan will have some players who could pose more of a threat following it’s introduction.

“Wigan are obviously going to be a big challenge for us, they were playing some really good rugby before the pandemic,” continued Miller.

“I think with the rule changes, and with the likes of Bevan French and Jackson Hastings means we are going to have to be on our game to be able to contain them that’s for sure.”

Wakefield have won four of their last eight meetings with the Warriors and Miller continued: “You have always have your teams that in the back of your head who you might play a little bit better against.

“We have had a little bit of luck against Wigan in the past but it will be a very hard match to start our campaign off again.

“We will have to be on our game to match them.”

After a demanding end to their 2019 campaign, Miller is looking forward to a “pressure-free” return after relegation was taken off the table.

Following the cancellation of the Championship and League 1 campaigns last week, the Rugby Football League ruled that no team would be promoted or relegated this year.

Miller and his Wakefield teammates felt the pressure in the final months of the last campaign and the Trinity captain is eager to play with more freedom.

“It might benefit those teams down the bottom who potentially were going to find themselves in some sort of battle at the bottom,” said Miller of relegation being scrapped for a season. “Teams can go out and play pressure free. If it doesn’t work out it is not the end of the world, I am looking forward to it.

“After last year and having a pretty pressurised back end of the season, I guess it will be nice to go out there and enjoy some pressure-free football.”

Miller revealed that the majority of Trinity’s squad returned to training on July 20 in good shape.

They have had limited time together as an entire squad, training mostly in groups of six.

“It has been a little bit strange. We have been in smaller groups, in the gym and on the field for the majority of the sessions,” said Miller of training under the restrictions which have been imposed to limit the potential spread of the coronavirus.

“We have managed to get a small time slot a day in the last few days when the whole team gets together.

“I think everyone has come back in pretty good shape, to be honest.

“It was a tough four months, some of the bigger boys could have blown out but overall the whole squad has come back in pretty good shape.”

With the sport shutdown for the past few months and little to no income coming in for clubs, the issue of pay cuts had been a sticking point for some sides as they sought a return to training.

Miller was singled out for praise by Wakefield chief executive Michael Carter for his help in resolving the issue at Wakefield, who agreed their wage reductions ahead of their return to training.

The Australian is now happy that he can look forward to playing rugby again.

He added: “I am glad it has all been put to bed, it was a pretty stressful time for everyone and for the club.

“It was a situation that no-one wanted to be in.

“Nobody wants to take a pay cut but it had to happen. I am just glad it is all over and I can look forward to playing some rugby.”

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