Relief and pride for Wakefield Trinity as Super League season ends against Salford Red Devils

Trinity complete their campaign against Salford Red Devils at Emerald Headingley and will finish the year in ninth or 10th place on the Betfred Super League table, after 19 fixtures.

The regular season - originally 29 rounds, then reduced to 20 following the coronavirus shutdown and Toronto Wolfpack’s withdrawal - will be wrapped up after today, allowing an extended six-team play-offs series to begin next week.

Chester admitted 2020 has been “tough on everyone, challenging for every team”, but insisted his players can hold their heads high.

He said: “It has been a frustrating year for us, but we can take great pride, considering we’re the only club to play 19 games.

“We’ve not picked and chosen which ones we wanted to play, we’ve travelled to Catalans and got on with the job.

“The way the players have conducted themselves is exemplary. I can’t thank them enough after what has been a tough time.”

Admitting he will be “relieved” when the season is over, Chester added: “We’d have liked to find the table higher than we have done, but the guys have really shown togetherness and what we are about as a club these last two or three weeks.

“The challenge, as players, is to find that consistency among ourselves and have a really good start to next season.”

But Chester stressed the immediate priority is ending this year on a high.

“We want to finish the season with a win,” he pledged.

“It’s the least our loyal fans deserve and important we take something positive from a difficult season into next year.”

Individual players will also be battling for a contract in 2021.

“Some guys have still got a lot to play for,” Chester stated.

“We still have some decisions to make on certain players.

“Ben Jones-Bishop is off contract and so is Craig Kopczak and there’s another couple as well.

“These guys have got a lot to play for; we all have a lot to play for. We just want to finish off strong.

“We had a recruitment meeting on Tuesday with the board and I let them know my thoughts on where we need to strengthen and which players we need to retain and we’ll take some time over the next few weeks to make sure we get that recruitment right.”

After today, Trinity’s players will be away from the club until December 10.

Chester said: “We have three, maybe four weeks off, but that should give us some time to recharge.”

Tom Johnstone, Bill Tupou, Reece Lyne, Jay Pitts, Kopczak, James Batchelor, Jordan Crowther and Brad Walker could all return to Trinity’s 17 today after being rested for the game against Leeds last Sunday.

Alex Walker, Jack Croft, Joe Westerman and Yusuf Aydin drop out from the team on duty five days ago.

Niall Evalds will make his final appearance for Salford before joining Castleford Tigers.

Wakefield Trinity: from Johnstone, Tupou, Lyne, Jones-Bishop, Miller, Fifita, K Wood, Arona, Pitts, Kopczak, Batchelor, Green, Crowther, B Walker, Kershaw, Hampshire, Bailey, Bowes, Tanginoa, Senior, Battye.

Salford Red Devils: from Evalds, Chamberlain, Welham, Sarginson, Inu, Lolohea, Mossop, Dudson, Pauli, McCarthy, Ikahihifo, Burke, Yates, Atkin, Flanagan, Kear, Jones, Ormondroyd, Roberts, Ackers, Watkins.

Referee: Liam Moore (Wigan).

Kick-off: 5.30pm today, at Emerald Headingley.

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