Video: New Wakefield Trinity coach Chris Chester encouraged despite latest loss at Hull FC

Wakefield TRINITY coach Chris Chester saw plenty to work with after seeing his new side lose 22-4 at Hull.
Wakefield Trinity coach, Chris Chester.  Picture: Scott MerryleesWakefield Trinity coach, Chris Chester.  Picture: Scott Merrylees
Wakefield Trinity coach, Chris Chester. Picture: Scott Merrylees

Chester has had 48 hours in the job as Brian Smith’s replacement and, though he saw plenty of willing from the Wildcats, there was little else in terms of real quality.

“There were bags of effort and the attitude was first class,” said Chester, who had said he would take a watching brief but was a more-than-animated spectator in the stand before going on the touchline.

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“We lacked a bit with the ball, we didn’t really ask any questions and will work on that this week. It will take time, but we just need a little more structure there. We’re a workmanlike team at the moment.”

Wakefield Trinity coach, Chris Chester.  Picture: Scott MerryleesWakefield Trinity coach, Chris Chester.  Picture: Scott Merrylees
Wakefield Trinity coach, Chris Chester. Picture: Scott Merrylees

Wakefield struggled up front - Anthony England’s eighth-minute injury not helping - and are down on numbers generally. Some haphazard decision-making as well as some questionable decisions did not help either.

One in particular, when Kirk Yeaman was not pulled for an obstruction just before Curtis Naughton scored Hull’s third try, particularly irked Chester, who sat alongside coach-for-the-night Stuart Dickens.

“Everyone saw it was a blatant obstruction,” Chester said. “There were a couple of decisions we are very disappointed with, but at that point in the game (the Naughton try), it is touch and go, we are still in the game and they have to get them decisions right 100 out of 100, not 99.

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“It was a blatant obstruction and how a ref and linesman don’t see it is beyond me.”

Wakefield Trinity coach, Chris Chester.  Picture: Scott MerryleesWakefield Trinity coach, Chris Chester.  Picture: Scott Merrylees
Wakefield Trinity coach, Chris Chester. Picture: Scott Merrylees

After being turned over 46-6 at Widnes last week, Hull needed any sort of win to get back on track.

Two tries from Mark Minichiello were stand-out in a performance that will quickly be forgotten by many, but coach Lee Radford got what he needed from the night.

In the wake of the Widnes game Radford whipped up something of a media frenzy when he said the players had shut him out of the dressing room in order to hold talks, kicking off one of the hardest weeks of his coaching life.

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“I’m still banned,” he joked when asked if he had been allowed back in the dressing room. “I’m waiting for the senior players to report back.

“It’s been a tough week but I can only applaud the players for their professionalism.

“I was really pleased with the defence. We had lots of opportunities to defend our line and did it well. It’s been an issue in recent weeks so I’m over the moon to fix that.

“To come through that with just four points against is really pleasing to me. We have been so professional since last week.”