Injury fears for Wakefield after Challenge Cup exit

Wakefield head coach Chris Chester could be without three key players ahead of next week’s trip to early Super League pacesetters St Helens. 

Trinity were dumped out of the Challenge Cup by 2018 competition winners Catalans Dragons yesterday, but their misery was compounded by the loss of star winger Tom Johnstone with a head knock at half-time.

Further injuries to full-back Max Jowitt and hooker Josh Wood caused further disruption for Chester.

The Wakefield boss says Wood will have scans to determine the extent of an elbow problem. He also confirmed that he will be without both Johnstone and Jowitt for next Friday’s return trip to the Totally Wicked Stadium.

READ: Catalans 26-6 Wakefield: Dragons progress to quarter-finals of Challenge Cup

Speaking after their cup defeat, he said: “It’s important that the guys who are second or third on the ladder put their hands up.

“We needed to react a little bit better to adversity but there were some positives from today.

“The guys are hurting in there and they’re doing it tough at the minute, but the effort was fantastic and I don’t think there was a great deal between the two sides.

“We were well and truly in that game. I thought we were unfortunate not to be in front at half-time – I thought we had the upper hand.”

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