Chris Chester: We were outclassed

Wakefield coach Chris Chester said his side ‘got what they deserved’ in their defeat to St Helens.

Trinity went down to a 36-16 defeat against Saints at the Mobile Rocket Stadium in the second round of the Super 8s on Thursday.

Chester was proud of what his side did in parts of the game, but could also see why Saints sit at the top of the Super League table.

He said: “You get what you deserve and we certainly got what we deserved.

“We got off to a good start in the first 25 minutes but our ball control was bang average in the last 25 minutes. I was really disappointed to go into half-time 16-0 down.

“We came out with some intent in the second half. We seemed to run a lot harder and we defended a lot tougher but it shouldn’t take a rocket at half-time to pick the lads up.

“Saints are a class side. At one point, I thought we had got ourselves back into the game but they then came up with a special play. The effort was there from us but we just lacked that little bit of class.

“St Helens are a great side, they are top of the league for a reason. They have been consistent all season and that is one thing that we haven’t been this year.”

It looks unlikely that Wakefield will finish in the top four after the Super 8s and make the semi-finals this season, with them sitting eight points behind fourth-placed Castleford Tigers as well as having played a game more.

And Chester has set a goal for his side to level last year’s position in finishing fifth.

He added: “Fifth has got to be our goal now.

“We want to try and emulate what we achieved last year.

“We are realistic and we know that probably aren’t going to make the top four, especially after tonight’s result, so it is important now that we try and win as many games as we possibly can and try and take some momentum into next year.”

Next up for Trinity is a Super 8s game against Huddersfield Giants at the John Smith’s Stadium on Friday, August 31.