Wakefield’s clash with Huddersfield to go ahead despite coronavirus disruption

Wakefield’s re-arranged Super League match against Huddersfield on Thursday afternoon will go ahead at the John Smith’s Stadium despite more disruption caused by the impact of the coronavirus pandemic.

Trinity coach Chris Chester has revealed that one his players has tested positive for Covid-19 while Huddersfield coach Simon Woolford is forced to re-shuffle his line-up due to track and trace protocol after a player from Leeds, the Giants’ last opponents, also returned a positive test.

Woolford cancelled his scheduled pre-match press conference at five minutes’ notice and Chester was forced to re-arrange his after pushing back training due to the disruption.

Chester said: “We’ve just had news that we had one positive test but for confidentially we can’t say who that is.

“I am led to believe nothing has been flagged up on the track and trace but it is tough on the player.

“He has got to isolate for 10 days and then has to come back with a strict protocol; the seven-day protocol will rule him out for the Wigan game.

“We didn’t get the tests back until half-past nine this morning. Until then no-one was allowed into the training facility if they hadn’t got their test back.

“It’s real crazy but we have got some strict protocols here that we are adhering to.”

The re-arranged fixture, postponed in March because both clubs were involved in the fifth round of the Challenge Cup, will give one of them an opportunity to break their losing sequence.

Huddersfield have lost all five matches since the resumption on August 2, albeit three of them by a solitary point, while Wakefield have lost all four in the league and were knocked out of the Cup.

Trinity are forced to concede home advantage because their ground has not been cleared to stage matches, but Chester has no complaints.

Chester added: “I’m just pleased we’re not having to travel over to Lancashire. We can cope with a 30-minute bus journey.

“We’ll just keep plugging along and we’re fairly confident that the win is just around the corner.”

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