CHRIS CHESTER has insisted that he left Leigh Leopards for travel reasons.
Chester spent four years at the Leigh Sports Village in a head of rugby role where he was instrumental in bringing the likes of John Asiata, Kai O’Donnell and Lachlan Lam to the club.
So it was therefore a surprise that the former Wakefield Trinity boss left Leigh midway through the 2025 campaign to join Castleford Tigers in a similar role.
Since then, Chester has been tasked with leading a rejuvenation of the West Yorkshire side after several years in the doldrums.
At the time, there were claims of a fallout behind the scenes at the Leopards, but Chester is adamant that it was purely family reasons that led to his departure.
“The biggest reason for me (leaving) is the travel. I’d done it for four years. I was there on my own, doing it on my own,” Chester told Sky Sports.
“It just takes over. It’s hard to explain, being a coach and being a director of rugby. It takes over your life and the results have a huge effect on your weekend.
“On top of that, with the travel, some days it was an hour and 20, the other days it could have been two-and-a-half hours there, and the same back.
“There’s lots been said on the relationship with people like Derek (Beaumont) and the club but I’ve got nothing but respect for the club and those guys, and what they’ve done to that club.
“Every game is an event, isn’t it? And that’s the benchmark for all Super League clubs. As an away fan I’d want to go watch my team at Leigh Leopards.
“I know Lammy (Adrian Lam) is doing it tough right now but I wish everyone well at Leigh. The main reason was family.”
Chester was asked about Beaumont, and he responded: “He’s so passionate. I’ve been on the end of a few emails and calls!
“It wasn’t necessarily after a defeat – it could have been anything but the biggest lesson I always got from Derek was to treat the money like it’s your money.
“I’ve tried to do that here with, let’s say, an injection. if we’re paying £200 here and we can get it for £150 somewhere else, why are we paying £200?
“I loved working there but it just got to a point where I’d had enough. I didn’t want to wake up in a morning and get on that motorway.
“I now get to see my kids in a morning, I pick my girls up and take them home.”