Quality is the watchword as Trinity look to 2022

Chris Chester says Wakefield will have a “skinnier” but higher-quality squad next season.

But he is confident they will be more competitive after a number of lean campaigns.

The out-of-contract coach is yet to confirm reports that he will pen a new deal, which, with Daryl Powell leaving neighbours Castleford for Warrington, would make him the longest-serving head-coach in Super League.

But the 42-year-old former Hull KR chief, who took the reins at hometown Wakefield in March 2016, has said he is ‘heavily involved” with recruitment for 2022.

Versatile Huddersfield back Lee Gaskell has already been signed on two-year terms, and Chester says more announcements are on the way.

“We have made some real top signings. I am really pleased with the type of player we have got,” said Chester, who guided Trinity to top-five finishes in 2017 and 2018 before they needed a last-day win over London Broncos to secure top-flight survival in 2019.

“We are close to getting an overseas player over the line and we just want to add some real quality to the squad.

“That is the route we are going down. We will have a skinnier squad than in the last few years, but we are spending more to get more quality players in.”

Chester, whose side had only four wins from 16 league games going into Sunday’s trip to Huddersfield, added: “It is a decent market at the moment and we are heavily involved in it.

“We have got another three or four players to announce. We are just waiting to get the paperwork signed and sealed.”

Wakefield will lose consistent loose-forward Joe Westerman to Castleford next year and Chester continued: “We need to strengthen in a number of positions and the players we have brought in, we feel will add some quality.”

Trinity host Warrington this Sunday.

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