Wakefield's positive Covid-19 tests prompt another Super League reshuffle

Super League has been forced into a fixture reschedule for the third consecutive round after Wakefield Trinity became the latest side to return positive tests for coronavirus. Their game with Leeds on Thursday evening has been postponed after two of their players tested positive, meaning the competition has yet again had to reshuffle games.

Trinity confirmed the results on Tuesday evening and following a meeting on Wednesday morning, they confirmed two of their first-team squad have been stood down. One of the players featured against Warrington on Sunday, but the Wolves game with Hull on Friday will go ahead.

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However, the test and trace programme has identified six players in that game that are now required to self-isolate for 14 days, meaning they will miss not only Friday’s game, but next Thursday’s game against Castleford. Castleford’s game with Salford on Thursday afternoon has been pushed back to an 8.15pm kick-off.

The other games this weekend remain unaffected, but Wakefield will test their players again on Friday before making a decision on their next league fixture, which is scheduled to take place next Thursday against Hull. Catalans’ game with Leeds on Monday had already been called off due to positive tests at the Dragons.

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The latest results increase the chances of more clubs being forced into multiple midweek fixtures to ensure Super League finishes on time with the Grand Final scheduled for 10 October. Including this week, there are eight free weekends until the play-offs are scheduled to take place and Catalans still have 13 league games remaining.

With the ramifications of failing to finish this season potentially huge for the sport financially, there is growing trepidation within the Rugby Football League about what would happen if the domestic season collapses. On Tuesday, Super League clubs discussed the prospect of moving the weekly round of testing to later in the week, but no decision has been made.