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WIGAN WARRIORS BULLS EYE
In this week's Bulls Eye, Head Coach Steve McNamara looks ahead to Friday night's round 5 Engage Super League XV clash at the Grattan Stadium when unbeaten Wigan Warriors are the visitors.
STEVE McNAMARA
LAST WEEK'S GAME - A LOW SCORING AFFAIR - WAS PROBABLY A GAME YOU MAY HAVE LOST LAST SEASON.
We have probably been guilty in the past of not wining those tight games. There is no doubt about it; the game lacked quality but there were a lot of circumstances for that, the conditions etc. pushed it that way. Quite often as Coaches we say that the performance is more important than the result but that was definitely not the case last Friday! As soon as we hit that ground and saw what was in front of us, we knew we just had to find a way to win. The quality will follow on the back of the weather turning and that's a fact. I think every side is suffering from that at the minute.
DO YOU SEE WIGAN AS THE TOUGHEST GAME YOU HAVE HAD SO FAR THIS SEASON?
I think they have all been tough. I think each game has presented a different challenge. I think to get Huddersfield and Saints first up, who finished second and third in the competition last year, then you hit Cas who were one of the form sides last year made the Play Off's and then we had to go to a really tough place like Salford on a wet night, so I don't think there was any challenge tougher than the other. It's how tough you make of them that counts and how you prepare for them and we have prepared well for this one.
DO YOU FEEL PEOPLE ARE GETTING A BIT CARRIED AWAY WITH WIGAN?
They have had three home games, which helps but every side is a challenge. Hull KR finished fourth in the table last year and Wigan did for them. Look, Wigan were a good side last year make no bones about it. People might forget they were just the width of a touchline from getting to a Grand Final and who knows if they had got there what would have happened. They have been close for a number of years; they haven't just turned into a super human side overnight. They are a side that's been together for a long period of time and they have a lot of players who have been through their own systems for a while. They have changed some things this year and they are a good side; but they have always been a good side.
They are defending differently. They have a different emphasis on the way they defend and on how they execute that defence, particularly with the emphasis on the ruck area and it's there for everyone to see.
HOW WILL PAUL DEACON AFFECT THEM. WILL HE BE ABLE TO GIVE THEM THE ‘INSIDE KNOWLEDGE' THAT WILL ENABLE THEM TO WIN?
I certainly hope not!! Deacs knows our personnel inside out and how we do things but we have changed some of our personnel and we have different people here. When players cross that line they will have been given the information they need from the Coaches, given game plans and structures to work from and they need to go out there and execute them to the best of their ability. It's no disadvantage that Paul knows about us because we certainly know a lot about him. He will get a warm reception because he was tremendous for us. He didn't really get a chance to say goodbye - because he left in the close season- and we will welcome him back and his family but come Friday night it's business. It's business as usual for the Bulls and whilst Wigan will be a challenge for us, we will certainly be a challenge for them. We are ready for the game and hopefully the weather will stay fine and we can play some good football and, on the back of the WCC last week and seeing what was on offer there, we are all looking forward to getting out there and getting Super League going strong again.
WHAT'S THE NEWS ON THE SQUAD?
Well we have scope if we need to make changes. Michael Platt is back in full training but is probably a week away, although he could play if needed and Jason Crookes is pushing really hard for a spot in the starting line up. Rikki Sheriffe has a tight hamstring and we are not too sure about him but we have come through the first four games relatively unscathed and long may it continue.
SQUAD
Steve McNamara has once again been able to name the same 19 man squad as last week. The squad is: Reardon, Halley, L'Estrange, Hall, Scruton, Sheriffe, Sykes, Langley, Kopczak, Donaldson, Menzies, Kearney, Godwin, Nero, Lynch, Crookes, Whitehead, Worrincy, Orford.
MILESTONES
ANDY LYNCH requires 8 points for a career total of 200. He has scored 48 tries in his career, 15 for Castleford, 2 for England ‘A' and 31 for Bradford Bulls in 299 appearances.
MICHAEL WORRINCY requires 8 points for career total of 100. He has scored13 tries for Harlequins (London Broncos) and 10 for Bradford Bulls in 62 appearances.