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WARRINGTON WOLVES BULLS EYE
In this week’s Bulls Eye Head Coach Steve McNamara looks ahead to Saturday’s televised Round 6 Engage Super League XV clash at the Halliwell Jones Stadium between the Bulls and the Wolves
STEVE McNAMARA
IT WAS A GREAT TURNAROUND LAST WEEK. HAVE YOU EVER BEEN INVOLVED IN ANYTHING LIKE THAT AS A PLAYER OR A COACH?
Yes loads of times. People forget that it's only a couple of years ago against the same team, on the same ground, that we were on the reverse of that situation. I remember the feeling after the game, which was not very nice and I remember the hammering we got from the media about it. It's nice to be on the other foot this time and nice too that the other Coach hasn't been hounded as much as I was!!
It certainly showed a lot of character. It also showed us a few other things as well because believe me we were on the ropes and being pummelled for forty minutes in that game. Again a lot has been said about how fit some teams have become this year and how hard they have worked in pre season etc and that has probably created some myths about some teams. Well all teams work hard and all Coaches in Super League make sure that all their players work hard and are disciplined in certain areas. I think the way we finished that game - a whole lot stronger than the opposition - is a credit to our staff- Geoff Evans our Head of Physical Performance and Martin Higgins our Physio - for keeping our players on the field. In terms of fitness I am not saying we are any fitter than any other team in the competition but those people have a done a great job in enabling the players to do what we did in the second half of that game.
IT MUST HAVE TAKEN A LOT OUT OF THE PLAYERS. IS THAT A CONCERN GOING INTO THIS GAME AGAINST WARRINGTON?
Again the staff sit down as a group of people and we analyse what that game took out of them, both physically and mentally and everything that goes with it and we plan accordingly. In the last few weeks we have actually given them more days off than perhaps a Coach would like but with a relatively small squad and the fixtures that are coming up and the intensity of the games we have been involved with, it's been the right things for us. So as a Coach you can find yourself sat at home biting your nails thinking ‘I wish I was out there coaching them' but quite often it's not the right thing to do. Sometimes it's best to leave them alone and let them recover. We know this week will be a game they will have to be up for both emotionally and physically to be able to compete and we are aware of that factor.
IT'S A SIMILAR GAME AGAIN, IS SOME RESPECTS, IN THAT IT IS AGAINST A SIDE IN GOOD FORM AND YOU CAN'T BE HAVING TO COME BACK FROM 20-0 AGAIN.
Well we might have to!! Seriously you can't do that week in and week out because it would take too much out of you and it would come back to bite you but I think this week you will see an entertaining game between the two sides. Last week we certainly had to change the way we had to play and that was dictated by the opposition and how they wanted to play. We had to change accordingly and, whilst the game was packed with drama, I am not sure it was packed with too much entertainment when you look at it again. That was because of how the game was run against that opposition. This week you will see a game between two sides and two Coaches who, in particular, like to play Rugby League. They like to play attacking Rugby League, a lot more ball movement and we are looking forward to that this week.
Tony took over very early last year and had some time with them and they managed to get that Challenge Cup victory, which was great for their organisation but believe me there is nothing like having a pre season with a group of players and he will be happy to have done that. They have also been able to keep some stability with the players they kept and have added strongly and with an owner who is backing them financially; then they are a real threat.
They have a lot of strike power there, such as Richard Myler, who plays in an important position and David Solomona, who we all know is a tremendous player and has some great qualities and looking through their playing roster, it's certainly very impressive on paper.
TO BEAT THEM THEN, WOULD YOU HAVE TO MEET FIRE WITH FIRE OR PERHAPS REIN IT IN A LITTLE?
I think there is an element of both in there; we certainly had to rein it in last week but I'd like to think this week we can get the balance right, with regards to ‘go forward' and ‘completions' but also play with some style and a little bit of flair, which we do like to do.
They are in good form at the moment. They had a tight victory at Huddersfield, which was well deserved and then they backed it up with a great second half performance against Crusaders and they are a side with a lot of confidence at the moment. But they have suffered one defeat- against Wigan at home - and hopefully we can repeat that.
WHAT'S THE NEWS ON THE SQUAD?
Well keeping our fingers crossed, we look like we will be healthy again this week. On top of the seventeen who played against Wigan, Rikki Sheriffe will be available to come back into consideration and Michael Platt is ready now and will play Under 20's this week, which should give us another number potentially for next week. I must say we are doing some things right. We do need an element of luck because it is a collision sport- a tough sport - but I must give all credit to our medical staff and our conditioning staff who are doing a great job at the moment, which often goes unnoticed.
SQUAD
Steve McNamara will name his 19 man squad for the game on Thursday lunchtime.
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 304 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 66 appearances.