- 2 days ago
Ahead of their trip to leaders Hull KR, The Yorkshire Post's rugby league writer James O'Brien looks at how far Wakefield Trinity have come in the past 18 months and how much further they can go in the next 18 months PLUS we look ahead to the Super League Round 16 clash involving Leeds Rhinos v Leigh and Hull FC’s trip to a misfiring Warrington Wolves ...
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00:00YorkshirePost.co.uk
00:02Hello and welcome to the latest Yorkshire Post Rugby League podcast
00:05where we look ahead to the latest round of Super League fixtures
00:09which get underway on Friday night for Yorkshire teams
00:12in terms of Hawkeye taking on Wakefield Trinity
00:16and Lee's Rhinos playing Lee Leopards.
00:20Two intriguing games there.
00:22Catalan Dragons welcome Huddersfield Giants
00:24fresh from their win at Warrington last week
00:27where the Wolves are again at home taking on Hull FC
00:31and Cass host Wigan Warriors
00:34who are looking to bounce back after that shock defeat
00:37against Wakefield last week
00:39which we will start off with by looking at Hawkeye versus Wakefield
00:43on Friday James.
00:45It's been a big week for Wakefield in many ways.
00:49Obviously a massive win against Wigan last week
00:52which has clearly done Hawkeye a lot of favours
00:55although they're not over the line yet
00:57but you've been talking to Matt Ellis obviously quite a bit this week
01:02and he's been coming out and saying a lot about the recruitment and stuff
01:05and the developments that they're looking to do off the pitch as well
01:08which we'll get to in a minute
01:10but just quickly talk about the season that Wakefield have had so far
01:14which is sort of like the highlight or the sort of crowning moment so far
01:18was obviously that win over Wigan last week.
01:20Yeah, I think their injury problems are going under the radar as well
01:26I think if it was a Wigan or a Leeds say
01:29I think there'd be a lot more spoken about that
01:31they've got a full pack out at the moment
01:33a very strong pack as well
01:35Mike McMieken added to that
01:37last week he picked up an injury in the league game
01:41so he missed out against Wigan
01:42he's going to miss out against Hull Kiara as well
01:45and he's a massive player
01:47he's probably been Wake's player of the season so far
01:49and should be in the dream team at the end of the year
01:53providing he's not out too long
01:54so he was out last week
01:56you think, you look at the pack
01:58you see McMeetton's out and the rest of them
02:00you think they've got no chance here
02:01or that's what some people might have thought last week
02:04but obviously they came out and proved everyone wrong
02:07incredible win against Wigan
02:09for the reasons I've just outlined there
02:11and just even with a full strength side
02:13it's hard to get over the top of Wigan
02:15they haven't won the previous nine games
02:18so they're on a very good run themselves
02:21you could say that it was coming from a Wigan perspective
02:23they got ran close by
02:24or they should have lost to the previous week
02:26so it might have been coming
02:28but you've got to go out there and do it
02:29and they did that
02:31and good Hull Kiara as well
02:33we've got to back up
02:34the run they've been on the top four
02:36or three of the top four in the previous three games
02:40and now they've completed that set
02:42and the toughest challenge yet probably at Hull Kiara
02:44at Craven Park
02:45where it is hostile
02:47it's horrible to play
02:48and like I say
02:49if you go in there with a depleted pack
02:51it makes it even tougher
02:52so I think it's just performance this week
02:55for Wakefield
02:56it's hard to see them going to Hull Kiara
02:57and winning in the circumstances
02:59but under Daryl Powell
03:01you just never know
03:02they've got there
03:03and there's no real difference in performance
03:05regardless of the personnel that's out there
03:08and once you get to that point
03:10you're in a very good place
03:11Just a quick word about Daryl Powell
03:14given how things went for him at Warrington
03:16how much do you think he's enjoying this current
03:20sort of campaign with Wakefield
03:22now he's back in Super League
03:23obviously it went tremendously well last year
03:25when they won the treble
03:27when they were back in the Championship
03:29how much do you feel that he's sort of like
03:33enjoying proving to people
03:35that he is a coach that can be successful at this level
03:38or is he the wrong kind of person
03:41to sort of label that
03:42give that kind of label
03:43I asked him that the other week
03:45I can't remember what it was
03:46because all these weeks
03:48it's just mentioned someone in the end
03:50and he didn't say much about himself
03:54but he just said he's enjoying himself
03:57and you could tell that
03:58as soon as he walked through the door
03:59from his early interviews
04:01he had a smile on his face
04:03he didn't say much of that at Warrington
04:05he was usually out for his press conference
04:06about at least an hour after
04:10you had to wait at least an hour
04:12for him to come out
04:12and he used to drag himself in there
04:15and then drag himself out
04:17after another defeat
04:18but he's not like that
04:20Wakefield
04:21he's got a smile on his face
04:22I know it's not the all and end all
04:25but he's into his press as quickly
04:26he's happy to be there
04:27it's just complete night and day
04:29from his time at Warrington
04:30I think it's just the Yorkshire area
04:32and being this side of the hills
04:34has that kind of effect on someone
04:37doesn't it?
04:38Yeah definitely
04:38and he'll obviously be pleased
04:41with the club's plans
04:43for the future
04:44Matt Ellis
04:45he's obviously working closely
04:47with Daryl Powell
04:48in terms of the recruitment
04:49he sort of spoke about that this week
04:51and then he was also talking about
04:53what the club hopes to achieve
04:55in terms of the Bellevue Stadium
04:57and what the plans are for that
04:58can you just give us an idea
04:59of what Matt Ellis was actually talking about
05:01in terms of both those areas James?
05:04Yeah he's great as Nihilist
05:06I was on the phone to him for an hour
05:08and he just lives and breathes the game
05:10he was talking about
05:11having UFC style press conferences
05:14and stuff like that
05:16because he thinks there's a dead
05:17and I completely agree with him
05:19there's a dead period
05:20at the start of weeks
05:21it's like
05:21it comes to life on a Thursday
05:23and then just dies off
05:25on Sunday
05:26and Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday
05:28there's nothing going on
05:29and that's what we're finding
05:30at the moment isn't it
05:31with a lot of press conferences
05:32bunch towards the back end
05:35of the week as well
05:35so there is a bit of a dead space there
05:37he's talking about getting
05:38players from rival clubs together
05:41having a bit of beef
05:42like I say
05:43in a UFC style press conference
05:45invite fans down
05:46and stuff like that
05:47trying to do something completely
05:50away from what we're doing
05:51at the moment
05:52and it's just ideas like that
05:53he's a doer
05:54as we've seen so far
05:56he's gone in there
05:58and completely transformed
06:00the squad
06:01he put a lot of money
06:02into the squad last year
06:03in the championship
06:05straight away
06:06he bought
06:06well before the Super League
06:08players were confirmed
06:09he bought marquee players
06:11added those to the squad
06:12and one I've mentioned already
06:14McMeekin and Tom Johnson
06:15who have had massive impacts
06:17on Daryl Powell's team
06:19so he is a doer
06:20and even when he went in
06:22and they had the new stand sorted
06:25and the North stand
06:27had been done as well
06:28and secret
06:29behind the scenes
06:30he was absolutely fuming
06:31about aspects of that build
06:33as well
06:33and the way it was put together
06:34and he quickly got to work
06:36in rectifying those issues
06:38so yeah
06:40he'll stop at nothing
06:40to get Wakefield
06:42to where he wants
06:43or where he sees the club
06:45potential wise
06:46from being
06:47and that's up there
06:48with the life
06:49full care
06:49who they've got
06:50on Friday
06:52and they're a benchmark
06:53themselves
06:53with what they've done
06:54but I think Wakefield
06:56within a couple of years
06:58they could be in a similar position
06:59Yeah definitely
07:00I mean
07:01they're still 7th in the table
07:02obviously
07:03so they've still got
07:03a lot of work to do
07:04but there's a bit of a gap
07:06between themselves
07:06and Warrington
07:07and you know
07:08not many people
07:09perhaps would have given them
07:10much of a chance
07:11against Wigan last week
07:12and it'll be the same
07:13this week
07:14when they're going to
07:15Hall KR
07:15do you fancy them
07:17causing a bit
07:18another up
07:18what for many
07:20would be another upset
07:20wouldn't it?
07:25Despite what I've just
07:26all that I've just said
07:27I just can't see them
07:28going to Hall KR
07:29and winning
07:29with the players
07:31the personnel
07:31they've got out
07:32at the moment
07:32I know I've said
07:33the performance
07:34isn't too different
07:35but given Hall KR's pack
07:38and the way they start
07:39games
07:40I know Hall KR
07:41have got a few
07:42out themselves
07:43but
07:43yeah
07:45I think they'll just
07:46get overpowered
07:47in the middle
07:48and it'll be
07:48probably a game
07:49not a game too far
07:51because there was
07:52previous ones
07:53before the player
07:54were young
07:54but just in terms
07:55of the effort
07:55they've been putting in
07:56it's a big ask
07:57to go to Hall KR
07:59after beating Wigan
08:00and replicating
08:01that kind of performance
08:03I just think
08:04yeah
08:05and on the flip side
08:07I think Hall KR
08:08they're due a dip
08:09as well
08:10so they can't keep
08:11going forever
08:11but I think
08:13all logic's pointing
08:14to Hall KR
08:15win quite comfortably
08:16in this one
08:16I think
08:16yeah
08:17and well
08:18given
08:19Hall KR
08:21don't seem to be
08:21showing any signs
08:22of slowing up
08:23despite the challenge
08:25cut far
08:25and I mean
08:25last week
08:26they walloped
08:27Castleford
08:2748-0
08:29on the road
08:30it is a daunting
08:32prospect
08:32for Wakefield
08:33in fact
08:33it's a daunting
08:34prospect
08:34for anyone
08:35really
08:35we'll just
08:37have a quick look
08:37at a couple
08:38of other games
08:38coming up
08:39this weekend
08:40Leeds vs Leeds
08:41obviously an intriguing
08:42one
08:42particularly
08:44in terms
08:44of the
08:45table
08:45Leeds
08:46and Leeds
08:47well Leeds
08:47in third
08:48three points
08:49behind Wigan
08:49now
08:49and Leeds
08:51sorry
08:51just a further
08:52point
08:52behind Leeds
08:54there's a lot
08:55at stake
08:55in this game
08:56isn't there
08:56in terms of
08:57placings
08:57I suppose
08:58there is
08:59yeah
09:00there's 11 games
09:01to go after this
09:02so it's not
09:02you're not in
09:03must win territory
09:04but
09:04for Leeds
09:06just in terms
09:08of
09:08the performers
09:09last week
09:10Brad Arthur
09:11were slamming
09:12their attitude
09:12and he's been
09:13massive on
09:14our attitude
09:15since he came
09:15in this time
09:16last year
09:17so the standard
09:19slipped last week
09:20they tried to
09:20take the easy
09:21route as he said
09:22it
09:23so I'd expect
09:24Leeds to come
09:24out fired up
09:25against Lee
09:26take the game
09:27to Lee
09:27and have the crowd
09:29right behind them
09:30as well
09:30it's one of those
09:32nights I think
09:33it'd be very hard
09:34for Leeds to come
09:35to Edenley
09:35and beat Leeds
09:36when they've got
09:37that kind of
09:38mindset
09:39so
09:39it's a good game
09:41for Leeds
09:42after a real
09:43off night
09:44at St Helens
09:45where
09:45there were a lot
09:46of errors
09:46a lot of
09:48the old
09:48Leeds came
09:49through
09:49when I say
09:50old Leeds
09:50I mean
09:51before Brad Arthur
09:52came in
09:52yeah
09:54I fancy
09:55Leeds in this
09:56one quite
09:56not to
09:58ink or miss
09:58but to put
09:59into a much
10:00improved performance
10:02and I do think
10:03they will get
10:04the result
10:04just one other
10:06game
10:06before I let
10:06you go
10:07Warrington
10:07hosting Hull
10:09on Saturday
10:10Warrington
10:12just can't
10:13seem to get
10:14going this
10:14season
10:14it seems
10:15to have
10:16stemmed
10:16from that
10:18game
10:18over in
10:20North America
10:21at the start
10:22of the season
10:22Hull can put
10:25some welcome
10:26distance between
10:27themselves
10:27can't they
10:28and Warrington
10:29if they get it
10:30right this weekend
10:31yeah I'd go
10:33as far as
10:34saying Warrington
10:34will be out
10:35of the playoff
10:36race if they
10:36lose this week
10:37that's how big
10:38it is for them
10:38because you
10:40look at it
10:40St. Ellen's
10:41will be
10:42Salford
10:43there's no
10:43question about
10:44that so
10:44they'll go
10:44up to 20
10:45points
10:45Hull FC
10:46obviously if
10:47they win
10:48at Warrington
10:49they'll go
10:50up to 19
10:50points and
10:51Warrington
10:51will be on
10:5212 points
10:53still
10:53that's a
10:54big deficit
10:56to overcome
10:57in 11 games
10:57that'll be
10:587 points
10:58given the
11:01patchy form
11:03I just can't
11:04see them
11:04overturning
11:05that and
11:06obviously
11:06relying on
11:07Hull to
11:07have a dip
11:08or St.
11:08Ellen's to
11:08have a dip
11:09or Leeds
11:09to have a
11:10sustained dip
11:10I just can't
11:11see it
11:12happening
11:12so I'm
11:13willing to
11:13write off
11:13Warrington
11:14if they don't
11:15win this
11:15week but
11:16easier said
11:17than done
11:18for all
11:18I think
11:18Warrington
11:19will probably
11:20be treating
11:20it that way
11:21as well
11:21a bit of
11:22a not less
11:23chance
11:23saloon
11:23because
11:23they're a
11:26professional club
11:26at the end
11:26of the day
11:27and they'll
11:27see a lot
11:27more opportunities
11:28for them
11:30after this
11:30but they
11:31know they
11:32need to
11:33deliver a
11:37much improved
11:38performance
11:38after that
11:38game against
11:39Huddersfield
11:40and it's not
11:40just that
11:40it's a run
11:41of games
11:42and like you
11:43say going
11:44back to
11:45probably
11:45Las Vegas
11:47where they
11:47were humbled
11:49against Wigan
11:51so yeah
11:52the pressure
11:53is mounting
11:54on Sandberg
11:55I think
11:55it's a great
11:56opportunity
11:57for Hull
11:57to go there
11:58and really
11:58cement the
11:59place in
11:59the top
12:00six
12:00because
12:00as we
12:01mentioned
12:02Wakefield
12:03are going
12:03to Hull
12:04KR
12:04so it's
12:04a great
12:04opportunity
12:05for Hull
12:05to pull
12:06three clear
12:07and put a
12:07bit of
12:07daylight
12:07between
12:08themselves
12:09and the
12:09chasing
12:09part
12:10YorkshirePost.co.uk
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