Wednesday 3 August 2016 17:38, UK
Phil Clarke discusses a sportsman's competitive nature as some teams find themselves written off in the Super 8s.
Congratulations to Hull and Warrington for making it to the Ladbrokes Challenge Cup Final, there is no doubt that both of them deserve to be at Wembley.
The top two teams in the league after 23 Rounds should provide a wonderful showcase for the sport in its most historic setting, let's hope it's a lot closer than last year's final. It will be a brilliant experience for both sets of players and their supporters, but what effect will it have on their league performances between now and the 9th of October ?
We will find out the initial reaction for the Wolves when we see them on Sky Sports this week in their match against St Helens. We're now at the start of a seven-game tournament during which the intensity and consequences increase.
Admittedly the Tigers, Wildcats and Vikings need a sporting miracle to make the play-offs but you can bet that they will give it a go.
In many ways the most interesting part of the season starts now and it begins with a bigger challenge than the teams have faced so far. I've never met anyone involved in sport who doesn't rise to a challenge. They seem to have a different blood type to the rest of the population, its 'C Positive' and it makes them more competitive than everyone else.
Ask them how far they can jump, how fast they can run or how much weight they can lift, or better still; tell them that they can't do something, and just watch how much harder they try. The competitive juices seem to push them harder, faster, and higher.
Several of the teams in the Super 8s have already been told that they have no chance of making the top four which will only make them more determined to prove everyone else wrong. You have to 'Dream it to achieve it'.
There can sometimes be an advantage in a race when you have a target ahead of you to chase down. Seeing you and your team narrow the gap gives you extra energy and causes the ones in front of you to panic sometimes.
Admittedly the Tigers, Wildcats and Vikings need a sporting miracle to make the play-offs but you can bet that they will give it a go.
The Dragons have a much better chance if they can remember how to win. Defeats in their last five matches must have shattered any confidence they had in mid-June when they had a record-showing 13 wins from 18 rounds.
It's as though they have never recovered from their Round 20 Anniversary game against Wigan. It was a massive match for the club, they under-performed and can't seem to get their breath back.
Over a two-month window we have a condensed mini-tournament that should bring out the best in the players, all aiming to be in the top four places.
For the eight teams in the qualifiers, there is a far more stressful two months ahead. There is very little room for error and it wouldn't surprise me if we see a few shocks this year.
I can't wait. After a break last week it'll be great to see four monumental games this weekend.
