Wakefield: Qualifiers preview
Thursday 6 August 2015 17:12, UK
We take a look at the Super League season gone by for Wakefield, and preview their Qualifier hopes.
Story so far:
They were the pundits’ pick to finish bottom of the pile this season, and though it wasn’t for the lack of trying, so it proved to be. A winless streak of 16 games between March and July gave the Wildcats no hope and they simply haven’t shown enough quality to compete with the best in Super League.
They’ve been on the end of some thrashings, conceding an eye-watering league-worst 929 points. James Webster paid the price with his job, but whether Brian Smith can do any better with this current side remains to be seen.
What’s gone right:
Really not a lot. But at least Wakefield have shown a bit of ambition to get out of the sticky situation they find themselves in.
Adding Kevin Locke and Bill Tupou is a decent effort at this stage of the season, while Lee Smith - Harry Sunderland trophy-winner in 2008 - and Scott Moore, a Challenge Cup winner and Super League grand-finalist, will add plenty of experience to the squad. Is it too late? Well, at least they’ve had a go at trying to avoid it.
What’s gone wrong:
The plusses can also equal minuses. Just too many players. 40 players, yes 40, have pulled on the jersey this season, showing Wakefield haven’t got it right when it comes to squad assembly.
Credit to them for trying to fix the problem, but that’s an impossible amount for any coach to really get any level of consistency out of his players. Signings are often seen as the answer to all the problems, but occasionally, it can be the cause of the problems too.
Middle 8 chances:
You do have to fear for the Wildcats. Like Salford, Leigh have already notched one up on them in the Challenge Cup and all four of the sides competing from the Championship will have targeted them as a potential upset.
Throw in the fact that Bradford, Sheffield and Halifax are all local derbies and there’s a series of problems that already point towards potential relegation.
In their favour? Brian Smith is an astute appointment and could prove the saviour. And, dare I say it, should Wakefield get Kevin Locke fit before the end of the season, there’s still a good chance of survival.
One to watch:
Locke, if fit, has a real point to prove and could lead the side to safety if he recovers in time. But the man Smith will really need to perform in order to save the Wildcats’ skins will be half-back Tim Smith. Always the standout performer, Smith, on his day, is one of the best in the league.
His passing and kicking game lit up the NRL during his time Down Under and it’s no surprise to see him topping the assists and kicking charts for Wakefield in 2015. If his teammates are singing from the same hymn sheet, then Smith could prove the saviour after all.
