Super League: James Webster hopes Wakefield can defy the odds

Wakefield are the favourites to finish bottom of Super League this season but head coach James Webster believes the Wildcats can prove the bookmakers wrong.

Webster is pleased with his recruitment, which includes experienced forwards Ian Kirke (Leeds), Lopini Paea, Mickael Simon (both Catalan Dragons) and Matty Ashurst (Salford), and hopes his team can make their mark in the new structure by claiming a place in the top eight when the split takes place in July.

"It's part of being at Wakefield," Webster said. "I don't think Wakefield have ever finished bottom in Super League but every season they're ranked to come last.

"I can understand why people say that but we believe in ourselves. We are going to go into every game confident that we can win but we're under no illusion that it's going to be tough.

"We've got some good additions to our team and I think they will add something to us.

"We need some breaks to go our way. We've got a very small squad but, if we stay injury-free and play well, we are in with a chance of making the top eight."

Firm foundations

Having flirted with financial disaster so often in the past, Wakefield have been put on firm foundations by chairman Michael Carter.

The club lost around £2.5m in the three years before Carter's takeover two years ago but expect to break even in the last financial year.

"It's quite a remarkable turnaround," Carter said. "Things are still extremely tough but it's looking okay.

"We've set our playing budget and, although Webbo would probably like a little bit more than we've given him, I've said all along we will only spend what we have."

Meanwhile, the club's plans to move to a new stadium at Newmarket, near the M62, could move a step closer next Tuesday, although Carter has not ruled out staying at Belle Vue.

"We've a meeting on the 27th with all parties and both options are being explored," he said. "Things have moved quite a bit in the last two months so hopefully we will have some good news to announce in the not-too-distant future.

"Personally I'd like to stay here. It's an old ground and it takes some looking after but it has got a lot of heritage and history.

"We need to improve facilities that can take us into the 21st century but fans are used to coming here and there are issues, such as car parking, that we can resolve."