Maybe one season it doesn't happen but the last couple of years have been a mirror image of how this one is going in terms of league form. That doesn't guarantee we turn it again and there is no doubt that this HKR provide the stiffest challenge of the last 3 seasons now but I think that will (eventually) excite these players. You obviously pretty much agree, given Wigan would be your charity bet but it's no given.

What puts me at ease with this team is the amount of big game players in it. The last thing guys like French and Smith could be called is flat track bullies. They're going through the motions at the minute. French barely looks interested and Smith can't concentrate for toffee in these spells but when the big games come and stress is applied, they absolutely love it. I don't think they've been as far off the mark in this spell as those two but I'd put Field, Wardle, Marshall, O'Neill, Thompson, Farrell and especially Ellis in that bracket as well. 


HKR are playing like Cas in 2017, where they're riding the crest of a wave and fair play to them. They've worked hard and built over these last few seasons. In all honesty though, I think what they're doing at the minute and the praise they're getting (rightfully) plays in to Wigans hands. A team winning two on the bounce could become complacent in the big games but after the Hull cup loss and having a few months of watching KR play like this and listen to all that noise from the media, there is absolutely zero chance of that happening. 

The run of home games towards the back end will be key - if we can build some form and momentum in those games then assuming we're 2nd we'll be tough to beat in a home semi final. 

One area our attack was breaking down consistently on Friday was around Kaide Ellis. Not blaming him as such but it was an obvious tactic by Wakefield to crowd him.


The Cas 2017 comparison entered my mind as well. They dominated the league but fell flat in the final. Ultimately if we end up in the final and we're close to full strength then Id fancy us.

Interesting POV but a bit unfair, maybe consider that statement could be applied to ALL teams at times? and that the "better" teams are better at limiting the number and timing of those games?
Are Wigan more professional or less professional?


I've been reading the debate about Wakefield rise, as a fan of the game I'd love to see it, Having a successful team in as many cities/big towns as possible is good for the game. Wakefield and Wigan are about the same size so hey, why not?

There are no certainties but I still feel confident that we will start to build for the back end of the season.   We have been here before, even in the middle of last years clean sweep we were soundly beaten in a few games.

Of course I'd like to win everything, and I'm sure the players would too, but as we've heard from Peet in the past the focus in training will be very different now to the last 2 months of the season.    


French is an interesting case, and has been joked about in the past likes his time off in the off season, and imo this is one of the reasons he probably wouldn't be in such demand back in the NRL as he comes across as too casual at times.  He certainly seems to have been playing at 3/4 capacity this season, but again he's a player who if managed the right way can do things other players can't get near.        


Re teh Wakey game, hats off to them, they've been great since the start of the season which is no mean feat on their first season back in the SL.   They are playing some great rugby and have a committed attitude across the park making them hard to beat.   Easily the better team last weekend.  

Jai Field was on Sky Sports News with Jenna Brooks and Jon Wilkin a few months ago and I thought his jokey comments about French were a bit revealing. They asked something like if things got competitive between them for most trys in the season or who was the fastest (something along those lines) and Field laughed and said the team have a job on to get French to be competitive in matches, let alone with things like that. Ultimately the lad can do as he pleases, as long as he turns up when it matters and he will do that and has done that in spades. He's quite comfortably the most talented player in the league and if he did have that week to week competitive edge, he likely wouldn't be here and would be in the NRL (as you suggest).