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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