A month into the Super League season, and it is fair to suggest that the table is beginning to take shape. There are still surprises aplenty – who would have predicted Wigan would have one win from their first four games? – but, overall, the big names are assuming their usual places.
Leeds and St Helens have enjoyed perfect starts, while Warrington hold one league defeat to their name. The Wolves have been Super League’s perennial bridesmaids for a good few years now, fancied year in, year out, but never quite getting over the line at Old Trafford to win the Grand Final. But under the guidance of Tony Smith, Super League’s longest-serving coach, hopes are high that the Wolves will challenge once again this year. Two wins from three is a decent enough start, especially with their defeat coming in the notoriously tough environment of Perpignan against Catalans Dragons, but the demanding Smith is after much more, starting on Sunday against Hull Kingston Rovers.
“We’re going OK,” said Smith, a former England coach. “We’ve lost a couple of players to injuries early on, which isn’t ideal, and we’ve had three tough games in Super League.
“Up until the week just gone our defence has been the highlight of our season. That dipped last weekend against Catalans and we’ll have to improve against a team who will have their tails up following a good win against Wigan.”
That defeat in France came after a narrow loss to St George Illawarra Dragons in the World Club Series. However, always the philosopher, Smith is of the belief that these early losses could make them tougher and better come the business end of the season. After all, nothing is won in March.
“You can often learn some tough lessons and some lasting lessons from those kinds of defeats,” he said: “It can set you up, and that’s how we try to deal with those bad experiences. You’ve got to factor in that those games against tough NRL teams can get you battle-hardened for the end of the season. If we had the choice of playing in the World Club Series or having a week off, we’d take the World Club Series every time, win or lose.”
