Anderson is aggravated ClubCall has delayed Giants’ preparations

For the first time in ClubCall’s five-year history, the lowest-ranked side was not selected yesterday as Warrington opted for a team that finished first in preference to reigning champions Leeds Rhinos.

It means Anderson’s side head to the Halliwell Jones Stadium on Thursday night while Leeds visit Wigan Warriors the following evening with the winners of each meeting at Old Trafford in the Super League Grand Final on Saturday week. Smith has long been a critic of the ClubCall format, labelling it a “gimmick” and arguing that it adds extra motivation for the side that is picked.

The former Leeds and England coach refused to attend the event yesterday for a second year running and could now be fined by the Rugby Football League.

But, in his absence, Warrington chairman Steven Broomhead said that the club’s board of directors, not the coach, chose Huddersfield rather than Leeds and the decision was also made before Giants’ 76-18 elimination play-off thrashing of Hull FC on Thursday.

Although Leeds finished third in the table, they have won the last two Grand Finals from fifth having been ‘ClubCalled’ by Wigan last year and Warrington in 2011.

It is understandable why Warrington did not want to pick them again as masterful Leeds have won five of the last six Grand 
Finals including denying the Cheshire club in their maiden appearance 12 months ago.

Furthermore, Warrington have triumphed in their last eight meetings with Huddersfield, who also have a wretched record in play-off football having won just three ties in 11 games and have never reached Old Trafford.

Anderson could see their thinking and is not “angry” about what could easily be perceived as a sleight on his team who, of course, finished top.

However, he told the Yorkshire Post: “I know their chairman’s said it’s the board’s decision but I don’t believe that for a minute.

“It doesn’t matter though. They were always going to pick the winner between Huddersfield and Hull FC as they’d have the least play-off experience.

“That’s how I see it and I can’t disagree. Personally, I’d have gone with the lowest ranked but I know why they’ve done it and we’ll just crack on.

“You’ve got to beat the best to be the best and that’s what we intend on doing.

“What I would say is, though, having to wait until Sunday for all this to happen is a disgrace.

“It lessens our preparation as I now have to go home and start sifting through all the information I’ve on Warrington for a Thursday game when we could have been told this Saturday or even Friday.”

On Huddersfield’s last visit to Warrington in July they were vanquished 44-24 in the Challenge Cup quarter-final which brought up familiar questions about their inability to handle big occasions.

But Anderson countered: “The difference between then and now is that we’re winners.

“We’ve actually won something (the League Leaders’ Shield) and, after tasting that, we want to continue doing it.

“We know what we have to do this week and we’ll be ready to do that.”

This season is the first time since an eight-club play-off format was introduced that the top four are all involved in the semi-finals.

Many people at Leeds expected to be facing Warrington – who beat them 40-20 in the opening round of play-offs when Huddersfield lost to Wigan – but coach Brian McDermott is not reading too much into it.

“It’s an interesting call because it’s the first time since ClubCall’s inception that the choosers have gone for somebody other than the lowest-ranked team,” he said.

“I think it was more to do with the fact they feel they’ve got the measure of Huddersfield, maybe, and they have a formula that works for them against Huddersfield.

“I think it was more about them choosing Huddersfield than avoiding us.

“I don’t think it’s such a huge call, but there is a bit of controversy there.”

Leeds, instead, head to Challenge Cup winners Wigan where they won 20-6 in the last match of the regular season earlier this month.

That saw the champions snatch third spot from their opponents, but they will be hoping for good news in the treatment room.

Key forwards Brett Delaney (groin) and Jamie Jones-Buchanan (knee) both suffered injuries in Friday’s 11-10 win over St Helens and are doubtful.

Who meets who in bid to reach final

Line-up for the Super League play-off semi-finals:

Warrington Wolves v Huddersfield Giants 
(Thursday, September 26)

Wigan Warriors v 
Leeds Rhinos 
(Friday, September 27)