Wakefield v St Helens: Webster puts points ahead of pride for Wakefield

THEY take on the champions tonight having just endured a
58-16 mauling at Widnes but head coach James Webster maintains his Wakefield Trinity Wildcats side can swiftly respond with a surprise victory.
Wakefield Trinity Wildcats head coach James Webster.Wakefield Trinity Wildcats head coach James Webster.
Wakefield Trinity Wildcats head coach James Webster.

St Helens headed into this round as Super League leaders with a 100 per cent record and looking to extend their winning record to four games at the expense of Trinity.

But Webster, whose side won their opening two matches, feels the hosts can ruin that run.

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“We are going into the game to try and win it,” he said, refuting claims it could just be an exercise to regain some pride after Sunday’s debacle.

“We spoke at the start of the year about going into every game confident we could win.

“We were really disappointed at Widnes but our focus is on improving in the areas we need to, to be able to beat Saints.

“We know this is a massive test against the best team in the competition at the moment.

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“But we are looking forward to it and we want to get out there, play and do a better job than last week.”

Former Hull FC centre Joe Arundel could make his first appearance since joining and, likewise, ex-Catalan Dragons prop Mickael Simon as Webster looks to freshen things up.

Furthermore, it is the West Yorkshire club’s first appearance in front of the Sky TV cameras this season so they are eager to avoid another such embarrassing scoreline.

Captain Danny Kirmond admits there is a necessity for a swift recovery given the way the season is structured in 2015.

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“It is a difficult competition and you can’t afford to get down too much and look back at defeats like that,” said the second-row.

“You’ve got to get over them straight away and we’ve a chance to do that against Saints.

“It is a great challenge for us; it’s a shorter turnaround than normal and, obviously, off the back of the last game we’ll have quite a bit of work to do.

“There are no easy games in Super League anyway, every week is going to be difficult and all the teams are beating each other.

“But I’m sure we will be up for it.”

Wakefield hooker Paul McShane, the former Leeds Rhino, will mark his 100th Super League appearance tonight.