England Rugby League

Kear calls for end to 'scratchy' Wildcats form

Saturday 24th July 10

Wakefield Trinity Wildcats were the only one of the 12 English Super League clubs not to be represented in the get-together of an enlarged England squad this week and coach John Kear says his players only have themselves to blame for missing out.

Kear, who was England coach for the 2000 World Cup, has never been slow to press the international claims of his leading players - Matt Blaymire, Richard Moore and, more recently, Aaron Murphy spring to mind - but he had no complaints about Steve McNamara's decision to ignore the Wildcats.

"I don't think our recent form has justified inclusion," said Kear, whose side have slipped out of the top eight after winning just three of their last 13 matches.

"You've got to pick form players and they tend to come from form teams. Our form has been scratchy.

"We've been too inconsistent and you don't want inconsistent players at the elite level.

"It's frustrating for the coaching staff and the fans and directors and I think it's frustrating for the players.

"It's something we've tried to address. The players are working to try to address it and we need to address it pretty quickly."

Wakefield look to get their season back on track when St Helens visit Belle Vue tomorrow while two of their rivals for the eighth play-off spot, Castleford Tigers and Crusaders RL, meet at Neath.

Crusaders are four points behind the eighth-placed Tigers but have a game in hand and coach Brian Noble says tomorrow's clash is a must-win game for his side.

"It's a big fixture for both clubs," he said. "They could end our top-eight aspirations at the Gnoll so we have to make sure we come home with the two points."

Castleford are on a roll with five wins from their last six matches and coach Terry Matterson is urging his team not to let the opportunity slip from their grasp.

"We have given ourselves a real chance of clinching a play-off place but there is still plenty of work to be done," he said.

"I'm sure that they will see this game as an ideal opportunity to gain some ground.

"We have been playing some good football in recent weeks and, if we can continue in that form, then we feel confident against most opponents."

Tomorrow's game is the second Crusaders fixture to be switched from Wrexham to Neath to keep faith with the club's followers in south Wales following the move north and Noble believes it is important for the development of rugby league in the country.

"It's massively important," he said. "There are a lot of good rugby league players down in south Wales and, when building the profile of rugby league in Wales, it is essential that we cover the whole country."

Hull FC's 46-0 home defeat by Wigan Warriors last night has given Leeds Rhinos the chance to climb into the top four for the first time this year when they go to Salford City Reds tomorrow.

The defending champions were slow starters this year but coach Brian McClennan believes they are beginning to hit their straps at just the right time.

"Over the last couple of months we've made pretty good strides," he said. "We've had the odd hiccup here and there but we've had a lot more positives than negatives. We're starting to get some momentum."

The Reds are also finding some form with two wins from their last three matches and McClennan admits they could be dangerous opponents.

"They beat Hull at home and St Helens at home so they are a club that can get up for big games," he said.

"They'll treat us as a big game and we learned that the harsh way last year when they came to Headingley Carnegie and beat us.

"We understand playing against them is going to be a difficult challenge and we're not taking them lightly."

Huddersfield Giants can virtually book their place in the play-offs by completing the double over Harlequins RL at the Galpharm Stadium tomorrow.

The Londoners are still in danger of collecting the wooden spoon after winning just one of their last six matches but Giants coach Nathan Brown reckons their brand of attacking rugby deserves better rewards.

"The thing I like about them is that they do some things different and play a bit of footy," he said.

"They are certainly not a boring side and they challenge you more than a lot of other sides. If their game is on, then they are as hard to beat as any other."