Under pressure (From Warrington Guardian)

Under pressure

PRESSURE points are at stake in the first home game of Engage Super League X and Warrington Wolves have prepared accordingly.

Wolves say they are aware that all of the pressure is on them to perform on Sunday and Paul Cullen's men are determined not to allow newcomers Leigh Centurions to take advantage of the fact.

Cullen likened his Warrington team, that includes the return of Paul Noone and the possible absence of Jon Clarke, as one being prepared to 'circle the wagons' as if cowboys being invaded and bombarded in a western film.

Defeat at London Broncos in the opening game and the unwanted spotlight befalling the club this week due to the suspension of young winger Phil Berry (see news page three) has added to the pressure.

An eager 10,000-plus 'gate' is contemplated for the 3pm kick-off and Wolves, with high expectancy hanging over them this year, are considered firm favourites to defeat a Leigh side that are most pundits' choice for relegation a year after their promotion.

Head coach Cullen says: "We know because of our result against London and off-the-field circumstances that we're going to go into the game against Leigh as the only team under any kind of pressure.

"To be fair we thought that was the case in London too and I thought we handled that side well for the most part.

"We know that pressure increases this week and that nothing but a win will do in this match, which puts even more pressure on our shoulders.

"It's pressure that we acknowledge and that we accept."

Despite Cullen being disappointed with Wolves' kick-and-chase game, coughing up possession too easily and three costly one-on-one tackle misses against London, he is not about to ring the changes at such an early stage of the new term.

Some changes are forced on him. Paul Wood damaged ankle ligaments at Griffin Park and is set to be sidelined for two to four weeks, hence Noone's return to the 17.

Clarke has a hip strain and if he does not recover in time then his place in the squad will be taken by Warren Stevens.

Andy Bracek, Nicky Royle, Steve Pickersgill and Simon Grix are fighting for the 18th man spot and the ones not selected will be playing for Wolves' under 21s in the first of their grading phase games at Leigh on Sunday, kick-off 11am.

The Leigh first team come to town stacked with Warrington connections, including players that Cullen has released in the past, and they will need no motivating to prove themselves in their first game at The Halliwell Jones Stadium.

Cullen says: "All clubs and all players have their own reasons for being motivated to play certain games and we understand what may go through the minds of a number of Leigh players who are ex-Warrington players.

"It will simply add a little bit of extra spice on their behalf. I was very impressed with the workrate and the effort put in by the Leigh players in their home defeat by Huddersfield at the weekend.

"We're expecting a battle-royal from Leigh and we expect the same effort and more than they showed against Huddersfield."

A starting 13 of players with strong Warrington connections can be made from Leigh's current squad and coaching set-up. Leigh's ex-Wolves team: 1, Nick Owen; 2, Rob Smyth, 3, Darren Abram, 4, Steve Maden, 5, John Wilshere; 6, Tommy Martyn, 7, John Duffy; 8, Richard Marshall, 9, Mick Govin, 10, Matt Sturm, 11, Steve McCurrie, 12, Danny Halliwell, 13, Ian Knott.

Their head coach, Darren Abram, started his professional playing career with Warrington but only made one first team appearance off the substitutes' bench at Wakefield Trinity in 1987.

Wilshere, McCurrie, Smyth, Sturm, Knott, Halliwell, Maden and Duffy have all made Super League appearances for Warrington in the past.

Govin was released from Wolves' Academy set-up by Cullen at the end of 2003 and Owen was released at the end of last season without having made a Super League appearance.

Marshall is from Warrington and Turley's father, Norman, is an ex-Wire player. Assistant coach Tommy Martyn's father of the same name was a Wire star too.

Former Wolves player, player-coach and football director Alex Murphy is on the staff at Leigh.

Wolves believe they are aware of Leigh's psychological approach to Sunday's match.

Cullen says: "The atmosphere that is generated at The Halliwell Jones Stadium is a bonus to us and we have to make sure that we don't allow that atmosphere to deflate. We understand that is going to be a big part of the Leigh psychology. They're looking to deflate our crowd, their looking to cause concerns within our ranks and rattle us.

"We are determined we won't be affected by any negativity that may present in the game. There are only certain things in a game of Rugby League that you can control. What we can control is what we do and we have to do that better than we did last week."

Wolves v Leigh stats

Last meeting: Wolves 20 Leigh 10, Challenge Cup fifth round, February 25, 2001. Wolves' try scorers were Steve McCurrie, two, Allan Langer and Jerome Guisset. Lee Briers kicked two goals. Leigh squad: 1, Ben Cooper; 2, John Duffy; 3, Jason Ferris; 4, Darren Fleary; 5, Mick Govin; 6, Danny Halliwell; 7, Kevin Henderson; 8, Rob Jackson; 9, Phil Jones; 10, Jason Kent; 11, James King; 12, Oliver Wilkes; 13, Marc Leafa; 14, Steve Maden; 15, Richard Marshall; 16, Steve McCurrie; 17, Chris Percival; 18, Paul Rowley; 19, Rob Smyth; 20, Craig Stapleton; 21, Matt Sturm; 22, Neil Turley; 23, Ian Knott; 24, John Wilshere; 25, Richard Moore. Links with Wolves: Danny Halliwell, John Duffy, John Wilshere, Steve Maden, Steve McCurrie, Rob Smyth, Matt Sturm, Ian Knott and Mick Govin all used to play for Wolves. Danger man: Australian half back Jason Ferris was a stalwart of the NRL before being signed from Manly Sea Eagles. Form guide - last five competitive games away from home: Beat Batley 29-22, lost to Halifax 58-30, beat Keighley 48-10, beat Featherstone 75-20, beat Whitehaven 34-30.