Now is the time to put matters right

3:39am Thursday 17th April 2008

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WARRINGTON Wolves have a wonderful opportunity to change the mood over the next three weekends.

While some have remained patient and optimistic, believing that the team will produce the goods this year, three successive defeats - and more importantly the standard of performance in those three defeats - have left a good proportion of Wolves supporters feeling frustrated and short-changed.

After all, with the talent at Paul Cullen's disposal this was supposed to be the year to beat all others in some people's eyes.

That's the problem with high expectations. It is so easy to fall and so difficult to match the levels of estimation.

Wolves, after bagging six wins from their opening eight games, know they haven't performed anywhere near their capabilities as they have taken a cable car ride down from those dizzy heights of second spot to sixth.

Every cause under the sun has been identified for that slide by either coaches, players or supporters.

Whatever the reasons - and the only people who should really know are the coaches and players themselves - now is the time to put matters right, win over some critics and put the positive beat back into the South Stand drum.

If Wolves can progress in the Challenge Cup with a win at Leigh and then defeat bogy team St Helens at home the following weekend, it will be party time again in Cardiff over May Day bank holiday weekend when Wolves play Huddersfield Giants at the magnificent Millennium Stadium.

Three out of three is not beyond Wolves' capabilities and that would re-establish the foundations for the season in many people's eyes.

* Is it true that the way to a fan's heart is through his or her stomach?

The chiefs running Millennium Magic weekend in the Welsh capital must think so.

The media department have been firing out press releases thick and fast in an attempt to catch the interest of those who have not already bought their tickets to see six Super League games at one venue in one weekend.

Information released has included Keith Chegwin headlining an improved entertainments package, a flag competition for supporters and the chance to vote for which music should be played by the house band in the build-up to matches.

But the one that stunned me most arrived on Tuesday, highlighting that Cardiff's Millennium Stadium has confirmed that it is to provide spectators with the widest choice of food it has ever laid on for an event at the venue.

To me, an ardent follower of the game, details like that give off an air that the rugby itself is not enough to sell the event and I find that stomach-churning.

Anyway, if you've not got your tickets yet and you want to see Wolves take on Huddersfield, Leeds tackle Bradford, Wigan face Saints, Harlequins clash with Catalans Dragons as well as Hull against Hull KR from just £30 for the two days (or from £18 for three games on one day), contact 0871 2261313.