Wolves can do better this year (From Warrington Guardian)

Warrington Wolves can do better this year

1:50pm Thursday 31st January 2013 in Wolves news By Mike Parsons

WATCH out Super League – Warrington Wolves are not content with what they achieved last year!

The Challenge Cup holders and 2012 Grand Final runners up enter another epic season as championship favourites and with the aim of continuing the progress shown under Tony Smith.

Ultimately, Wolves have their long-term sights set on a return to Old Trafford with a happier ending but Smith’s focus now is on his team performing better throughout the year.

“We want a continuation of our improvement,” said Smith, who has led Wolves to a League Leaders’ Shield and three Wembley triumphs since his arrival in 2009.

“Although we had a terrific 2012 season in many respects, there were some games in which we probably lacked a bit of intensity or a little bit of finesse to either finish teams off or keep them at bay at times.

“So we’re hopefully going to improve on some aspects throughout the regular season.”

He added: “We’d like to improve at the back end of the season as well.

“While we didn’t do a bad job – and it was a job we’re pretty proud of to some degree – we’ve still got some scope for improvement there too. If we can do that, then great.”

For the fans, the only way to improve in the play offs is to finish the year as champions for the first time since 1955 but the journey starts at home to Ian Millward’s new-look Castleford on Sunday, kick off 3pm.

Smith says Wolves are in good health, with only a few bumps and bruises stemming from the strong display against Wigan Warriors in Saturday’s Ben Westwood Testimonial game.

Only Chris Bridge is ruled out, although Smith may elect to take precautions with one or two players who felt ‘tightness or strains’ during the game.

Ben Harrison and Joel Monaghan may fall into that category, but Trent Waterhouse is in contention after missing Wigan with a dead-leg suffered in training.

With the riches available to him, Smith said he has ‘pleasing headaches’ in selecting his 17 men for the opening mission.

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