PAUL Wood is confident he can end a ‘nightmare’ season on a high and has praised the team spirit in the Warrington Wolves dressing room.

Wood suffered a knee injury in pre-season before tearing his bicep two games into his return, but has since featured in Wolves’ last five outings.

The prop is yet to win a Grand Final, but believes this Wolves squad have already shown they have the potential to challenge this year.

“It’s something we haven’t won, the Grand Final, so we can focus on that and give it a big go,” said the 32-year-old.

“It’s a very important part of the year now.

“We’re confident in the squad and some of our performances this year have shown we can do a job in Super League, we just need to tidy up a few areas.

“We’re a team that learn from a defeat and more than anything we’re willing to get our heads down and work hard.

“When you’ve got that within a squad, where people help each other out, it can be a big bonus and the difference between making your season or breaking your season.

“With the confidence we’ve got in each other and the teamwork we’ve got, there is still a lot to play for this year.”

The two long-term injuries have made it a difficult year for Wood, only managing seven appearances so far, but he is determined to perform well following a return to fitness.

“It’s been a bit of a nightmare year personally in terms of injury,” he added.

“I did my knee in pre-season and then ruptured my bicep the second game back. It’s been a bit of a traumatic year but I feel as if each game I play I’m getting that match fitness back and getting that timing.

“Coming back from injury can be a difficult one, but I don’t feel too much off the pace now and I want to start producing more each week – there’s still a lot to play for this season.”

But the two-time Challenge Cup winner knows Wolves must improve on their semi-final exit to Leeds Rhinos on Saturday.

Wolves have to build momentum back up for the play-offs.

“It’s a tough thing to take when you get beat in a semi,” he explained.

“You’re so close to that final and we were disappointed with our performance more than anything.

“We didn’t really execute what we needed to at times and it was a bit scrappy.

“I’d have been pretty confident if we had done what we planned out to do, then we could have got the result.

“Leeds made it very difficult. Their forwards defensively moved up quick on our end men and knew our threats so it was pretty tough.

“It’s always difficult coming back when you’re 14 points down, especially against Leeds.

“We were confident when we went out in the second half and I think we showed that the way we started.

“We created a couple of chances in the first 10 minutes, but we were scrappy. Leeds made it difficult for us so you have to credit them.”