Spirit of 55: Watch out for vampires (From Warrington Guardian)

Warrington Wolves will have to overcome Grand Final specialists

7:00am Saturday 6th October 2012 in Wolves news

WE are just one match away from everything we’ve ever wanted.

Going up against the Grand Final masters and defending champions Leeds, they’ve won four of the last five Grand Finals and will not give up their title without an almighty fight.

When it comes to play-offs time they find a way to keep a match close, then somehow produce something to come up with the win.

Hopefully they’ll have a little inferiority complex from our last two Wembley hammerings of them, but something tells me that will be outweighed by their utter confidence in their ability to play at Old Trafford on the biggest occasion of all.

Like vampires they are at their best at night, all their powers that seem to fade in the Wembley sun are on full display under the night sky in Manchester in October.

Leeds will be a tough proposition.

‘Wire’ will be tougher.

It’s been a long road back to a championship final. There have been cup wins, seasons when we have been tantalisingly close to being champions, embarrassing losses and years of ridicule for such mediocrity and underachievement.

This current team and coaching staff have fought many battles against the weight of history and the perceived nature of this club, and they have won them all.

They have proved that Warrington are capable of winning major trophies, that they are capable of finishing top of the league, that they are capable of winning play-off games that truly matter.

Winning at St Helens booked a place at the biggest wedding of the year, now ‘Wire’ need to make sure they are the bride because Old Trafford is no venue to be a bridesmaid.

See more of this season’s Spirit of ’55 columns at warringtonguardian.co.uk