ParraDude_Jay said:
actually as a final signing for the closed season Ithink it probably does...
wakefields main problem last season was defence and, whe push came to shove, they lacked the will to out-fight the opposition.. further complicated by the recruitment of a sub standard conditioner.. the players did not have the energy or the mental stregnth for the battle.....
Yet they still won at Leeds, and doubled Wigan and champs Bradford.. which is testament to the fact they can play... and players of the calibre of Solomona and new england international Darryl Griffin wil have both bnefitted from the international season. Even 2004 top meter maker Michael Korkidas has shed the bulk he was given last year and is working hard on speed and agility.
the club have to be credited for countering the failings from last year by adding new aggression and desire to the pack with the addition of Betham (a natural leader of men that we also lacked last year), Catic and Henderson... however and perhaps most important is the recruitment of Anthony Hazledene from the Australian institute of sport as head conditioner... his methods and influence are far beyond anything currently in the english game.
the team have all the pieces in place to improve on the 2004 performance when the easily qualiied top 6..
Tony Smith has given the team a shake up and bought in a couple of young english bolters with real potential as well as some steady nrl perfromers... Trinity will not win anything in 2006, but they will shake a few trees, and wait for the monkeys to fall.
however.. I do think that there is no clear cut relegation favourite this year.. teams as high as 5th in the league may still be under threat of relegation by the final month of the season... Even this year's champs Bradford who have lost some real talent and have recruited very poorly (in my opinion) could be dragged into the dog fight.
