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| Wolves' Easter double brought a smile to Matt King's face but the Aussie has issued a stark assessment of the club's flying start to 2008 |
MATT King has warned that Wolves' performances during 2008 have not been up to standard - even though they are second in Super League with six wins out of eight.
Many fans and players have taken encouragement from Wolves' best start to a season since 1999, which culminated in Monday's dramatic 34-31 win at Castleford.
But King has not been so pleased and says the team will not continue to get good results unless they cut out the dumb footy'.
King sets high standards for himself and his opinions command instant respect because of what he has achieved in the game - the 27-year-old won the NRL Grand Final with Melbourne last year and has also won the State of Origin series with New South Wales and the Tri-Nations with Australia.
And, after putting in a powerful performance as Wolves overcame mid-game injury problems to grab a late win at Castleford, the centre delivered the most critical assessment issued so far this season.
He said: "The results have been good but there are a lot of things we have to get right pretty quickly otherwise we're going to get hurt.
"I still believe we're a really good footy team and I believe we've got the results we've deserved but I think we could be getting them a lot easier than we have been doing.
| "We shouldn't be playing the way we're playing" | | Matt King |
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"We're happy with the two points we got out of Monday's game but we've got to improve.
"We can't be happy with two points if we're not getting them the right way.
"We have to be doing things now that will set us up for the end of the season.
"I just don't think we're playing real good footy at the moment."
King believes the team have shown good signs in training but is frustrated that has still not been transferred into matches.
"We're two months into the season now and we shouldn't be playing the way we're playing," he said.
"A lot of things we've been doing in training, we're just not doing in games.
"Obviously the steel we showed was the big positive to come out of Monday.
"We were down to 15 men but even though we lost Briersy and Stuart Reardon - two of our playmakers - we still didn't play real smart. That was the really disappointing thing.
"We're a smart footy team with great players but sometimes we just play some dumb footy."
12:10pm Thursday 27th March 2008
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CommentPosted by: Big Jim, Warrington on 12:24pm Thu 27 Mar 08
Wonder why the coach never makes these kind of assessments publicly it's always the players?
Wonder why the coach never makes these kind of assessments publicly it's always the players?
Posted by: shedhead, Runcorn on 3:27pm Thu 27 Mar 08
At last someone who tells it how it is! Very refreshing! King himself must know that he as much as anyone has been well below his best. At least if we can win playing ugly, we should do ok when we really start to play!
At last someone who tells it how it is! Very refreshing! King himself must know that he as much as anyone has been well below his best. At least if we can win playing ugly, we should do ok when we really start to play!
Posted by: Tezzerwolf, warrington on 3:32pm Thu 27 Mar 08
Because the game in OZ is SO defensively minded I think it has become a bit of a shock to Kingy how many points are being scored. I know we need to tidy up in defense but if the game was played in this country like it is in OZ i.e. five drives, a kick and hope for an error then it wouldn't be the great watch it is. See yarl Saturday. NOW THE WIRE!!!!!!!!!.
Because the game in OZ is SO defensively minded I think it has become a bit of a shock to Kingy how many points are being scored. I know we need to tidy up in defense but if the game was played in this country like it is in OZ i.e. five drives, a kick and hope for an error then it wouldn't be the great watch it is. See yarl Saturday. NOW THE WIRE!!!!!!!!!.
Posted by: Janet, warrington on 4:08pm Thu 27 Mar 08
Can we blame everything on Cullen, when Matt Kings admits that "what they do in training is not what they are doing in the game"? I have been at the training sessions a couple of times on a Saturday morning and have always said that if they played like they train, we would be top of the table no problems!!! So obviously the game plan is there but the players on the day seems to steer away from the plan a little!! just so glad that we are in a good position at this stage of the season with, I am sure, so much still to come. Make us proud Wire and live the dream.
Can we blame everything on Cullen, when Matt Kings admits that "what they do in training is not what they are doing in the game"? I have been at the training sessions a couple of times on a Saturday morning and have always said that if they played like they train, we would be top of the table no problems!!! So obviously the game plan is there but the players on the day seems to steer away from the plan a little!! just so glad that we are in a good position at this stage of the season with, I am sure, so much still to come. Make us proud Wire and live the dream.
Posted by: HP, warrington on 4:18pm Thu 27 Mar 08
Janet I think that's a good point you make there. Also Cul has said in the last week that we are not playing as well as we can, slightly different wording to King but essentially the same thing. And Tezzerwolf makes a very valid argument about the NRL as anyone who watches on setanta will know.
Played eight and won six with losses away to Saints and Bradford, Second in the table, plus the fact we have a lot of improvement in us yet. You would all have taken that if offered at the start of the season I think.
Janet I think that's a good point you make there. Also Cul has said in the last week that we are not playing as well as we can, slightly different wording to King but essentially the same thing. And Tezzerwolf makes a very valid argument about the NRL as anyone who watches on setanta will know.
Played eight and won six with losses away to Saints and Bradford, Second in the table, plus the fact we have a lot of improvement in us yet. You would all have taken that if offered at the start of the season I think.
Posted by: Big Jim, Warrington on 4:25pm Thu 27 Mar 08
All is looking good for the coming months. When the weather firms the pitches a little I believe that we will push even further and be looking for glory. The problem with looking good in training is that there are no refs to punish your discipline and no opposition to punish poor defence! It will be interesting on Sturday to see how the team and the supporters cope without Briers.
All is looking good for the coming months. When the weather firms the pitches a little I believe that we will push even further and be looking for glory. The problem with looking good in training is that there are no refs to punish your discipline and no opposition to punish poor defence! It will be interesting on Sturday to see how the team and the supporters cope without Briers.
Posted by: John-yicker, Haydock on 4:48pm Thu 27 Mar 08
The team is effectively new around monas and our threats in Hick/King and Ando we will have to give it time to show the confidence on the park they show in training. My only concern is culls lack of confidence in his squad and this improved with a bigger game from the subs. We are under threat of burning out the first grade players and not having anything in reserve. The youngsters cannot just drop in and perform they need blooding!!
The team is effectively new around monas and our threats in Hick/King and Ando we will have to give it time to show the confidence on the park they show in training. My only concern is culls lack of confidence in his squad and this improved with a bigger game from the subs. We are under threat of burning out the first grade players and not having anything in reserve. The youngsters cannot just drop in and perform they need blooding!!
Posted by: HP, warrington on 9:16pm Thu 27 Mar 08
I think a lot of the younger kids were blooded last year through having to. Braecek, Harrison, Riley, Penny and Pickersgill were all given a fair amount of game time which will stand them in good stead.
Plus I would always play my best side and deal with every situation as it arose, with maybe the oddd young lad on the bench
I think a lot of the younger kids were blooded last year through having to. Braecek, Harrison, Riley, Penny and Pickersgill were all given a fair amount of game time which will stand them in good stead.
Plus I would always play my best side and deal with every situation as it arose, with maybe the oddd young lad on the bench
Posted by: John-yicker, Haydock on 11:32pm Thu 27 Mar 08
I agree in playing the strongest squad but we have a small squad compared to others and need to give the likes of Mitchell/Blyth & Neal game time for if/when they are needed. It looks like this Sat will be one of them games. Cull needs to show a little more confidence in the youth. Bracek and Picks have not been getting big game time.
I agree in playing the strongest squad but we have a small squad compared to others and need to give the likes of Mitchell/Blyth & Neal game time for if/when they are needed. It looks like this Sat will be one of them games. Cull needs to show a little more confidence in the youth. Bracek and Picks have not been getting big game time.
Posted by: HP, warrington on 3:59pm Fri 28 Mar 08
You're right in that Braecek and Pickers could easily handle more game time and I think this weekend you may well see them play a little longer. Braecek may even start. It's a shame Ben Harrison is unavailable at the moment because I thought this may be his Year to make his mark. I really think he has what it takes.
You're right in that Braecek and Pickers could easily handle more game time and I think this weekend you may well see them play a little longer. Braecek may even start. It's a shame Ben Harrison is unavailable at the moment because I thought this may be his Year to make his mark. I really think he has what it takes.
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