Matt King: We're ready for Saints (From This Is Cheshire)

Matt King: We're ready for Saints

3:00pm Thursday 18th March 2010 in

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WOLVES’ livewire winger Matt King believes that his team are ‘better prepared’ to face Saints than in any of his previous years at the club.

The Australian threequarter, who is in electric form with six tries in three games, admits that Wolves’ poor record against their fierce rivals hangs over the club but believes that Tony Smith’s players are in the right mental state to break the long-running ‘hoodoo’ when travelling to Knowsley Road tomorrow, Friday, kick off 8pm.

He said: “I think this team is better prepared for Saints than any other year I’ve been here.

“I think every person can relate to feeling self doubt and as a rugby league player that can happen a lot.

“That has happened to us previously in games against Saints. They increase in confidence as we crumble and there can only be one winner when that happens.”

Luckily for Wolves they have the in-form left side of King and Ryan Atkins, who have scored eight tries between them and are more than capable of some tough tackling in defence.

The duo will be facing up to Saints’ own dangerous pairing of fit-again Matt Gidley and Ade Gardner, who have scored an unbelievable 23 tries against Wolves in recent times.

King is well aware of the threat posed by fellow countryman Gidley as the former Melbourne star has played with the 32-year-old centre when representing the ‘Country’ team in the annual ‘City v Country’ match in Australia.

“I have personally thought about it and I know how important Matt Gidley is to their team,” said King.

“I always enjoy playing against Matt because he is a gentleman and a great player, too, and Ryan and I will be working on a strategy to cope with him and Gardner as part of our preparations.”

If King and Atkins suceed in keeping Gardner and Gidley quiet, it will go a long way to securing Wolves’ first win at Knowsley Road in 16 years and King feels this will only build on the confidence that is growing within the club’s ranks.

He said: “Obviously its more than just wanting to get a win there, we just want to beat them full stop.

“Self belief is high at the moment and there is a difference between being confident and cocky.

“I think we’ve found that difference and building on it with a win over Saints will be fantastic.”