Smith wary of 'transformed' London Broncos (From This Is Cheshire)
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Warrington Wolves not expecting repeat of last year's demolition of London outfit
10:12am Thursday 9th February 2012 in Sport By Christopher Terris Taylor
TONY Smith is expecting Sunday’s visit of London Broncos to be ‘a very different story’ to the 14-try demolition seen at The Halliwell Jones Stadium in 2011.
Wolves’ 82-6 destruction of Harlequins was one of several occasions that Smith’s rampant side posted more than 10 tries in a match, but Warrington’s head of coaching and rugby is well aware that his side now face an altogether more difficult prospect when the renamed Broncos arrive on Sunday, kick off 3pm.
“They are a transformed team in terms of their recruitment and the personnel they have now,” he said.
“They have spent a lot and got a lot of quality players in. They now have quality and depth. The coach is more experienced and we face them at the start of the season.
“No team is right on their game at this time of year and in the first few rounds anything can happen to any team.”
The arrival of winger Michael Robertson, an NRL Premiership winner with Manly last season, and impressive-looking scrum half Craig Gower, who last week made his return to rugby league after four years of playing rugby union in France, shows that Broncos have serious intentions of improving on their 12th place finish last season.
The fact that they gave beaten Grand Finalists St Helens a tough game on Saturday, when James Roby’s 74th-minute try finally secured Saints’ victory, indicates that they will be unlikely to concede another 14 tries this time round.
Wolves will be without hooker Micky Higham for one week after he hyper extended his elbow against Hull, with long-term injured Brett Hodgson (ankle) and David Solomona (leg) still weeks and months away respectively from returning to Super League action.
Smith is hopeful that centre Matty Blythe (ankle) and Joel Monaghan (knee) will be ready to return for Sunday after both passed fitness tests yesterday, Wednesday.
