James Webster inspires Wakefield to scintillating win over Hull KR

http://www.theguardian.com/sport/2015/feb/15/wakefield-wildcats-hull-kr-super-league-match-report

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In certain parts of Australia, the legendary NRL coach, Wayne Bennett, is often referred to as “super coach”. And while that may be true given his incredible success in rugby league, Wakefield Trinity Wildcats’ coach, James Webster, is fast developing his own reputation as a miracle worker in Super League.

When he took over in charge last June, the Wildcats were entrenched firmly in the battle to avoid relegation from Super League. Wins against the likes of Wigan Warriors and Leeds Rhinos ensured they survived with relative ease, and after being tipped to be favourites to finish bottom again this year, Webster and his wonderful Wildcats are again starting to defy the odds.

Eight wins from his first 14 competitive games in charge is the kind of form that sees teams having very few worries about relegation, and the Wildcats now have a two-week break to rest their feet up, sit back and admire their early season work.

A last gasp win against local rivals Castleford on the opening weekend was impressive enough, but this was Wakefield at their scintillating best. They were ultimately too quick, too skilful and too classy for a Hull Kingston Rovers side who find themselves still looking for their first points of the new season.

“The encouragement from this is we’ve got so much improvement left in us,” said Webster, who seems to turn everything he touches into gold at the moment. “I’m a very happy coach, that was a great win. The scoreline indicates we scored 44 points which was a major plus for us.”

For Hull KR though, who again were in contention before slipping away to a flurry of late tries, their position is much less appealing on the eye than Wakefield’s. Two straight defeats is far from anything to get too worried about just yet, but they will have to turn their form around quickly to ensure they are not sucked into a serious battle at the bottom.

“I don’t think Wakefield had to work hard for that at all,” said the KR coach, Chris Chester. “We made far too many errors with the ball, and it’s just not acceptable really. We must stick together and work hard in training, there’s no quick fixes.”

The first 40 minutes was more a tale of the two sides interchanging tries as opposed to one team running away with it, and after Albert Kelly opened the scoring for Rovers, Matty Ashurst marked his Wakefield debut with a try to level things up. Rovers then struck through Tyrone McCarthy before Jacob Miller grabbed the first of three tries on his home debut for the Wildcats. Minutes later, he would have his second via some awful defending from Rovers.

Wakefield’s captain Danny Kirmond then gave the home side breathing space with a well-worked try, before Ken Sio and Chris Riley exchanged tries to make it 26-18 to the home side. From there though, it was all Wakefield; Riley’s second was quickly followed by his third to make it an 11-minute hat-trick and seal a superb win.

There was still time for Ryan Bailey to mark his Hull KR debut with a try, before the excellent Miller also grabbed his third try to put some extra gloss on the result for the West Yorkshire men, who sit third in the early table. Not bad for a side expected to be stone bottom.

Meanwhile, Bradford Bulls slipped to defeat in the highly-anticipated opening fixture in the Championship, as they lost out 36-24 to title rivals Leigh Centurions in a heated clash. Six yellow cards, including two for Bradford’s Harry Siejka, grabbed the headlines as the Bulls threw away a 20-6 lead.

Wakefield: Hall; Riley, Collis, Lyne, Owen; Miller, T Smith; D Smith, McShane, Scruton, KIrmond, Ashurst, Washbrook. Interchange Godinet, Lauitiiti, Anderson, Paea.

Tries Ashurst, Miller 3, Kirmond, Riley 3. Goals Hall 6

Hull KR: Cockayne; Mantellato, Salter, Goulding, Sio; Campese, Kelly; Walker, Carlile, Allgood, McCarthy, Horne, Burke. Interchange Blair, Green, Bailey, Boudebza.

Tries Kelly, McCarthy, Sio, Bailey. Goals Mantellato 4.

Referee T Roby (York). Attendance 5,320.