Gidley all about team glory ahead of St Helens test
Warrington pivot Kurt Gidley is delighted to have been named as part of the Super League Dream Team for 2016, but the glory comes a distant second to winning team prizes.
Wire welcome St Helens to the Halliwell Jones on Thursday evening for the Super League semi-final, and Gidley is fully focused on winning that and making the Grand Final.
“It’s a nice personal achievement, but I wouldn’t be here without the help of my team mates and the club,” he told Love Rugby League.
“It’s great to have Ryan Atkins, Chris Hill and Ben Currie in the Dream Team as well.
“We’ve got talented players in the team, and within the club, and we’ve been a consistent team throughout the year.
“But personal achievements don’t rank as high as team achievements for me, so the big prize of the Grand Final is the one we all want as players.
“It’s a big semi-final this weekend against Saints.”
Gidley is well aware of the threat posed by St Helens, who have found some form in recent weeks after a testing spell earlier in the season.
“You don’t make the top four unless you’re a quality team,” he said.
“They might have been through a dip but they’ve always been a quality club.
“There’s something in the DNA of the club that when it comes to finals time, they find something.
“We’re aware of that, and we’re certainly aware of what sort of team they are after playing them three times.
“We expect a tough game. When you play a do-or-die semi-final every team is going to be up for it.
“We certainly expect that this weekend.”
The Australian stand-off was taken off early in the Challenge Cup final, which Warrington lost to Hull, after sustainining a nasty cut to his eye area.
It’s all about the future now for Gidley, now, though, and things which he can control.
“It wasn’t the way I pictured finishing the Challenge Cup final – in the sheds with a facial cut and concussion,” he said.
“That’s life, unfortunately, and part of the game. I couldn’t really control what happened to me on that day.
“I am in control of what I can do to prepare for this game this weekend.
“We’ve just to concentrate on what we can control this weekend, and our preparation.
“When you get to the big games it’s not about the big plays, it’s about the little plays that we want all our players to contribute to.”