Kear to ring changes for Wildcats

Wakefield coach John Kear is set to ring the changes ahead of this weekend’s clash with Celtic Crusaders after yesterday’s 54-6 thrashing by Huddersfield.

The Wildcats conceded 40 unanswered second half points to fall to their fifth successive defeat, and must now bounce back with a visit to Brewery Field.

Kear said: “In the second half the defensive effort was woeful and inept.

“They just absolutely collapsed and there will certainly be personnel changes at Celtic next week.

“Hopefully we’ll have a lot of players back next week and we’ll rush them back if necessary because there’s certainly got to be something to shake the group up.”

Kear will welcome back Danny Brough and Danny Sculthorpe following their club imposed suspension for breaching discipline last week, but the former Sheffield Eagles coach said their absence had no impact on the result.

He said: “It’s got nothing to do with the troubling week off the field.  You’ve seen what has been delivered in the second forty minutes of the game. 40 points to nil just simply isn’t good enough.”

The Wildcats had gone in at half time just 14-6 down, with Matt Blaymire scoring their solitary try on the quarter mark, which edged the home side in front.

But Huddersfield ran in seven tries in the second half, including a hat trick for winger David Hodgson, to record an emphatic win.

Kear continued: “The first half was as a proper game of rugby league should be.  It was 14-6 and both teams working hard, defending well and asking questions in attack.

“But you can’t switch off.  There are no excuses.  There were seventeen full time Super League professionals on there for the second half so there can’t be any excuses.  It’s time for ‘man in the mirror’.”

This weekend’s re-arranged game was originally to be played on March 22 but was postponed following the tragic death of Wildcats youngster Leon Walker.