Smith: Kicking game is crucial

Warrington coach Tony Smith says his side will have to control the ball and kick well to have a chance of beating Hull FC in the Challenge Cup final.

Smith’s team comes up against the Black and Whites at Wembley, an outfit that have already beaten the Wire twice this season in Super League.

Warrington will have to deal with Hull FC‘s big forward pack and Smith believes that makes their ball control all the more important, along with their defence.

The Wire have two of the best kickers in the competition in Aussie halves Kurt Gidley and Chris Sandow.

“You’ve got to get at least parody [in possession] against these guys because if you tackle all day against a big team, you know they’re not just a big pack they’re a big team,” he told Love Rugby League.

“So you’re just shooting yourself in the foot. We can’t just defend all day we’ve got to have some control of the ball and unless we do that your inflicting pain on yourself.

“To kick well is a big thing in these finals as well. i think kicking game is so massive and then to be able to defend after those kicks is a big challenge.

“But they’ve got some terrific outside backs who carry the ball well early so it’s a big ask.

“But we know the challenges ahead, we haven’t quite come up to those challenges on the previous occasions we’ve played them but we’ve never been too far off either.

“Hopefully we can get it all in order this week.”