Smith praises his troops

Wakefield coach Brian Smith has praised his players’ display despite their defeat to Warrington on Friday night.

Wakefield went down 34-16 to the Wire on Friday, but it was a big reverse compared with the same game last year when the Wildcats were thrashed 80-0.

Smith was pleased with the fight his team showed.

“Early on we missed a good start to the game that we really wanted to get. We competed very hard,” he said.

“Anyone who looks at the scoreline would see something lopsided but it was anything but that. The score last year was definitely a scar on some of our guys and to come back and face the music was good for them.

“We scored the last try in the game and very nearly the last two, going the full length of the field on the last set. It spoke volumes for our team.

“Their halves excelled, but the team that loses can often walk away feeling as high as the team that wins and I think that’s the case.”

Smith was also impressed with the performance of Warrington, who are coached by his younger brother Tony.

“Happy to dip my lid to my younger bro again and he’s got the making of a really great team,” he said.

“If Wolves aren’t up there at the end of the year I’ll be very surprised. I’d like to start in his position, but he’s doing a great job in a great club and they’re a team on a mission.”