More work for Anderson
Published Date:
28 August 2008
St Helens coach Daniel Anderson knows there is still some work for his side to do if they are to finish top of the engage Super League for a third successive season.
The Challenge Cup finalists have been made overwhelming favourites to reclaim the Super League crown but are keen to boost their chances by finishing in pole position.
That would give them home advantage against defending champions Leeds in the semi-finals and the chance of a second free weekend after a long and gruelling season in which they have played every week.
But the Rhinos kept up the pressure with a thumping 52-16 win at Wigan last night and that was after Anderson had already decided - with Wembley in mind - to rest three of his key players, Leon Pryce, Matt Gidley and Jon Wilkin, for tomorrow's potentially tricky game at Huddersfield.
''It's naive to think that some people won't be looking at the Cup the week after but we want a home semi in the play-offs and that means we need to keep on winning,'' said Anderson.
''We have played some pretty desperate teams in the past couple of weeks but the Giants will be a different proposition.
''They cannot get into the play-offs and that means they will be relaxed and will probably play more expansively. That can be hard to play against.''
The match will mark the final home game for Huddersfield's joint caretaker coach Keiron Purtill, who will return to St Helens next season under new boss Mick Potter, and Anderson is full of admiration for the job he and co-coach Paul Anderson have been doing at the Galpharm Stadium.
The Giants are one of only five teams to have beaten Saints this year but missed out on the play-offs despite a late-season rally under the caretaker duo, who stepped into the role following Jon Sharp's sacking in May.
''They've obviously made it an environment where the players are comfortable and want to play for them and they want to play with each other because their form has improved,'' said Anderson.
''They had a very good team on paper at the start of the year and I think everyone is pretty surprised that they've finished where they have.''
The full article contains 387 words and appears in n/a newspaper.
-
Last Updated:
28 August 2008 9:17 AM
-
Source:
n/a
-
Location:
St Helens