The pressure is off Wakefield Trinity ahead of Friday’s elimination play-off at Leigh Leopards, according to their England prop Mike McMeeken.
Trinity have already caused a major upset by finishing sixth in their first season back at Super League level, following promotion from the Championship 11 months ago.
Many pundits tipped Trinity for a battle against the wooden spoon and they will go into the post-season series as underdogs, but McMeeken insisted that’s exactly how they like it – and no more than they expected.
“It’s a big achievement to finish in the top-six, but as a club, we knew we were capable of it,” he stated.
“At the beginning of the year we sat down and discussed where we’d be happy with finishing and everyone said top-six minimum.
“You play sport to be involved in big games and play-offs and we’ve done well to get ourselves in there.
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“We’re not putting any pressure on ourselves for Friday. We’ll be going out there to execute our game plan and just enjoy ourselves.
“We’ve had some close encounters [with Leigh] and they are a great side. Defensively and attack-wise, they are well switched on and regimented, so we know we’re in for a tough game.
“They are going in as massive favourites so there’s no pressure on us. We can go out and enjoy ourselves.”
Wakefield Trinity move pays off for Mike McMeeken
McMeeken reckons selection in the Super League Dream Team and a play-off appearance have justified his surprise move to Trinity from Catalans Dragons at the end of last season.
He admitted “eyebrows were raised” when he he opted to join Wakefield, but stressed: “I had confidence in Powelly and Matt [coach Daryl Powell and Trinity’s owner Matt Ellis] when they promoted the club to me.
“They told me about the direction they wanted to take the club and the part I would play in it. I obviously worked with Powelly before at Cas and knew he was the type of coach who doesn’t just take ‘nothing’ jobs. He’s a well-driven person and wants to achieve silverware. I wanted to be a part of that.”
McMeeken has been one of the outstanding forwards in Super League this season and will lead Trinity on to the field at Leigh as team captain, something he described as “a real privilege and an honour”.
He added: “My job is pretty easy because the standards have always been really high, driven by players who have been here a while. We’ve just carried it on this year.”
