Former Warrington Wolves player Kevin Brown has said he would ‘be backing Wakefield Trinity to stay up’, as the relegation scrap hots up with the Trin pulling level on points with a Castleford Tigers team who 16 hours removed from Brown’s comments have gone and recruited Leeds Rhinos’ Blake Austin to bolster their squad.
Speaking on the Sportsman’s Youtube show ‘The Last Tackle’ yesterday, the former Wigan Warriors, Huddersfield Giants and Warrington Wolves player had plenty to say.
“They’re in the driving seat, Luke Gale is so important to this team because I thought Mason Lino played better, Max Jowitt played better. If you’d have just flown into that game and thought who’s the England captain you wouldn’t have to pick George Williams you’d have picked, off that game, Luke Gale.
“Castleford have to go to Wakefield. I think that’s four on the bounce they’ve won at home so it’s always been a tough place. It’s always been tough. I don’t know when that new stand gets open, because if they ram that full of Wakefield fans as well, that’s not far off being open too. I’m not a betting man, but if I was, I’d be backing Wakefield to stay up.”
His comments come following Wakefield’s incredible 42-6 victory over Warrington Wolves on Sunday. This result, coupled with yet another loss for Castleford, puts the Trin level on points with their bitter local rivals at the foot of the table.
Brown was quick to praise Wakefield coach Mark Applegarth: “You talk about coaches, I think the resilience and the character that Mark Applegarth showed when everyone was saying, ‘how do you keep positive?’, and he did.
“He never once blamed the players. He never sulked. He always showed up to the media and I think, you know, the resilience he’s shown and the experience he’s got from that and he can draw from that.”
Brown also predicted a win for Wakefield this week in their clash with Hull FC, which could see them overtake Castleford.
“Well Wakefield will be fancying this, they’re one of the form sides in the comp at the moment. (They’ve won their) last four at home; they can get off the bottom for the first time with a win because we think Castleford are going to lose to Huddersfield.
“Wakefield will go there full of confidence. Hull FC are mediocre I’d say, they win some and they lose some. I think if Wakefield play like they have been doing and Luke Gale if he plays and can replicate or even improve on that performance. My money is on Wakefield.”
Adrian Morley, who was also a guest on the show, followed suit and predicted a win for the Trin. “I just think Wakefield have got the form and I think Wakefield will go there and get the result,” said Morley.
It could be a key weekend in Super League with Trinity travelling to the KCOM on Sunday with the benefit of knowing how Castleford had performed against Huddersfield on Friday night.
