Inconsistency strikes again for Warrington

A part of the reason for the recent lack of recent trophies has been the inconsistency and losing to sides that should be there for the taking. An example of this was in last season’s Challenge Cup semi-final where Warrington lost to Hull KR, a Hull KR side that went on to lose 50-0 in the final to Leeds, it’s a game that should have been won. Warrington are once again in the semi-finals in similar circumstances, this time playing Wakefield. As a Warrington fan, the quality of the opponent doesn’t change your expectations too much, due to how inconsistent the side are.

Warrington have a great team this year, possibly the best in the league but currently side themselves third in the run up to the end of the season. You wouldn’t be surprised if Warrington finished 1st, and you wouldn’t be surprised if they missed out on the top 4 altogether.

Why are we so inconsistent? It’s clearly a question that Tony Smith has been unable to answer. There seems to be no real reason for it. We have a lot of veteran guys in the side, and players who have enough experience now. The likes of Gidley and Westwood have done a lot in the game. The likes of Atkins, Sims, Hill and Ratchford should have enough experience to help the players around them.

It may be the attitude that Tony Smith takes into the games and maybe he puts more emphasis on games vs the big teams than games against the smaller team, giving an air of complacency to the players. It always appears that the player seem a lot more motivated in the big matches, and it’s Tony Smith’s job to motivate them for every match. Warrington have long been seen now as one of the best sides in the league so other teams will raise their game against us, it never appears as though we anticipate that.

It’s a long season and it’s inevitable that slips ups against lesser team will happen along the way, but it happens with Warrington far too often and at crucial times. Warrington have an easy semi-final and an easy end to the regular season. Our next four matches should be four wins including a ticket to the final at Wembley. Of course sport is never that easy and I’m not expecting four wins, and due to our inconsistency we may lose a couple of them, I just hope the cup match is a day where we turn up.

If Warrington can turn up for the big matches then this could still be a spectacular season. Consistency will see us challenge for the league, put us in the Grand Final and an appearance at Wembley. I’m hoping for the treble, but I’m not expecting it, I do however think that a trophyless season when Leeds and St. Helens have had poor seasons would be a huge failure. It is getting far too long for this side to have not won any silverware, and a touch of consistency should see some paraded through Warrington once again.