Cockayne: No more ‘new team’ excuses for Wakefield Wildcats

Wakefield are on a run of four straight defeats and will look to arrest their poor form with victory over Salford City Reds at the Rapid Solicitors Stadium today (kick-off 5.45pm).

Cockayne, part of wholesale squad changes at Wakefield in the close season, says it was always going to take time for Richard Agar’s newly-built side to gel this term.

But with the season now firmly underway, the former Hull KR man admits it’s time for Wildcats to start putting points on the board.

“You can’t really put your finger on it, it’s just one of those things,” said the former Normanton Knights man.

“As people keep reminding us and we all know, we are a new team and things are going to take time for us to come together.

“But we’re eleven games in now and it’s time we got rid of that mentality where ‘we’re a new team’ because we’ve been together since September, we all know each other well.

“All being well we can get sorted this weekend and put a few performances in.”

Wakefield have the added bonus of playing in front of the Sky cameras this weekend, but the winger is unconcerned about the manner in which Wakefield grab their third win of the season, so long as they get the two points on the board.

“Just to get a win, whether it’s in front of Sky or whatever, we just desperately need a win to get the confidence back up,” he said.

“I think since the Catalans game we’ve had a massive dip. We’ve shown what we can do up until that game so hopefully we can get that back this week and kick-on and go on some kind of little run.”

Salford will go into the game in confident mood thanks to a decent start to Super League and progression in the Carnegie Challenge Cup thanks to a thumping weekend win at Whitehaven.

The match may have been one Wakefield fans will have been looking for two points from, especially on home soil.

But Cockayne, who’s scored seven tries for Wildcats so far this season, is well aware of the threat posed by Salford’s attack, aided by coach Sean Long.

“To be honest I haven’t taken too much notice of them but I have noticed that their results are going well,” he revealed.

“No doubt with Sean Long being there, looking after their attacking game, they’ll pose a big threat to us.

“We all know Longy’s been around a long time and he could attack with the best of them, especially in his St Helens days.

“We know it’s going to be a tough game but like every other game we’ll go out there to win and do our best.”

See this week’s Wakefield Express for all the latest Wakefield Trinity Wildcats news.