Wakefield Wildcats: Chairman hopes to hammer out new deal with coach Smith

Wildcats coach Brian Smith and chairman Michael Carter.

The Australian arrived in England in June and masterminded a great escape which culminated in Saturday’s 24-16 victory over Bradford Bulls in the million pound match.

Despite finishing seven points adrift at the foot of the First Utility Super League table, Wildcats will be playing in the top flight again next year and Carter is convinced Smith is the man to take them forward.

“Hopefully he will be in charge and we can kick on,” Carter said. “We have got to build on the back of [Saturday].

“We will be sitting down in the next few days and thrashing out what Brian wants to do. That’s the only question that needs answering.

“If Brian says he wants to stay, money won’t be a problem. It’s just a matter of whether he wants to stay or go back home, because he has commitments there.”

Carter said Wildcats have a list of players who had already agreed to join the club, providing they maintained their Super League status.

One of those could be Scott Moore, who scored the try which finally made Wakefield safe on the last play of the game. It was a remarkable recovery by Moore, who had been expected to be sidelined until next year after suffering a ruptured biceps muscle two months ago.

“I was a bit dubious about playing,” he admitted. “It was a couple of weeks earlier than I’d have liked, but I had to have a dig for the boys. I came through okay and it’s turned out not too bad for me. The best scenario’s happened, we’ve won and I’ve got through all right.”

Moore joined Wildcats from Castleford Tigers just before the end of the regular Super League season as part of a swap deal which saw fellow hooker Paul McShane move the other way.

“I’m contracted to Cas for next year, but I don’t know what’s happening yet,” he said. “We’ll just have to wait and see. I have enjoyed my time here and I might potentially stay. There’s of lot of boxes need to be ticked and a lot of talking needs to be done to get me out of Cas. I just want to enjoy this [the aftermath of Saturday’s game] and see what happens.”