Wakefield Wildcats: Hooker predicting more to come from in-form Wildcats

GOOD LUCK charm Scott Moore reckons Wakefield Trinity Wildcats can build on their Easter double.
Scott MooreScott Moore
Scott Moore

Moore scored the try which confirmed Wildcats’ win over Bradford Bulls in last year’s million pound match.

And, after being injured in pre-season, he returned to the team in time to feature in both the bank holiday wins over Huddersfield Giants and Leeds Rhinos.

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Wildcats will climb into First Utility Super League’s top-eight – for 24 hours at least – if they beat visitors Salford Red Devils on Saturday, but Moore said their priority has to be to build on the last two displays.

“I think sometimes the performance is more important than the two points,” said the much-travelled hooker. “If we put in another good shift and we fall short we can’t really beat ourselves up too much. As long as we keep playing well and we keep fighting hard like we did on Monday, I don’t think we will be too far away.”

Moore said Wildcats will go into Saturday’s game in confident mood.

“I think we are a better side at home,” he stated. “I think it is very achievable. We have to dust off our injuries and get through the week and if we can knock them off we are in a good position.”

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Moore described the win at Headingley as “massive”, adding: “I think it’s maybe the first time the club has won two from two over Easter so it’s a great achievement for the lads. We dug deep, we were a bit scratchy in the second half, but we’re pleased to get four points.”

Wakefield were on the wrong end of a 6-1 penalty count in the second half and had to cope for 10 minutes with only 12 men, after Moore was sin-binned for a professional foul. Despite that they conceded only three tries and had the energy to hit back after Leeds went ahead with 13 minutes remaining.

Moore said: “I think we have come on leaps and bounds, especially in our attitude to defence. We’re not really leaking points like we were earlier in the year. If you can defend you go a long way to winning games.

“I think that has been the main thing. They had so many attacks on our line in the first half and you could see lads get confidence from it.”

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Rhinos won the treble last year and Huddersfield finished third in the table, so they were two notable scalps for 2015’s wooden spoonists.

Both have struggled so far this term, but Moore insisted: “You can only play the teams that are put in front of you.

“It’s not our fault if they aren’t going well. Nobody had any qualms when we weren’t going so well earlier in the year.

“We just turn up and whoever’s put in front of us we have got to try and beat them.

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“We are made up and hopefully we can beat Salford on Saturday.

“That would be six points from six and it would put us right in the mix.”

Wildcats’ Easter form has coincided with Moore’s return to the side after recovering from a biceps injury suffered in the pre-season win at Leeds.

“I am pretty fortunate, I’ve come back and we’ve won two from two,” he said.

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“I am pretty happy, I am just trying to get through games and get some match fitness.

“Last week I struggled a bit, but on Monday I felt all right. The more I can play, the better I will be.”

Meanwhile, Wildcats winger Tom Johnstone has been nominated for the March Super League player of the month award.