Woolf Q&A: No complaints on Hurrell ban, Warrington preview and Tonga support

MC: Is there a buzz in the camp early in the week ahead of a big derby, or does it build through the week?

KW: Like all big games it builds into the week and that is what we want from a coaches’ point of view. We don’t want things too excitable at the start of the week and then plateauing later on in the week.

You want to keep it calm early on and build as the week goes on.

There was a real edge about how we trained on Tuesday and a real feel in the group that make me very confident that they are ready for the type of game it is going to be.

MC: Fitness wise have the team come through Friday OK?

KW: We came through really well. Every one is fit and healthy and we have come through with less bangs than the first couple of weeks which is quite common as you usually get those early on until the body gets used to it as you go along.

We will miss Koni (Hurrell), who has been really good in the opening rounds and has brought a different element to us – in particular the way he carries the ball and what he can do attack-wise.

But he has done a great job defensively, too, so that is going to change things a bit for us.

Outside of that we are in a really good position and ready for a big game.

MC: Having now seen it again, do you have any complaints from the Konrad Hurrell incident and ban?

KW: None at all. A Grade A was on the mark there.

The RFL and the Match Review Panel have made it clear from the start of the year that they are going to be looking heavily into that area and what the punishments are going to be.

I have said before, we have just got to get on with that and adjust.

MC: Does Curtis Sironen come straight back in from suspension?

KW: It is great to get him back in. He is going to be in our 17 and has shown in the games before he got suspended how strong he is going to be for us with the way he carries the ball and the way he can defend. He has a nice physical nature about him.

He wants to make a real impact on a new team and he has got a lot more in him and what we haven’t see yet is his terrific ability with his ball skills to be able to play.

That is going to come as he gets a bit more comfortable and gets more opportunity as well. He is a good one to bring back in.

MC: Does Koni missing give you the opportunity to move Will Hopoate to the centre?

KW: It possibly does but like always I don’t want to give to much information and that’s something for Friday night.

Will can play centre and wing and is very versatile.

That has been a real strength and it is part of the reason why we wanted to bring him in because he’s a class footy player.

He has a really classy skillset and knows how to play big games so he will relish this type of environment.

Whether he plays wing or centre, we’ll know that he’ll get the job done both ways.

MC: Does Warrington getting turned over last week make them a more dangerous side on Friday?

KW: I think you only have to read the comments in the media to see that Warrington have been stung by the defeat and the performance.

They are going to react to that obviously and I am very sure that they will come with a real intensity.

It is a derby game - a big game – and there’s not a lot of love lost between the two clubs and that is going over a long part of the clubs’ history.

It is a big game for them and a big game for us. They are going to want to bring a real intensity, and make amends for last week, and we are going to want to do the same.

It is a game that we look forward to and know that we have a lot of improvement in us and can be a lot better than we were last week and the weeks prior to that. That is exactly what we will be aiming to do.

What we need to do is go out and play at our best and see if we can make improvements and really plant some seeds of doubt in their minds with what we do.

MC: And there will be a lot of support for Tonga at Friday's game.

KW: It is a hard one as we are a long way away, countries like New Zealand and Australia are contributing with building products and things like that to help the rebuild of Tonga. That is what it is, a rebuild with the devastation that is there.

We are trying to think of ways to help the best we can.

It is about putting smiles on people’s faces back there and the best way we can do that is allow the people there get active with sport being such a big part of the community – as it is in a lot of places.

It is important for us as a club with our connections to do this and I am really proud we are able to do that.

MC: Have you been pleased with the response so far?

KW: There is a fair bit going on in the World (with Ukraine) but the reaction has been really good and a lot of people we run into around the place and at sporting organisations have made it clear they want to donate or already have done.

At the Shining Light centre a number have made drop offs – and all of our players have got behind it and been proactive in bringing in a lot of gear.

I am happy with the support and I am sure that is going to continue into the game and certainly after it as well.