Wolves boss ready to make changes

WITH a full strength squad at his disposal for Saturday’s Grand Final show down with Leeds Rhinos, Warrington Wolves’ boss Tony Smith has not ruled out making changes with his team as the “sold out” signs went up on the famous Stretford End, which will house the barmy army.
England prop Garreth Carvell and Ireland forward Tyrone McCarthy both missed out on the semi-final victory over St Helens and will be hoping to force their way back into the reckoning, as the Wolves prepare to take a huge following to the Theatre of Dreams, having already sold over 13,000 tickets and filling their allocation in the Stretford End.
Both Carvell and McCarthy were in the Wolves team that beat Leeds 35-18 in the Challenge Cup final at Wembley in August, as Simon Grix and Mike Cooper both missed out – but starred in the victory over St Helens at the weekend.
“It’s horses for courses so we’ll make some changes if we feel it is necessary,” said Smith. “We’ll pick on form as well as reputation.”
Back-rower Grix has missed out on all three of Warrington’s Wembley appearances and along with prop Cooper, were the ones to benefit from the absence of Carvell and McCarthy.
Smith admitted being tempted to pick Carvell at St Helens but opted for Cooper who he believes played his best game of the year.
“It was an even bigger call to leave out Tyrone McCarthy, who has been in tremendous form since before the Challenge Cup final. To leave someone out who is in good form goes again my grain and I’ve got a couple of difficult choices to make.
“We will try and pick the team that will most trouble Leeds as well as one that sticks within my parameters of being in form.”
Meanwhile Smith is hoping Warrington will be able to come to terms with the change in weather.
Having won three Challenge Cup titles in the past four years, those successes have mainly come on warm summer afternoons at Wembley, although there was a major down pour this year which made handling conditions difficult.
With Smith’s former club Leeds winning four Grand Finals in the past five seasons he realises Warrington face a difficult task.
“They’re very experienced in Grand Finals and very good at winning them. But I don’t think it’s too daunting for our boys.
“I hope that because we’ve had finals and big-game experience in other ways that it will help steady our nerves.
“I think we’ve learned some lessons in recent weeks about how to play at this time of the year.
“Leeds keep saying how the rugby is different at this time of the year – and it is. It’s colder and wetter and it’s harder to play expansive footie.”
One player certain to be in the line-up is Skipper Adrian Morley who has experienced Grand Final success when he guested for the Bradford Bulls in the run in to the final while still plying his trade down under.
Since arriving at Warrington he has lifted three Challenge Cups and a League Leader’s Shield and is now looking to complete his set with the Wolves.

Pictures shows rival skippers Adrian Morley and Kevin Sinfield at Old Trafford with the Grand Final Trophy.