Ian Watson | “We have to believe we’re a good team”

Ian Watson | “We have to believe we’re a good team”

by | Mar 18, 2019

Head Coach Ian Watson was pleased to see his sides display against Castleford Tigers while also feeling frustrated that they didnโ€™t come away from the Mend-A-Hose Jungle with a victory.
He gave his thoughts on a number of subjects in the post-match press conference.
On the performanceโ€ฆ
There were a few little errors and defensive lapses and I think they gave Castleford the win. The one thing I have said to the boys is that we have to believe we are a good team and weโ€™re showing it now against Castleford away from home and against St Helens at home which was a game we learnt a lot from. We are quite a young team but weโ€™ve got to believe that we can come to Castleford and win and I think we just didnโ€™t start the game with that mentality as we put them on the front foot and they started playing like a top team does putting you under pressure and getting repeat sets which Paul McShane was central to. Once we got the game in the balance a little bit, we started to control that and got on the front foot and dictating field position as well. Itโ€™s our own fault weโ€™ve lost the game.
On the difference between the sidesโ€ฆ
Theyโ€™ve been a top team for the last few years. Weโ€™re still quite a young team in many ways with our spine being quite young with Joey Lussick and Jackson Hastings in there. We just need to be a little bit more patient at times instead of chasing the game. Paul McShane did that really well, they started completing sets and earning repeat sets through goal line drop-outs. They persisted and sometimes you just have to deal with that and try and turn the tide, but I want to give massive credit to our players for competing. I do think that game will hit home with the lads to see theyโ€™re a good side coming to Castleford and almost winning the game.
On the start to the seasonโ€ฆ
Yeah, weโ€™re happy with the start to the season but we want more โ€“ everybody always wants more. We all want to win every game we go into but Iโ€™m hoping the games weโ€™ve played, and the performances and results can kick us on for the remainder of the season. We can show everyone what weโ€™re about then and show that weโ€™re a team that can be contenders. I think if we go about games the way we have in spells and piece that together weโ€™ll be a strong team and weโ€™ll trouble a few more this season.
On Adam Walkerโ€ฆ
I thought he looked dangerously with ball in hand and defensively I thought there were a few times where he lounged in but thatโ€™s fatigue and taking that into contact. Weโ€™ll see how it pans out when heโ€™s got match fitness. He will get better, and heโ€™ll be a great addition for us.
On the resultโ€ฆ
I think weโ€™re really disappointed with the result because we know weโ€™ve let an opportunity slip through our own little errors and misreads. I think weโ€™re good enough to compete with these teams now, but we just need to believe that we are good enough on a regular basis, but we need to show that next week against Wigan Warriors when they come to the AJ Bell Stadium. I think weโ€™ve had a tough month here with St Helens, then Catalans away and now Castleford away so we canโ€™t wait to get back to the AJ Bell Stadium and show what weโ€™ve learnt from the last three games.
On Jake Bibbyโ€™s performanceโ€ฆ
Jake Bibby is a great kid and heโ€™s had to wait for his opportunity to get into the team. Heโ€™s got the shirt at the moment if Iโ€™m honest as heโ€™s doing fantastic in both attack and defence. We always knew defensively he was brilliant, and weโ€™ve worked on the attacking side of his game โ€“ heโ€™s been working closely with Martin Gleeson and spending a lot of time with him. Heโ€™s showing us what heโ€™s learned over the last couple of years.
On a possible sin-bin offence by Alex Fosterโ€ฆ
I thought so at the time but thatโ€™s not the reason weโ€™ve lost the game. We need to be smarter in certain areas so I canโ€™t use that as a reason as to why we werenโ€™t victorious. It was definitely a good contest.
 
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