Sam Burgess: 'We cannot beat ourselves, because Leigh won't'

Yahoo

4 days ago

HANDLING pressure and 'not beating themselves.'
Two areas in which Warrington Wolves have not particularly excelled at late, but areas in which they must if they are to beat high-flying Leigh Leopards on Friday.
That is according to head coach Sam Burgess, who is hoping the two-week break from fixtures came at just the right time.
With their play-off hopes having been dealt a huge blow with defeat at Castleford Tigers last time out, The Wire's margin for error in what remains of the season is paper-thin given they trail sixth-placed Wakefield Trinity by four points with eight games remaining.
Along with fellow Challenge Cup finalists Hull KR, Warrington are the only Super League club to have had a game every week since the start of the season and given the extensive injury list they have had to navigate throughout the year, it is a run that has taken its physical toll.
But having given the players the entirety of last week off, Burgess is hoping the reset has a positive impact.
The Round 19 defeat to Castleford Tigers dealt a huge blow to Wire's play-off hopes (Image: Allan McKenzie/SWpix.com) 'We understand it's a long year and you want to get in a good position to manage that, but we've not stopped since the start of the year,' he said.
'We started a week earlier with the Challenge Cup at Whitehaven and we've had a game every week since then, so it was good to take a breath and have a little reset.
'The boys have been good – they've trained well early in the week – but we've got a good challenge on Friday.
'Leigh have beaten some really competent sides and they play a really good style of rugby, so it's a good game for us to come back to.'
But while Warrington have struggled, Leigh have soared and return from a two-week break of their own looking for a fourth consecutive victory.
Wins over Wigan Warriors, Hull KR and St Helens in recent weeks have propelled them into contention for a top-two spot, but The Wire did upset them 21-14 in the Challenge Cup semi-finals when the sides last met.
The last meeting between Warrington and Leigh saw Wire win May's Challenge Cup semi-final between the two (Image: Allan McKenzie/SWpix.com) So is it going to take a display akin to that one to come away with their first ever league victory at Leigh Sports Village?
'They're a good side so we've got to play well to beat them,' Burgess said.
'We just really can't beat ourselves, because they're not going to beat themselves.
'It will be a really tight contest that will come down to who can handle the pressure the most and take their moments.
'I like the way they play but to break them down is tough, so we've got to be in the game.'