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Wakefield Wildcats: Coach hails 'super pest' Brough
With a whole matchday line up – 17 players – coming out of contract at the end of this season, Wakefield Trinity Wildcats' coaching staff have some decisions to make over the next few months.
A sizeable turnover of players seems inevitable, but it is one on a longer-term deal who should be the priority.
Half-back Danny Brough has another year left under his current terms, but is already attracting interest from engage Super League rivals.
Brough's importance to Wildcats' cause was highlighted in their 37-22 win over Hull on Saturday, when he scored a long-range try, set up two others, kicked five goals and added a drop.
The former Dewsbury, York, Hull and Castleford ace can be erratic, but on his day he's possibly the most influential player in the competition.
This was one of his days. Admiring coach John Kear – who suspended Brough last month for disciplinary reasons – said afterwards: "He was the best player on the field.
"He created a lot, he kicked well and he was a pest to the Hull attackers in defence.
"His enthusiasm levels were through the roof. He played really well and I was chuffed."
Wildcats led 23-0 at half-time and were 31-6 up on the hour, before Hull saved face with three late tries.
Kear said: "In the first half we were pretty clinical. Our shape and our structure was pretty good.
"We created lots of problems for the Hull defence and we looked after the ball.
"We did the basic processes really well."
Of the second half, Kear added: "It's always difficult to back it up and we let ourselves down after half-time with some sloppy errors and some cheap penalties that allowed Hull back into the game.
"Overall, we controlled the game and it was a comfortable win, but you've got to be disappointed (with the second half), because they got us down our right edge.
"We'll look at the video of that and attempt to fix it."
Brough's kick created the opening try for Dale Ferguson, before he snapped up a loose pass and raced 90 metres for a spectacular try.
After Tony Martin had crossed from Brad Drew's kick, Matt Petersen got over at the corner off Brough's long pass.
Gareth Raynor touched down for Hull at the start of the second half, but Martin's second try – from a metre out after Jodie Broughton lost the ball in a gang tackle – ended any prospects of a fightback.
Broughton, on loan from Leeds Rhinos, showed his inexperience in defence, but his finishing was top class and he crossed either side of a Kirk Yeaman try as Hull regained some pride, Danny Tickle landing a total of three conversions.
Fittingly, though, Wildcats had the last laugh, Matt Blaymire popping over as the hooter sounded.
Brough landed his fourth conversion, to go with a second half penalty and the one-pointer before the break. His own try was improved by Martin.
As a footnote, Kear revealed after the game that Wildcats' facial hair is on its way out.
Players and staff had agreed not to shave until reaching 20 points, still a win away.
But Kear said: "We've had a meeting, we're all pig sick of the beards and they're coming off."
Wakefield Trinity Wildcats: Blaymire, Petersen, Martin, Gleeson, Grix, Rooney, Brough, Bibey, Drew, Korkidas, Wilkes, Snitch, Ferguson. Subs (all used) Stosic, Moore, Winterstein, Leo-Latu.
Hull: Tony, Broughton, Whiting, Yeaman, Raynor, R Horne, Thorman, Dowes, Berrigan, Thackray, Burnett, Tickle, Radford. Subs (all used) Houghton, Lee, Maloney, King.
Referee: Ben Thaler (Wakefield).
Attendance: 4,721.
Ends
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Sunday 12 February 2012
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