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We're battling hard for each other and the wins will come
Nobody can be happy at starting the season with two defeats, but we can take positives out of the way we've gone so far and we're definitely in better shape than we were this time two years ago.
We are disappointed not to have come up with two wins. The Catalans game was really winnable for us and I think we lost it, rather than they won it.
At Wigan last Friday we probably didn't have a right to win the game with the amount of ball they had on our line, we were defending pretty much all the time, but the thing we can take out of it is the effort that was there.
From two years ago, that is probably the major difference. In 2006, if a team had that much ball, we'd probably have come away with a scoreline of something like 46-6.
This year the effort's really there and that's something to hold on to. Results aren't going our way, but I think if we keep putting the same amount of effort in and we are a bit smarter with the ball, we won't be that far away and I can see some results going our way.
I'm confident we are a lot better off than two years ago, having had everybody together and with the make-up of the squad. We have got a lot of workers in the team, people are working for each other and we're a really tight squad this year.
That's shown in the games so far. We've defended four sets on our line and the opposition's come away with nothing. In 2006 it was pretty much a case of if they got a sight of our line, they'd score.
Something will have to give on Sunday, because Huddersfield haven't got a win yet either. They are a good side with a lot of quality players, but it's like just about every game this year, either side could win it.
They will be trying to get off the mark, but I think if we can reproduce what we've been doing in defence and be better with the ball, we will put ourselves in with a good chance.
It's good to see that the Tigers' new stadium is moving a step nearer. I'll be speaking to the architects and asking them if they can put some big heaters around the pitch edge!
This is my last year on contract at Castleford but I am happy here, and with staying last season I think I showed what my intentions are.
The club is starting to go in the right direction, getting back into Super League and with the squad they are hoping to get together for next year. I think the Tigers have an exciting future and I'd like to be part of it. I've got big ambitions for the club to be successful and I'd love to be part of a top-four side playing in the new ground.
Finally, I think Melbourne Storm probably got a shock when they arrived in Yorkshire the other day, to be greeted by frost and freezing fog.
I'll be backing my countrymen to win the World Club Challenge and I think, especially if the weather's good, it'll be a classic game.
Melbourne have got a few players missing, but it looks to me like they mean business. They've arrived in lots of time, they've already had one trial back home and they play another game, at Halifax, tomorrow.
They are a great team, but Leeds play a similar style of footy and they're in good form at the moment, so I think it's going to be a good game.
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Weather for Leeds
Sunday 12 February 2012
Today
Cloudy
Temperature: 0 C to 5 C
Wind Speed: 7 mph
Wind direction: North west
Tomorrow
Sunny spells
Temperature: 4 C to 8 C
Wind Speed: 17 mph
Wind direction: North west
