Derby will be brutal says Mike
MIKE COOPER expects Friday’s derby clash between Warrington andWigan to live up to the bad blood billing.
TheWolves compiled a montage of clips from past clashes that includes a host of bust-ups, including in the tunnel at last year’s Grand Final.
Experienced prop Cooper has been involved in several of those and anticipates more fireworks.
“Everyone can see from the videos it’s been pretty brutal, and it won’t be any different on Friday night – I wouldn’t expect anything less,” saidWarrington’s Cooper.
“I’ve got a lot of respect for anyone who plays rugby league but it will go out of the window for 80 minutes because that’s how rugby league is.
“We’ll go hard at each other but shake hands after it – that’s what makes our sport so great.”
The fire was stoked at a public press conference yesterday when Cooper was asked about the number of disciplinary cases brought against Wigan prop Tony Clubb, who was sat alongside him on stage, for late challenges on playmakers.
Cooper responded: “It’s a forward’s job to put pressure on half-backs and that’s no different with us as well.”
Wigan go into the clash on the back of four defeats, starting with their World Club Challenge loss to Sydney Roosters.
That has turned the spotlight on their coach Adrian Lam, who admitted after Friday’s home setback against Huddersfield the squad could still be suffering a hangover from last year’s Grand Final win over Warrington.
Opposite number Steve Price has bad memories of that defeat at Old Trafford, saying: “It still doesn’t sit well with me. I’ve got a burning desire to go that extra step this year and we’ve got a totally different, exciting team.”
CORAL CHALLENGE CUP FOURTH-ROUND DRAW: Keighley v Bradford, Whitehaven v Rochdale, Featherstone Lions v Doncaster, Barrow v York, Hunslet v Halifax, Featherstone Rovers v Swinton, Sheffield v Leigh, Dewsbury v West Hull, Workington/ Siddal v Newcastle, Thatto Heath v North Wales, Batley v Lock Lane, Oldham v Widnes.