PRICE CRUNCH
Wolves boss holds nerve COVID CHAOS COULD KO FOREIGN STARS
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STEVE PRICE says Warrington deserved every bit of criticism for their opening defeat to Castleford.
But he will not be panicked into picking star signing Greg Inglis as a knee-jerk reaction.
The Wolves were slammed by supporters in the wake of their 21-12 defeat to the Tigers, having lost four of their last six matches in 2020.
Price insists him and his squad have to take it on the chin ahead of Friday’s crunch clash with promoted Leigh.
But it has not tempted him to rush Inglis into action for the first time since announcing his retirement from rugby league in April 2019.
Price said: “The scrutiny is part of our game. As a coaching group and playing group we deserved what we got and have to live with it.
“We can’t hide and we’ve got high expectations of what we’ve set ourselves and what we want to become.
“Now it’s the perfect opportunity to put a really good foot forward on Friday night. It’s a short week, which is a positive for us after our performance last week.”
Much of the pre-season focus across the whole competition centred on Aussie star Inglis, who won everything the sport has to offer Down Under.
But his fitness levels are not yet up to required levels and Price will not bring him in ahead of schedule, whatever the results on the field.
“Greg won’t line up this weekend,” said Price. “He’s doing really well, he’s itching to get out there and the players are excited for him to don our jersey.
“Two years out of the game is quite some time and it’s important that we build some resilience in Greg.
“Once he puts on our colours we want him to maintain on the field, too. As a coach I’ve got an obligation to make sure that he’s in the best possible condition when he does play.
“I’m not going to jeopardise anything down the track. He’s been a legend of our game and is here to add value to our club.
“When we feel he’s right and he’s fit, we’ll put him in.”
TOP-FLIGHT clubs could be facing a major rider shortage crisis, with the new season only seven weeks away.
Some Premiership bosses are already preparing emergency plans, with the growing threat that stars who also race in Poland or Denmark will not be able to fulfil their British fixtures.
They are being hit by the triple blow of mounting restrictions, travel difficulties into and out of England and the soaring cost of flights.
Poland’s Ekstraliga has already privately told every
SPEEDWAY team member they must be based in the country when the season gets underway this weekend and the rule could be extended to some other professional leagues.
Polish Federation chief Piotr Szymanski said: “I don’t know if there will be any restrictions on crossing borders. We are still monitoring the rising Covid-19 numbers.”
But Ipswich’s Danish star Nicolai Klindt (left) said: “It is going to be so difficult getting flights in and out and it’s going to be hard to get to the right place on the right day.
“I am in Denmark and my family are in England. I wanted to see the girls last week and while I could find a flight, it was so expensive.
“The only way I could get there would have taken me 16 hours and cost £1,200.
“I’m going to look at what is happening in a few weeks.”
At least four of the six Premiership clubs could be forced to find new signings, with at least one of their big
■ (inset) hitters racing in Poland or living in Denmark.
Riders who could be forced out include Belle Vue pair Brady Kurtz and Dan Bewley, Peterborough’s Danish stars Bjarne Pedersen and Hans Andersen and Sheffield No.1 Jack Holder and his teammate, Great Britain international Adam Ellis.
One promoter said: “It is a worrying situation and we are making plans in case the worst happens.
“Our big hope is that things improve dramatically between now and May 17.”