TWENTY years ago Jason Robinson brought sunshine to a soggy Old Trafford with the stunning match-winning try which made Wigan the first-ever Grand Final kings.
Today, the man who went right to the top in both codes gives SunSport’s PHIL THOMAS the low-down on how he thinks this year’s Betfred Super League — starting on Thursday — will pan out.
CASTLEFORD TIGERS would never have thought so as they sat in silence in the Old Trafford dressing room four months ago.
But their bashing by Leeds in the Grand Final could actually make them a better team than if they had won — and certainly makes them the ones to beat.
The Tigers were a sensation throughout the regular season. They did not limp over the line, they finished top by ten points.
They scored tries from everywhere, Daryl Powell had them playing such exciting stuff — but when it came to the last game they got found out. They just did not turn up at Old Trafford.
Certain teams and players know how to win one-off games, like Leeds did in October.
Playing in finals takes a different mentality to playing a league game.
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Even though Cas did well in certain areas, there are others that only come with time — and that’s why defeat could in some ways be better than winning it.
I’ve lost and won finals but sometimes you need to be exposed.
You can go on a run, everyone patting you on the back, but you’re never as good as you think you are.
Sometimes it’s not winning them that makes you a great team, it’s having an experience like that and doing something about it.
The whole club was on a high last year and right at the death, they plummeted.
That feeling of losing on the big stage, that pain, should give them the hunger to go one stage further. They’ll go into pre-season with the bit between their teeth, as opposed to maybe complacency setting in from the start.
They have lost Zak Hardaker but still have great players like Super League’s top scorer Greg Eden and Luke Gale and have kept most of the squad together.
The challenge will be from the same places. You’d expect Saints to be massively disappointed, Warrington and Wigan even more so.
I’m looking forward to seeing Ben Barba at Saints because he has all the skills and can turn a game. Super League needs men like him and Albert Kelly at Hull.
Kelly was outstanding last year, so consistent. If you give him space, he’s quick, got good feet and is a great ball handler.
Across the city, Hull KR are back in and getting Danny McGuire from Leeds will be a massive help.
Even though he is coming to the back end of his career, it’s that cool head. The stage was set for him in the final and he delivered, as great players do.
Taking that experience to Rovers will be massive, just being around the players. They’ll see how he has got to where he is from, how he trains, his mind-set, what he does.
That’s what they need coming back up — they want to make a big bang.
It’s a big year for Jermaine McGillvary, too, after the World Cup, where he was one of the stand-out players.
The next 12-24 months will define whether he is a good player or a great one. When he’s playing with confidence he’s fantastic and the key is to do it week in, week out for Huddersfield.
The likes of Richie Myler and Brad Dwyer give Leeds a lot more strength in depth and creates competition, which is vital.
When Warrington had Lee Briers, everything revolved around him.
But when stars retire, teams can sometimes have a bit of an identity crisis.
Wolves have brought in a marquee player in Tyrone Roberts and there is a lot of weight on his shoulders. But that’s why you get the big bucks.
No team has a history of success like Wigan but last year they finished sixth and, as a fan, that was tough.
So it’s a huge season for Wigan AND Sam Tomkins.
For years he was the sport’s poster boy before being injured.
He and George Williams are two of the main guys they will look to. But Wigan have not signed the big names and it will be tough.
I can’t wait to see it all. Go out, sell it . . . and make it a year to remember.
- Coco Fuzion 100 is the rehydration partner of Jason Robinson. See cocofuzion100.co.uk to find out more.
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