Atkins warns against complacency
Ryan Atkins is warning his Warrington Wolves team-mates not to take anything for granted when the Carnegie Challenge Cup holders set out on the Wembley trail this weekend.
The Wolves host Featherstone Rovers in a fourth round tie at Halliwell Jones Stadium on Sunday afternoon (4.00) when Atkins is expecting a stern test from the Co-operative Championship high-fliers.
Warrington defeated the same opponents 56-8 in the fifth round last year but Atkins knows things will be far less straight-forward on Sunday.
“Some of the lads have said we could go all the way again because we’ve got the same draw,” said Atkins.
“But Featherstone are a lot better this year and Daryl Powell has got them playing really well.
“They are hoping to get an Engage Super League licence so their players will be out to prove that they can mix it with the big boys and can play at thlevel.
“It is not going to be an easy game but thankfully it’s at home so our fans can really get behind us.
“All the lads are buzzed and wanting to keep hold of the Cup. The ones who played last year are hungry for more silverware and the new players, like me, are hungry to get hold of our first trophy.”
Centre Atkins, England scrum-half Richie Myler and New Zealand forward David Solomona are all new additions to Warrington’s Cup-winning side.
Atkins, who had just agreed his end-of-season transfer from Wakefield before last year’s final, says the new faces have fitted in well.
He said: “Warrington spent a lot of money in the off-season with myself and Richie and, as internationals, there is a bit of pressure for us to go well.
“But we’re going in the right direction. And, as for winning the Cup again, there is no pressure on us at all.
“Nobody expected Warrington to win it last year and I think we will be outsiders again this time. The big two of Leeds and St Helens will be favourites.”
Atkins, who moved from the Wildcats in a bid to win trophies, is quietly confident of Warrington’s chances, though.
He said: “We are playing well but we are not at our best yet and we’re still picking up two points so that’s a good thing.
“We haven’t hit our straps yet so it’s kind of scary thinking about what we can do when we do start hitting some form.”
Atkins reached the semi-final with Wakefield two years ago and scored a try in the 32-24 defeat by Hull.
But the 24 year old is convinced he has made the right decision in switching clubs, saying: “I really enjoyed my time at Wakefield and we had a great Cup run two years ago.
“But, no disrespect to Wakefield, the facilities at Warrington are better and there’s more staff so you get a lot more individual time.”
