Isa: Put our best foot forward

  • Willie Isa previews this weekend’s clash against Catalans Dragons at the Stade Gilbert Brutus (K.O. 5pm UK time).
  • The 31-year-old talks about what Wigan need to do to bounce back from last week’s defeat.
  • Isa: “We need to put our best foot forward and look like a Wigan team.”

Willie Isa believes Wigan Warriors must go back to basics to bounce back from last week’s defeat as they take on Catalans Dragons on Saturday.

Adrian Lam’s side travel to Perpignan to take on the Dragons at the Stade Gilbert Brutus (K.O. 5pm UK time), looking to return to winning ways, following the loss to Hull KR last Thursday.

Isa believes Wigan need to put their best foot forward.

Second-row, Isa, says the Warriors must put the previous result behind them and return to their best form.

He said: “We need to put our best foot forward and look like a Wigan team, which includes getting the basics right and making sure that we run hard. It does sound clichéd but that is what we are built on, so we need to be competitive and show some enthusiasm.

“We have got some things to work on, but as long as we focus on ourselves then we will be fine.”

The 31-year-old acknowledged quality that Steve McNamara’s side possess and says it will be no easy task for Wigan in the South of France.

“They’ve got a good team with a lot of senior players. They’ve got ex-Wigan boys such as Sam (Tomkins), Micky (Michael McIlorum) and Joel (Tomkins), as well as guys like James Maloney and Josh Drinkwater, who it is great to have in our competition.”

The 31-year-old is wary of the talent within the Catalans squad.

Wigan’s preparation for the Round 12 Betfred Super League fixture was disrupted this week, following a positive Covid-19 test amongst the squad, but after a second round of testing on Monday, the team is free to travel to France on Saturday.

Isa says the squad needs to remain focused on the task in hand. 

“It’s been alright, we just carried on as usual, it’s just the way things are at this current time. We just need to make sure we turn up at the weekend and give ourselves the best possible chance of getting a result.

“As a group and as individuals we are doing our best to look after ourselves, not just in training but away from the ground as well. We are doing what we can at Wigan.

“It is really important for each team to take a selfless approach with themselves outside of rugby league.”

With previous fixtures being effected by Covid-19, this week the RFL introduced numerous changes, including that the final Betfred Super League table will be decided on points percentage.

Isa says it changes nothing for the Warriors and that the targets are still the same.

“For me, we just have to turn up and win – that’s the mentality. Our coaching staff aren’t really concentrating on points percentage, the focus is that we go out and get the victory.

“Every game is important as it is getting closer to the end of the year, so we need to make sure we turn up.”

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Friday 11 September 2020