O’Loughlin: The right call
- Assistant coach Sean O’Loughlin has reflected on tonight’s abandoned pre-season friendly against Wakefield Trinity.
- After repeated floodlight failure at the DIY Kitchens Stadium, the match was called off after 61 minutes due to player safety.
- O’Loughlin: “The referee was doing everything he could not to abandon the game but in that last one blokes running full tilt and the lights go out is dangerous.”
Assistant coach Sean O’Loughlin has reflected on tonight’s abandoned pre-season friendly against Wakefield Trinity.
Referee Chris Kendall made the decision to end the match just after the hour to protect player safety due to repeated floodlight failure at the DIY Kitchens Stadium.
Despite tries from Jacob Douglas and Jack Farrimond, which were converted successfully by Ryan Hampshire, the Warriors trailed 22-12 at the time the match was brought to an end.
Speaking to the press following the match, O’Loughlin said: “It was a strange one. The referee was doing everything he could not to abandon the game but in that last one blokes running full tilt and the lights go out is dangerous – it was definitely the right call.”
When asked about the selected squad for the clash, O’Loughlin said: “There were lots of lads – especially the middles – who wanted to get more minutes in ahead of next week. There were also a individuals who were shy on the minutes we wanted them to play and younger lads on the bench who didn’t get on.
“For the likes of Kruise [Leeming] and Tommo [Luke Thompson] that was their first hit out since September which is a long time without playing a game so tonight was about opening the lungs and getting the body right again.”
Despite missing out on the final 20 minutes, O’Loughlin believes the Warriors remain in a strong position heading into next weekend’s pre-season friendly against Hull FC.
He said: “The lads have been out there now doing more running with a little bit of wrestling to get the contact element in. We have a long week now in the build up to Hull FC so we wont need to cram anything in. For the established lads it was good for them to get a hit out without picking up any injuries.”
Tickets for the Warriors final pre-season friendly against Hull FC at the MKM Stadium on Sunday 4 February can be purchased in-Store at Robin Park Arena (open Monday-Saturday, 10am-4pm) and online HERE.
