Cagey Cullen keen not to fuel his critics
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| Paul Cullen |
WOLVES boss Paul Cullen gave an unusually guarded response to questions at the club's weekly Press conference amid growing unrest among fans about his future at the club.
Cullen has become increasingly wary of fuelling his critics and stressed that he did not want to appear like he was making excuses, to the point that he was reluctant to give his usual update on injuries and team news ahead of Monday's clash against Castleford.
The Wolves boss, who has accepted that he is responsible for events on the field, said: "I think we'll make a considered decision not to be discussing every individual injury that we obviously have.
"If we're giving good open honest declaration of genuine injuries that a number of our players have obviously got at the moment, we get the feeling that everything that we say is being taken down and used in evidence against us. For me to get into the detail of it will only be taken the wrong way. We need to circle the wagons.
"We will play the fittest, healthiest and most experienced side we have available to us against Castleford and draw the line quite firmly there.
"We will not allow anyone to think we're using injuries as an excuse."
That was the accusation levelled at Cullen by some fans during 2007 but he has been at pains to avoid a similar situation this season, even though he has already lost five players to long-term injuries.
Michael Monaghan (knee), Adrian Morley (knee), Ben Westwood (rib) and Rob Parker (rib) are all believed to be doubtful for the Cas clash and Cullen did hint that the game could come too early for some of them.
Among those standing by to fill in is Mike Cooper, who has not figured in the first team since an horrific leg fracture 12 months ago.
The match against Super League's bottom club - the first of three games against teams currently below Wolves in the table - will see the two worst defences in the league go head to head.
Cullen has said that he and his players go into the game fighting for our lives' and admitted he had pored over the footage of Friday's collapse at Wigan about 37 times', before asserting: "We didn't play well enough. Full stop."
| "I would choose exactly the same team in exactly the same shape" | | Paul Cullen |
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He later expanded, saying: "I was disappointed with our discipline.
"Fifty minutes in we're winning the game and we've overcome quite a few difficulties thrown at us, where they be injuries or decisions from the officials or sin bins.
"Fifty minutes in we're 14-8 in front and there's a good argument to say we should have been more in front.
"What we thought was a perfectly legitimate try was ruled out for whatever reason (Chris Hicks had a first-half effort disallowed for obstruction).
"That now becomes Stuart Cummings' business and not mine but I would run that play again in the same manner.
"I wouldn't change a single thing. And to be fair, given our preparation last week, I would choose exactly the same team in exactly the same shape."
That was a reference to queries about the absence of Chris Riley, who was fit enough to be 18th man after an ankle injury but was not selected to play at the JJB.
The decision to leave out Riley meant several players had to switch positions but may have been taken because the 20-year-old winger had not trained in the early part of the week.
Wolves' perennial struggle to transform good periods of play into an 80-minute performance was highlighted as they folded in the second half at Wigan.
Asked how Wolves, who have been doing fitness work in training this week, can extend their purple patches over the course of a full match, Cullen said: "It really is the billion dollar question.
"One thing that was a concern for us was that discipline level over the full course.
"Our discipline early on was very reasonable, our penalty count was very low.
"Vinnie Anderson was a fraction late on his charge but the fraction cost. At that point, it's about reaction and response.
"We responded well, we didn't concede any points when we were down to 12 men but we eventually paid the price for it."
12:00pm Thursday 22nd May 2008
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Posted by: peteincambridge, Cambridge on 1:24pm Thu 22 May 08
I’ve just been playing selector for Monday’s game and I’m afraid we look a bit thin to say the least and Castleford are more than capable of causing us problems. I’m sure, our wonderful, understanding and exceptionally knowledgeable supporters (who of course deserve the best) will be sympathetic to the problems.
I’ve just been playing selector for Monday’s game and I’m afraid we look a bit thin to say the least and Castleford are more than capable of causing us problems. I’m sure, our wonderful, understanding and exceptionally knowledgeable supporters (who of course deserve the best) will be sympathetic to the problems.
Posted by: DNK, Preston on 1:54pm Thu 22 May 08
if morely,mons,parker and westwood are out i think we'll have our work cut out for us,not confident of victory to be honest.
if morely,mons,parker and westwood are out i think we'll have our work cut out for us,not confident of victory to be honest.
Posted by: pentop, ashton on 3:15pm Thu 22 May 08
What a joke the Wire are becoming i speak as most people do to different fans,and its the same thing you hear, what is going on at Wire on paper you have an awsome squad.
Well what else do you get on paper?
What a joke the Wire are becoming i speak as most people do to different fans,and its the same thing you hear, what is going on at Wire on paper you have an awsome squad.
Well what else do you get on paper?
Posted by: shedhead, Runcorn on 6:52pm Thu 22 May 08
Why doesnt he stand up and be counted like other coaches in Super League ? Hes always full of the same old excuses. Every week someone player, coach, whoever says they are disappointed and are determined to put things right the next week but it doesnt happen! How many lives have these guys got?
Why doesnt he stand up and be counted like other coaches in Super League ? Hes always full of the same old excuses. Every week someone player, coach, whoever says they are disappointed and are determined to put things right the next week but it doesnt happen! How many lives have these guys got?
Posted by: snazzywirefan, warrington on 8:56pm Thu 22 May 08
i think cul az been gr8 stoppin uz gettin relegated, gettin uz in2 th playoffs 4 the 1st time n winning in the playoffs but i dont thinks hes got anything left 2 take uz furthur. [bold]hes a gr8 guy and brill wiv fanz[/bold] ! but 2 soft and friendly wiv the players
i think cul az been gr8 stoppin uz gettin relegated, gettin uz in2 th playoffs 4 the 1st time n winning in the playoffs but i dont thinks hes got anything left 2 take uz furthur.
hes a gr8 guy and brill wiv fanz ! but 2 soft and friendly wiv the players
Posted by: debbie and rio, newton on 8:59pm Thu 22 May 08
i totally agree with snazzy! we just need some new inspuration and convidence.
i totally agree with snazzy! we just need some new inspuration and convidence.
Posted by: tizerbeast, warrington on 9:11pm Thu 22 May 08
round the wagons?
paul cullen speaking or clint eastwood circle your p45, cull you are the true man of words and with lord doug of hoyle number 10 downing needs a positive speaker who can see positives so go now please for the sake of the club your supposed to love
round the wagons?
paul cullen speaking or clint eastwood circle your p45, cull you are the true man of words and with lord doug of hoyle number 10 downing needs a positive speaker who can see positives so go now please for the sake of the club your supposed to love
Posted by: Out! Out! Out!, Callands on 10:09pm Thu 22 May 08
[quote]He later expanded, saying: "I was disappointed with our [bold]discipline[/bold] [/quote] [quote]
[quote]"Our [bold]discipline[/bold] early on was very reasonable, our penalty count was very low.[/quote]
"One thing that was a concern for us was that [bold]discipline[/bold] level over the full course.[/quote]
Wolves Discipline = 8 pints rather than 10.
20 fags rather than 20. Budweiser rather than Stella. Crown and Cushion rather than London Bridge.
He later expanded, saying: "I was disappointed with our discipline
"Our discipline early on was very reasonable, our penalty count was very low.
"One thing that was a concern for us was that discipline level over the full course.
Wolves Discipline = 8 pints rather than 10.
20 fags rather than 20. Budweiser rather than Stella. Crown and Cushion rather than London Bridge.
Posted by: HP, warrington on 7:29am Fri 23 May 08
"We will play the fittest, healthiest and most experienced side available to us"
Whatever happened to playing players in form and dropping those that aren't. To me that says that if you are fit and have been in the game a while you will play regardless of form. That's a great message to send out to your highly paid players who just turn out for the money. I'm not saying that's the case at wire but I would be suprised if every player is giving everything he can to the cause.
I think Cul has lost the respect of some of the players and without doubt change is required. He is Warrington through and through and I would like to see him have a role at the club but a new head coach is required to take us forward now. Give him the chairmans job because Doug is too old and too politician for me, and its time for doug to put his slippers on and light that pipe.
"We will play the fittest, healthiest and most experienced side available to us"
Whatever happened to playing players in form and dropping those that aren't. To me that says that if you are fit and have been in the game a while you will play regardless of form. That's a great message to send out to your highly paid players who just turn out for the money. I'm not saying that's the case at wire but I would be suprised if every player is giving everything he can to the cause.
I think Cul has lost the respect of some of the players and without doubt change is required. He is Warrington through and through and I would like to see him have a role at the club but a new head coach is required to take us forward now. Give him the chairmans job because Doug is too old and too politician for me, and its time for doug to put his slippers on and light that pipe.
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