With so many new players on both sides its a hard one to call Widnes will be up for it no doubt and the new pitch could be key none of us know what to expect there.
Would be no shock if its a full house Wakefield fans are coming in decent numbers
Glad to see Widnes back they should never have being away

I thought it was Snarf who played for Widnes?

Wildcats, Wildcats, Wildcats hoooooo!!

Also if we lose, will be able to blame the pitch! It just gets better!

It's near impossible to tell how the game will go. Bookies have us as 2 point favourites, I'd take any win, 1-0, anything.

Misery guts on TiW are claiming we'll get about 5,300. Personally for the crowd I'd be disappointed with less than 7,000. It's the first game back in SL, we have 4,000 Stronghold members, Wakey are looking to bring around 1,000 and the club are putting deals on with the school.

To put it in context we started the season against Toulouse a few years back and put on some deals in the schools. They had 20 away supporters and we had far less ST holders. We managed 5,000 for that one.

I'd be shocked if we got over 8k, surprised if we got more than 7.

I think about 8,000 will be about right for your first game back. Though I think we'll win the game I'm slightly worried about Widnes' unknown quantity, and I remember we were whipping boys before for Hull KR when they returned and at Wire for the unveiling of their new ground and lost both games. So, as predictions go, my view is a close, entertaining game on the plastic paradise in front of a partisan crowd with Trinity just edging it by 7 pts. Good to have you back, quite like Widnes, always admired their strong team of the 70s and 80s with Reg Bowden, Stuart Wright et al.

Be nice to get that attendance but I doubt it, both ends would be open I presume,mind you I think they did that for the Salford game a few seasons back and put the schoolkids in the West Stand.

I'm looking forward to the game now and I'm even getting a little, uncharacteristically, excited.



I couldn't possibly predict this result though. There are far too many unknown quantities with these two teams to get any idea of how the game may pan out. Even the new ipitch won't necessarily be an advantage yet, as we haven't played a proper competitive game on it yet - just training and a run out against the U20's.

What we do know, is that Wakey will be no mugs. They never have been, since there promotion to the top flight. This is a fresh start for them to and they'll be just as fired up as we are, with a desire to on our bonfire.

We are going to need our best players out there on Friday and, in particular, Anthony Watts. With him in the side, playing the full 80 mins, I'll stick my neck out and say we'll win. Without him, I'm not so sure.








[iOur father who art in heaven
Please heal Anthony Watts' Hammy for Friday[/i

Obviously my heart says Widnes but my head says I don't know.I won't be surprised by any result, be it a narrow Widnes win,a narrow Wakefield win,a comfortable win for either side or a draw.I will sit on the fence and go for the draw,might even have a tenner on it at 16/1.

Attendance 6900.

Tough call in that both teams are unknown quantities.

Its well documented Wakey would have lost out in the franchise renewals, which I think brings another edge to this encounter. Both teams will be out to prove a point, with Wakey maybe having far more to prove.

As much as I would like to see Widnes start their new SL era off with a win, I think good old Yorkshire grit will see Agar's charges nicking it in the last quarter.

It will be close that's for sure. I think Wakefield will edge it due to a bit more sl experience but I ain't banking on it. The lack of a decnt goal kicker for wakey may have a big bearing on this game.

If Watts has a good game and is fit he could be the match winner.I have only watched him briefly against Saints, and he was magic and the best halfback i have seen in a Widnes shirt for a long time.

First and foremost welcome back into SL!! I'm sure most Wakey supporters are happy to have you back even if it does mean possibly losing the first game of 2012!

As for the game, i'm just hoping for a tight affair. Last season was brutal, watching such an inexperienced side torn to shreds at time. For both sets of fan, i do hope it's a closely contested match.

As previously mentioned, it's going to be scrappy, and littered with errors, but such is the case in all fixtures in round 1. Two new squads desperate to start the season well and i'd expect the likes of Watts, Smith or John to be the difference in scores