Seers' return boosts Wakefield's hopes of league success
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Your support makes all the difference.The Wakefield coach, Shane McNally, will have his big close-season signing, Matt Seers, available for the first time in Super League at Castleford today.
Seers broke his hand in the Challenge Cup against the same opponents, but is now fit to bring his strength and experience to Trinity's back-line.
"We've missed him, there's no question about that," said McNally. "He's a great defensive centre and he'll give us a lot in attack as well, plus he can play full-back or stand-off."
Seers' return will not mean a switch back to the pack for the England Under-21 international, Gareth Ellis. "I'm happy with Gareth in the centres," said McNally.
"I'd like to think that he'll be in contention for Great Britain at the end of the season, so I've got to give him every opportunity to blossom in that position. He's big for a centre, but all the good ones are big."
McNally, still without a league win despite his side's improving form this season, has doubts about Martyn Holland and Dallas Hood, but Michael Korkidas is back after suspension and the former Castleford half-back, Brad Davis, is fit despite coming off against Wigan last Sunday.
"Through Brad and Adrian Vowles, we probably know more about Castleford than any other side," he said. "We knocked them out of the Cup and they had that awful defeat at St Helens last week. They're at home and they're on TV, so they've got a lot to play for, but so have we."
Castleford have near enough a full-strength squad to choose from, with Mitch Healy back from a hamstring injury and a first start for Paul Mellor, after he came on as a substitute and was one of the few to shine at Saints last week.
Two other clubs without a win are in action tomorrow, with Widnes trying to get off the mark against Bradford and Huddersfield facing an even more difficult task against St Helens.
Widnes have Andy Hay fit again, but Ryan Sheridan is still recovering slowly from an illness which saw him lose a stone in weight. Simon Finnegan and Chris Giles retain their places in the squad.
Saints' Ian Millward has stoked the fires for the game at the McAlpine Stadium by attacking Brandon Costin for his tackle on Sean Long almost two years ago. That tackle might have been late, but it was prompt indeed by comparison with the reaction.
Warrington's improvement will be tested by the visit of Hull, with the Wolves' coach, Paul Cullen, insisting that avoiding relegation is still their priority. Victory today might raise their sights a little higher than that and Cullen has Rob Smyth available to return on the wing.
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