Sunday 27 March 2016 16:03, UK
Warrington head coach Tony Smith has reignited the debate over Super League's Easter double-header as his side seek to maintain their perfect start to the season.
The Wolves opened up a two-point lead at the top of the table with a hard-fought derby win over Widnes on Good Friday, but have no time to rest on their laurels as they prepare for Monday's game at Hull FC.
Smith, whose side have won their first seven matches, in their best start to a season for 66 years, says the short turnaround gives clubs no time to adequately prepare for the second Easter game and argues the demanding schedule is unfair on the players and the competition.
"We'll be at David Lloyd's (gym) for two days to try to recuperate," said Smith, whose side are undefeated in their last eight visits to the KC Stadium.
"We'll try to get the right food, right nutrition in them. Training-wise you can't really do much, really it's just about recovery.
"We'll watch some video of Hull but in terms of tactics and honing in specifically on things about Hull, you can't really do that.
"That's why you often get poor-quality games on Mondays. You just can't do the preparation. The players can't lift themselves.
"We have got to get to the stage - and we say this every year - where we all decide we are going to have a home game this year and away the next year over Easter.
"When we do that, I think our players will survive better and we probably won't get as many injuries after the Easter period.
I don't want to come across as being negative but it's not a good thing. Somebody has got to speak up for the players.
"It's the next three or four weeks you usually pick up the injuries, not necessarily Monday. That will really test some squads this year because there are a lot of injuries to a lot of squads at the moment.
"I don't want to come across as being negative but it's not a good thing. Somebody has got to speak up for the players. The game is getting faster and the players are getting stronger, faster and fitter.
"We expect them to bash into each other at high velocity and then recover in quicker time."
St Helens' Australian full-back Shannon McDonnell admits such a situation would not be allowed to happen in the NRL.
"I'd never heard of the Easter period until I came over and someone told me I'd be playing two games in four days," he said. "I didn't believe them at first and there would be uproar if it happened at home.
"It is what it is, the Super League do it and it happens all across the board with all the teams, which is something.
"It's a vital four points across four days because teams can get away from you."
