Salford's Marc Sneyd insists there’s no chance of catching Wigan cold - so they have to be red-hot.
The wily England scrum-half will try and orchestrate a surprise victory over the reigning Super League champions who are threatening to win everything this season. Having already bagged the World Club Challenge by beating star-studded Penrith, Matt Peet’s side have now also reached Wembley. They play Warrington in the Challenge Cup final in a fortnight’s time.
With just two defeats in all competitions since last July, Wigan are in imperious form. Asked if he thinks they’ll take their eye off the ball on Sunday after thrashing high-flying Hull KR in last week’s Cup semi-final, Sneyd insisted: “Probably not, if I’m honest. Wigan seem to turn up every week and play at a level every week which puts them there or thereabouts every week.
“We can’t have any players not turning up and not giving their best. Whoever’s out there has to be playing their best rugby to go with them because they’ll play at seven, eight and nine out of ten for 80 minutes. We can’t afford to have a break for five minutes because they have players who will find you, take advantage and then all of a sudden the game’s gone. We have to make sure we’re on for 80.”
But Paul Rowley’s Salford underdogs have proved they can tackle the best. Recently, they were joint-top with mighty Wigan having beaten the likes of Warrington, St Helens and Hull KR. With Sneyd in great form, it’s no surprise they are firing even after losing Man of Steel Brodie Croft and England hooker Andy Ackers to Leeds in the off-season.
The two-time Lance Todd Trophy winner, 33, said: “I am enjoying the rugby - and being in a team where we’re all enjoying it. It helps when you go in every day with a smile on your face. Obviously, it is a challenge; we’ve got different players playing different positions on a fairly regular basis.
“Players leaving kind of becomes the norm’ at Salford so it’s nothing new. We just crack on and see where we go. Quite a lot of other players have stepped up and we’re not doing bad.”
They slumped at Leigh before the Cup break but are keen to quickly show that was a bump in the road. Ex-Hull ace Sneyd, who should see out his career with the Red Devils after signing a new two-year deal, is set for a fascinating battle with Harry Smith. The Wigan scrum-half, 24, took Sneyd’s England place for last year’s series against Tonga and was man-of-the-match against KR.
Sneyd said: “He’s obviously going well and has a strong Wigan team around him which helps when playing in the halves. He plays on the front foot every week, kicking off the back of those middles or the back-rows who win the fourth tackle. It makes it a little easier for him. But he still has to execute the kick which he seems to do pretty well.”
Sneyd, meanwhile, has contributed ten try assists in Super League already and remains one of the competition's top playmakers. After featuring in the World Cup, does he hold hope of reclaiming a spot in Shaun Wane's squad this year? Sneyd replied: "If I got a phone call to say I’m playing I’d be over the moon. Never say no. Obviously, playing for your country is massive. But it’s not at the front of my mind at this moment of time."