WARRINGTON coach Tony Smith feels his side are showing the sort of form that can lift the club out of the doldrums. Wolves are without a major piece of silverware since they won the Regal Trophy in 1991 and their last appearance in the Challenge Cup final was the year before, when they lost to tomorrow’s opponents Wigan. But Smith is now hoping his side can repeat their victory 16-8 over Wigan earlier in the season when they got the better of them 16-8 at The Halliwell Jones Stadium. Smith said: “We have a pretty formidable pack. “They’re in good form at the moment, we’ve got some big boys up front and some very good outside backs. Our back of the scrum is pretty powerful as well. “I’m pleased with the whole lot, they’re a good bunch of guys who are working well for each other. “As long as they do that and maintain some of their form, it should make for a very good contest against another pack who’s been in good form.” The semi-final at Widnes’s Stobart Stadium Halton was yesterday declared a 12,975 sell-out. Warrington chief executive Andy Gatcliffe said: “If there were a lot more tickets, we wouldn’t have had any problem selling them.” Tickets for the second semi-final between Huddersfield and St Helens at the Halliwell Jones Stadium, Warrington, on Sunday have passed the 10,000 mark and will be on sale up to kick-off.
THE BBC has won the right to show England’s clash with Australia in this autumn’s Gillette Four Nations series.
Television coverage of the tournament will be shared between the BBC and Sky, who will screen the opening match between England and France on Friday, October 23, as well as the hosts’ game against New Zealand and the final on Saturday, November 14. As well as the Anglo-Australian international on Saturday, October 31, the BBC will show the France-Australia game on Saturday, November 7 and highlights of the other matches. Richard Lewis, the Rugby Football League chairman, said: “The fact that two major broadcasters are showing all the fixtures live underlines just what a prestigious and fantastic tournament this year’s Gillette Four Nations promises to be.”
BRADFORD’S England forward Sam Burgess will have his pick of the leading National Rugby League clubs when he makes his move to Australia, according to his manager.
The 20-year-old is one of the hottest properties in the game and has Australian clubs queuing up for his services. “My phone has been red hot,” said former Bradford chairman Chris Caisley, now Burgess’s adviser. “If he was free to go now, he would have his pick of the clubs.” | 
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