DENIS BETTS says Wigan should be better for their recent defeat by Sunday’s Grand Final opponents York.
After winning their opening twelve fixtures, the Warriors were denied a perfect regular-season record by Valkyrie’s 26-12 home victory.
York needed that win to make the play-off semi-final, and continued their momentum by winning 12-0 at Leeds last Friday to set up another date with the League Leaders’ Shield winners at The Brick Community Stadium on Sunday.
“York just had a better attitude,” reflected coach Betts. “They’ve got girls who played really well, they put in their best performances of the year, but it had to be because everything was on the line for them.
“They deserved it and we just didn’t turn up, we didn’t play well at all. That’s hopefully a blip.
“We’ve had the joy of a weekend off, which allowed us to focus on ourselves and get a couple of things right. We’re pretty happy to be in this situation.
“The York game should do us good, to bring us back down to earth. I’m not seeing it as a negative – just a learning process.
“We’re still a really young side. We’ve lost twice in two years so we’re not inconsistent, but every now and then you get this, then you focus on your processes and work a little bit harder.”
Betts has been impressed by York’s transformation across their first season with Leon Pryce as coach.
He added: “York have been on a journey. Leon has turned the side around and you can see the way they play is a lot different now to when Lindsay (Anfield) was there.
“The transition is tough, but you can see where they’re going.”
Like Betts, Pryce was a league title-winner as a player, but he is looking to win his first piece of silverware as a coach.
“It was an unbelievable achievement to keep Leeds to zero on their home ground in a semi-final,” he said, but stressed: “We’re not taking anything for granted.
“We know they (Wigan) have been the best team all year, the most consistent team all year, they’ve played the best rugby and they’re the best coached.”