FRIDAY'S heavyweight clash between Warrington and St Helens promises to be something else.

The atmosphere inside a packed Knowsley Road will be white-hot and we want to build on our winning start.

The Warrington lads are desperate to win and smash the Saints' hoodoo - they've been a bogey team for us in Super League and we haven't beaten them for about seven years, so it's about time we put one over them.

They say the best time to play Manchester United is at the start of the season and that's possibly the same with Saints.

I can't wait to run out there. We know that Daniel Anderson's team will be smarting after losing their opening Super League game at Hull KR.

I was a bit surprised to see Saints coming unstuck but Rovers have made some very good signings.

We're heading for Saints after beating Hull. It was a good result for us. We needed a winning start and I got plenty of game time.

I must single out new signing Michael Monaghan for praise because he had a hand in most or our tries and could not have asked for a better start.

He's a good player, he always impressed me when he was at Manly and I have played against him. He has great organisational skills and was keen to prove a point.

Having him at scrum-half has taken a lot of responsibility and pressure off Lee Briers, who will now be even more of a threat.

Matt King also made a good start for us and scored a great try.

This is going to be the most closely-contested Super League ever. We saw Saints lose at the weekend and Bradford were also knocked over. No club had a runaway victory.

I wasn't surprised to see Wigan making a winning start. They had a very good victory over Harlequins and are sure to be up there challenging this season. They have recruited well and will be looking for a winning start at home to Castleford on Friday.

I think our game is in terrific shape right now and wherever you go, you are guaranteed a great spectacle.

I am really looking forward to the match at Saints, it has the ingredients to be an absolutely brilliant game and there is so much riding on it.

There's been a lot of discussion recently regarding the appointment of referees in games where they come from, but I don't have a problem with this.

Don't forget I spent a lot of time in the Sydney competition and invariably the Sydney clubs were refereed by men from the area.

Worthy Reds

AS a Salford lad, I want to see the City Reds back in Super League next year and in my view they definitely deserve to be given a franchise licence.

I am sure they will get one but of course a lot does hinge on what happens with the stadium at Barton.

It's been a bit stop and start but it's going to happen and that is great news.

A franchise will be a just reward for the magnificent continued support of chairman John Wilkinson. Like myself, he's a Salford lad through and through.

Reds are one of the most well-run clubs in the game and a lot of people will be immensely proud to see the Reds back where they belong.

Poor Chris

I PLAN to cheer on big brother Chris this Sunday.

He's playing for Swinton but was in the wars recently and needed eight stitches in an ear wound.

He's still going strong at 48. He'll kill me for saying that but he loves his rugby.

Sunday's local derby in the Northern Rail Cup against Salford should be interesting.

They say blood is thicker than water - I'm naturally hoping Chris plays a corker on his comeback but I'd settle for a Salford win.

I think the standard of rugby outside Super League is very good, there are a lot of competitive teams.

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