LEE Penny and his Warrington Wolves teammates have to forget about their heroic Challenge Cup exploits and concentrate their focus on the start of Super League.

But the Wolves full back says: "It has not been too difficult to concentrate on Super League, specially as we are playing Halifax again.

"We'll be looking at each others' strengths and weaknesses and there is no doubt it will be another tough battle over at the New Shay.

"Hopefully plenty of fans will go over the Pennines to get behind us like they did against Halifax in the cup at the weekend. With being the man at the back I could hear the roar coming from the Fletcher Street end in the second half and it really spurs you on as a player.

"It will be tougher for us than in the cup but we're quietly confident we can go there and beat them again.

"We've beaten St. Helens, albeit in a friendly, and now Halifax who came third in Super League last year. It just shows we mean business this year."

Penny, known as Jimmy to his teammates, is the fourth longest serving player on Warrington's books going into Super League IV. He signed for the club on October 15, 1991 and made his Warrington debut as a 17-year-old in 1992/93.

The former Great Britain Academy international has seen some good times and bad times with Warrington but currently it is a happy ship.

He says: "Everyone is bonding really well. The Australian players who have come in have settled in well and it is as if they have been here for years. We all go out for a drink together after a game and we really get on well.

"It just shows everyone is buzzing at the moment and I can't wait for the next game on Sunday. Beating Halifax at the weekend was a real confidence booster for the team because we now know we can beat the top teams.

"Halifax were a very good team last year. But Darryl (Wolves coach) has made some good signings and all the players have to play for their positions now so a player can not afford to have a bad game."

Penny could cash in on having extra quality players around him this year.

He said: "Alan Hunte has come into the club and I really rate him. All I am going to do is keep following him on the pitch. Hopefully he will make the breaks and I can finish them off."

Last season was a good one for Wigan-based Penny. Many Wolves fans and the coach Darryl Van de Velde believed Penny had deserved a call into Andy Goodway's Great Britain squad for last autumn's series against New Zealand but he was overlooked.

Penny, voted most improved player of 1998 by the Wolves' Supporters' Club and won the Wolf Pack's Player of the Year award, did get international recognition for Scotland though and was their star man in games against France and Ireland.

Penny wants another good year.

He says: "I feel as though I have a point to prove to Andy Goodway. Hopefully I can keep playing well again and that he recognises what I achieve."

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