Episode 2 Rugby League: Super League Highlights

Do welcome to week two of the play- offs. We are at the home of

Warrington, he might have expected to have the week off but instead

they are preparing to face Hull FC. Wigan showed wide they face top-of-

the-table in the regular season with a demolition. The Halliwell

Jones Stadium has been a Fortrose for most of the season, but St

Helens were in town and won a week off. It was to be no fairy-tale end

to the season for Wakefield. Defending champions Leeds brought

an end to their winning run. Whole OSC kept themselves in with a

chance, by beating Huddersfield. -- Hull FC. Wigan and St get to put

their feet up for a week while the others fight it out for a chance to

meet them in the qualifying semi- finals. Here they face will be

decided by a weakened, who have the right to choose who they face. More

news of that later in the programme. It is knockout rugby league from

here in, starting with Leeds against Catalan Dragons. It is

always a tough kid to come here, but we will struggle through! It

promises to be a fascinating match. We have two Berry exciting teams

when they are allowed to be. Probably not at their best

defensively so I think it will be one of these Sydney score lies that

we get. But with that element of skill that we always see with these

teams. Can place bang to the same as last year when macro? Catalans

Dragons work very flat last week, can they let themselves? I think

they can and the home advantage will help. There is no element of

pressure for them to perform here. They have only been beaten once all

season at home and Leeds will have to be at their best. Leeds know

this territory, in terms of the players. They did it last year from

fifth. They are capable but whether they will is another question. They

have to do all the things that they did last year. Their defence was

great last year and their ability to score points at the right time

was crucial. Is it the same Leeds team? Can they engender the same

kind desperate? But they are playing a good team. It promises to

the next 80 means for either Catalan Dragons or Leeds. -- 80

minutes. There will be no second chances. The atmosphere is terrific.

David Ferriol returns for an emotional farewell, playing his

last match at home tonight. For Leeds, Ian Kirke starts, the only

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change to the 17 that beat The referee has put the square in

the air to ask the video referee to have a look at this. The chances up

that Clint Greenshields may have scored the open -- the opening try.

Early impressions for me are that it may have been a double movement.

It certainly reaches the line. will have to look at whether the

ball is grounded in the initial movement. And that video referee is

minded to give the try. Clint Greenshields with the opening score.

Eight minutes played, it is just the start that Catalan Dragons

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attempt from the touchline, but another six and referee says that

the one on one, and that, almost invariably, is the outcome. He has

gone over the line. Was there and obstruction in the build up.

Certainly no obstruction there. The ball goes out the back. There may

be a case for Thomas Bosc being pushed out of the way there. And he

does not give it, on the strength at times. Both sides have had

chances, but just the one taken so referee is saying that the player

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does not get out of the way quickly backwards. Still kept alive. Zak

Hardaker thought about the kick. And finally the dam had to burst.

And it is Stevie Ward he gets over. And Leeds have their first try,

deep into this first half. Great right play and Stevie Ward hit the

referee. Danny McGuire did not think it went backwards. I think

about 8000 French supporters of the same opinion! A lucky escape for

There will be some debate about the final pass. No question about the

finish. That is a forward pass. However, did then the credits.

Jamie Jones-Buchanan, and straight through the hole. And there is

enough speed to finish it. Rob Burrow feeds Jamie Jones-Buchanan

and he put it on the inside to Sean Damien Blanch will score the try

that brings the stadium to its feet. It is a moment of pure purely for

the Catalan Dragons fans per stop Kenny believe this? -- Can you

believe this? This was purely about foot speed. Damien Blanch finishes

the play. Danny McGuire will be kicking himself. Leeds thought that

they were going to score. But Damien Blanch will not be caught,

that. Leeds are getting a few decisions here tonight. Take

advantage of them, is mired 5. -- Hardaker was that should have been

another six, but it was not given. I think they are disappointed.

Scott Dureau played at that, so we should have been back for another

six. If he has not played at that, is getting a little fractious.

There seem to be a swinging arm. There you go, what about that? That

is the reason why Danny McGuire is excellent position here. The first

drive forward - Dannie McGuire with a penalty has put his side under a

little bit of pressure as Ferriol will drive it in. That's 2, just

buttering up this Leeds defence. bops it away. Henderson gets it on.

Dureau with a kick to the corner. Blanch, the flier, and he's in - up

in the air. Down it goes. The referee grounding it... Could be

one heck of a finish. It goes to the air. Damien Blanch says give it

to me. He's on side. What a catch. What a finish. That's a try. He had

to go 90 yards. The second, he was already over the line, but it was

nonetheless just as spectacular from Damien Blanch. Mounis gets the

ball away. Dureau with a pinpoint kick, but what a catch and finish

from Damien Blanch. Dureau with a conversion attempt from the touch-

line. How good is this? Just not quite good enough. Hits the post

and bounces away, but Catalan still found Dureau. He's on his inside.

Dureau is back. He's lost it, and Greenshields drops on it, and it

was a knock-on. Greenshields make fabs louse break, Burrow, a great

departing coach. But it's very, very well poised, 14-12 in

Catalan's favour - 16 minutes of the second half gone, and this is

Clarkson to make real ground. A terrific tackle by Greenshields to

get across to pull his man down. Here comes Sinfield. Now it's with

McGuire, back to Burrow. This is Bailey. He's lost it. It has been

knocked down. The referee says it was knocked down by a Catalan hand.

That's a knock-on unless they Usually ends in bad news for the

defence, but not on that occasion. Here's Peacock. Again, with a very

steady surge down the middle again, and the offload this time. Lunt

picks it up. He's being sought at, but he gets himself away from Casty.

Hardaker is going to be pulled down - two tackles to go. Leeds

absolutely hammering this line - Lunt, and it has been lost. It has

been knocked on, and Catalan survive. Some delightful defending.

You run out of patience sometimes. He drops the ball, Watkins. You

have to say the desperation of the Catalan defence has been exemplary,

is Peacock, here's Ablett, swings it away. Blanch comes out with a

big, important hit. It just stops temporarily Clarkson. What defence.

The kick! And Ablett is there. didn't seem too much wrong with

this. Definitely on side. It was on side by about five yards here,

referee, and the referee on the field... Great kick from Sinfield.

streak away for an easy finish after a block busting run by Ryan

Baile, set the whole thing up. They score and score again before

Catalan can lay hands on the ball. What a run from Ryan, straight from

the kickoff - caught in - on the outside, straight right - the pass

of Henderson, keeps going, Greenshields knocks him off for fun.

He bangs Henderson, who misses him. Once it gets to Dannie McGuire,

nobody was going to stop him. What a try. Here we see he's off,

smashes Henderson off the rear - Greenshields, you're gone.

Henderson gets back to him, and he says, you're still gone. Danny,

finish it off, and he does that, a great finish, a great score from

Leeds. Henderson's the dummy half. Here's Dureau. Tracked all the

while by Clarkson. Dureau, Battersea -- Battiere. Three

defenders around him, so he's going nowhere. Stolen after the tackle

was complete. So the bonus of two of the Leeds line. Battiere

taking it in. Henderson again spinning it away to Dureau. Tackle

before the ball got there, so another penalty for Catalan.

They've got a chance here, but they've got to execute this, get

themselves back into this game. that's another one - the tackle on

Casty. Well, there's only so many penalties that a referee will

tolerate before he pulls up the captain and says, "If this carries

on, we're looking at the sin bin." cruel efficiency, really swift

hands and in the end really swift feet from Bosc boss -- Bosc, and

Catalan are back in this. This is but needed now because Catalan

needed something special in these last eight minutes. If Leeds score

here, they will deny the French side any hope of a comeback. Burrow

caught high. It's Fakir who has take the two. So Kevin Sinfield has

decided to kick for goal, and the reason for this - if he puts it

over, the gap is six points. A try and a goal would make it all square,

and if Catalan were trying to get a goal back, we might be into extra

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Pryce is on the field for the first has a look at the touch judges, and

it has, and Dannie McGuire might just have won the contest. The drop

goal surely makes it a gap too far. This was one tired drop goal, but

it does go over - two scores in two minutes - the finish from Dannie

McGuire. The history proves over the last two years it's horrible

place to try and come and get a win. It's big, that's all - the credit

to the players, the Catalan have been all year. Commiserations to

them. They had a fantastic season, but immensely proud of the players

and what they can achieve in adverse circumstances. Last two

weeks have been really committed. We have put a whole lot in, and I

think nobody has ever questioned the character of our team, and to

come down here, a place that has been pretty tough for us over the

years and get a result like that in a game where there is a lot of

pressure is a testament to how good our squad is. We live to fight

another day. It means a lot to us, and we do our best every week.

thought we were the best team in the first half. I thought we

dominated the game, but they hurt you on - on - you can't switch off

against Leeds. They're such a team they can be looking like this,

struggling, then all of a sudden some individual brilliance, and

they did that on a couple of occasions. They hurt us. We fought

hard today. We fought really, really hard, but a couple of lapses

and some class from them, and Damien Blanch, he had class for us.

I thought there were two outstanding tries, a great defence,

then a great put-down on the kick across. I think we can be proud of

our efforts tonight. It was disappointing, but I don't think we

could have done too much more tonight. Leeds were very good. They

deserve to win at the end of the day, but like I said, we're very

proud of the way we played. We have to recreate our own history. If we

were to go on and do the job towards the end of this year and

for the next two games this here will be a significant part of

creating that history, so we're no way just yet. We're in the bag for

the Clubcall next week. That's what we're pleased about. Does it matter

if Wigan choose you? Couldn't give a cow's tail. Brian stays in France.

That's what a play is like, isn't it? It was a tough game. Leeds will

have bumps and bruises. They'll have to get the vinegar out but we

saw an exciting game. What do you think helps, the experience? It was

tough. It was the line who stood there really stoical. I think they

kept up with the right players at the right time. It was a special

play from Bailey brought the game home. Controversy over Dannie

McGuire and his challenge. Would you expect him possibly to be

missing next week? I certainly think he has a case tooence. He'll

have to answer some questions. I am sure they'll be getting all the

legal books out to try to defend him.

Depending on the strength of his defence, whether he plays or not.

disappointing way for Trent Robinson to bow out. That's

football, and yeah, disappointing for Trent but he will take away

fabulous memories and leave a good legacy for somebody else. You in

for the job? The South of France, good wine, good food, good weather,

a great lifestyle - who on earth would be interested in that kind of

job? So you're factising your French then? No! Who do you fancy,

Hull or Warrington? It's a close one. I think Hull's playoff form

has been similar to Leeds, quite tough. Warrington won't be as bad

as people thought they were last week. There were some things they

didn't do. I think Warrington will edge this one but it will be an

edge. If Hull get a start and they start well, it will be a tough

night at the office. If they do get that start, do you think the doubts

will creep in at Warrington because their playoff form hasn't been

great? No, I think they have a lot to play at football tonight,

Warrington. They have to get on the front foot. Their loss of Westwood

for a period of time and Carvel tonight will hinder them. If they

have enough in the locker to get forward, I expect Warrington to be

strong tonight. However, Hull's pack are playing really well. The

back row last week was inspirational. If he can replicate

that kind of form, Hull are a real chance. So it is the Warrington

twice at home this season. But black and whites have hit form at

the right time and convincingly beat Huddersfield last weekend.

Knockout rugby tonight. Only one chance for Warrington are Hull if

they're going to appear in the proving a prolific points scorer,

the outcome of this match could depend on whether skipper of lynch

can match their Warrington Wolves forwards. -- the skipper, Andy

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just could not get through. The first time that he has touched the

the scorer of the first try, awarded a home player get a

fingertip on the ball. Lovely kick. And from that angle they certainly

all looked as though they were on side. Has Ryan Atkins touch that

ball? I do not think he has. Tremendous weeks there by Trent

Waterhouse. -- reach. And the video referee gives the try, mustard the

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delight of the Warrington fans. -- with the tackles. I think that is

the pressure that Hull are putting on, he is having to make those

this season's play-offs, but this the moment. They are, and they are

making them as the wrong time. When they are coming out of trouble,

they need to be conservative and put pressure on the opponents.

Warrington are going to get frustration setting in there.

not think there is anything to much in there. It is judge and

outstretched arm, stupidly. I do not know what the initial contact

was, but you're on report, a penalty. So, there will be a closer

look by the disciplinary panel on holding down there, no question

the frustration because they are not playing as well as they did in

the first 10 or 15 minutes. They are trying to hold on to the share

tells of this Warrington side. can see that they get on to Lee

the gap and straight through. The man who made the pass, Lee Briers,

is heard. That could be a bitter blow for Warrington if he has a big

problem. Pressure from the defensive line and an absolute

peach of a pass to Richard Myler, he does not need too much of an

opportunity like that to take it. A perfect pass, and great speed to

finish it on the far side of the post. I think there is a problem

with Lee Briers. It was the right knee. It looks like a dead leg to

Brett Hodgson. I'll Warrington good enough now to kill them off just

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really going for the kill and Hull time that we have seen it man to

come into the game with his left and wondering how he can break this

took the ricochet from the post. As the referee said it is a try?

has got this ball down, it is a tremendous play, because there has

beenat all in the second half. Definitely. Fantastic play.

fist goes up in the air and it is a try. Brilliant individual moved

from Stefan Ratchford. Hull have defended exceptionally well. Stefan

Ratchford looking for an opportunity and a great kick. I

think this is a crucial time for this Hull side. I think they are

looking a bit tired and disjointed. This is the time that Warrington

like to pick up the pace, with Joel picks it up. Just not been able to

take it - Heremaia just slightly there, the England wing, cutting

inside. We have not seen much of him tonight. Hull now coming down -

Turner, can he get in? Atkins is there, but did Jamie Foster get the

ball down for the try? Just sneaked forward, and Foster was denied, but

Hull still created opportunities. It feels as though they can still

get into that game. He just couldn't get his hand around the

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Ratchford rach, number 19, on his He has support inside - a beautiful

try by Thompson, a huge smile on his face, and the Warrington fans I

think realise that Danny's holding the possibility of any comeback.

Danny came from an offload, but you can just feel it's the way to

possession. Somebody comes out of the system, and great for Myler and

Hodgeson. He just manages. His head is out. He probably should have

been looking at Myler, a great pass the corner, beautifully taken by

Tom Briscoe, absolute class try - terrific work. A lovely play from

Houghton, jumps out and gives Heremaia, whose kicking game has

been good this evening, a lovely kick, and Tom Briscoe just slides

it into the corner. Is this try going to be a consolation, or is it

a comeback? Because Warrington have this Hull side battling to the end.

It is Briers - the kick, gets it down, or does Hodgeson get it down?

This will be very, very interesting - the video referee here, Ian Smith

to decide. I think he's looking for the odd instruction first and

foremost because I think he runs behind the lead runner there, which

does that stop the defender putting pressure on Lee Briers to stop him

being able to put the kick away? I think that arguably does. I think

this will probably get chopped off. It certainly puts those two

defenders in - you have a question, will Manu on the inside with the

white arm guard go and get Luke and stop that kick? I think he will,

and I think this should be disallowed in my opinion. Yeah, but

he's not even looking at the trace of the ball, so I think it's

Beautiful. Tom Briscoe is going for the line. It's picked up. He's in

touch - it was picked up I think by Cooper. A terrific effort from Hull

there. A great offload, but look at the defence from the Warrington

side, just there Cooper, and straight away, the players race to

the pack to stop the clock and allow them another opportunity.

They're not giving this up. I think they think there is a big

opportunity to get back into this game. It's unlikely, but when a

team has resolve like this, they're always dangerous. All credit to

Hull for this dramatic fight-back in this final quarter. They've got

nine minutes remaining now. Here they are going for the line. I

think he's in. You see the scrum - when you have an opportunity to

play the field, you put your best moves on - two dummy runners, a

great reach to score. Heremaia jumps out. Two dummy runners come

through. A great ball from Horne and a great stretch for the try. We

support. That surely is the end of all of this now. Warrington's hopes

of completing a Challenge Cup and Super League Grand Final-winning

double still a possibility after this win.

We came here with a genuine belief we could cause an upset, and our

execution let us down. We defended our back sides off, you know, two

fries kicks against us, but we got one as well from a kick, but no,

look, I can't doubt the effort. It has been tremendous for the last

month. Hull were terrific. They really worked hard through

particularly that first half, and, you know, it was a real good arm

wrestle there I thought, and, you know, both teams stepped up to

Rugby League. We learned some lessons from the previous week. We

felt we needed to, and we needed to make some adjustments to some

pretty decent defence. They have a accident defence, Hull. They were

solid. They come on the blind side into the playoffs. They have been

strong in defence. We needed to work out how to break them down.

Are you pleased overall with how the season has gone Yeah, yeah - no,

you know? It's a hard week. We were confident tonight getting a victory,

and it didn't happen in the end. I want to put things right. It has

been a big learning curve. Every one of the boys - there has been a

lot of adversity one way or another with injuries and different things,

and they've really stood together. I am very proud of them. Battered

and bruised, are they, in there? Not too bad. We've got a couple of

sore heads. Myler took a couple and Woody took a couple as well, and

he's carrying a broken nose around at the moment, but aside from that,

we're not too bad. I think we'll be in good shape for next week and

look forward to that challenge again. A very different Lee Briers

we'll see next week. Yeah, he's going into a reverse run - John and

Jack. He'll probably be a stone lighter. That was a war of

attrition, wasn't it? It got tough towards the back end, didn't it?

24-12 - Hull can take great credit from that, but we saw the qualities

of Warrington. They have enough to execute their plays and come up

with a win. How much will that have taken out of them? Not too much. I

think the euphoria of winning a game and being back on track and

all of those things, they'll get ready for a huge tussle neck week.

How pleased will Smith be with the defence? Very pleased. Half the

tries were scored from kicks. We saw another indication it was quite

a tight defensive game, but it was quite the scene for Warrington.

They held out towards the mid-way second half. I think they dropped a

ball and blew chances in the first half. You have to take your chances

as well as mind your back. We know Leeds and Warrington have joined

Wigan and St Helens. What we don't know is who plays who. That comes

down to Clubcall. Newt Neutrals generally in the main thing - Wigan

against Warrington would be the best and most apt Grand Final

particularly since St Helens and Leeds have had more than their

share in the last year by their successing Grand Finals, so Wigan

choose, not surprisingly, Leeds as their opponents in next week's

semifinal to allow the best chance of that happening.

APPLAUSE So Wigan have picked Leeds. I have

the coach that did the picking, Shaun Wane and the coach that has

been picked, McDermot. Would you have always have gone for the

lowest ranked team to come through? When we realised we were picking,

we were always going to pick the lowest ranked team. No matter who

you pick, it's going to be a tough team. We expect nothing else. It's

well coached. They have turned it over already in the big game this

year. I am under no illusion we need to be at our best Friday.

bet you watched them shrugging it out with Catalan. Yeah, I enjoyed

it. It was good, a good game to watch, very, very touch. It was a

real enjoyable game to watch, but I know what Leeds can do. They're a

fantastic team, and in one day, they can turn up and beat anybody,

so we need to prepare ourselves really well. We had a fantastic

week in the couple of weeks leading up, so we'll be OK if we can

perform anything like we can at our best, then we'll give ourselves a

chance of winning. Brian, I am guessing you weren't surprised to

be the team that were picked. I don't think it's quite as

straight forward. I think there are some decisions to be made, but I

think the - to not go for the lowest ranked qualifiers I think is

big news, isn't it? Almost their hand has been forced to a degree.

You know, just to echo what he has just been saying there, it is going

to be a big game. We beat them in a big game, and they beat us twice in

the League, so - I don't know how much that counts, you know, for

what's going to go on Friday night. Whoever wins will have to play

really well. There will be a battle Royal I am guessing here next week.

Wigan will host Leeds. St Helens will host Warrington, and we will

have all the highlights on BBC Two next Sunday at 5.00pm. And it's

just been announced there will be an autumn international series

involving England and Wales and France beginning in four weeks'

time, and you can watch it all exclusively live here on the BBC.