Episode 3 Rugby League: Super League Highlights

Welcome to Langtry Park, the home of St Helens, looking it to make it

through to the Grand Final yet again. Standing in their wake,

Warrington, the Challenge Cup holders. In the other semi-final,

we have got Wigan against Leeds, two other Giants of the game. For

all four teams, Old Trafford is tantalisingly close. Last weekend,

four teams slugged it out for the right to face Wigan or Saints. Join

and went ahead, but the reigning champions looked to her big players

last week, and the Leeds Rhinos got their victory. It was finished with

a drop goal from Danny McGuire. Warrington played against play-off

dark horses Hull FC, and beat them to book their place in the last

four. The visitors came back to give Tony Smith's side a scare

later on, but the Challenge Cup winners held their nerve, and they

remain focused on going to Manchester in a week's time. Brian,

any surprises from last week's results? I thought join and would

go closer, and that is probably down to the resilience that Leeds

showed. Some unbelievable tries, the break from Ryan Bailey was

awesome. They are a champion team. If anything, we were a little bit

disappointed with Catalan. But we expected Warrington to bounce back.

They showed a lot of resilience. For them, it was all about getting

real about this competition. lowest placed team was Leeds - do

you think this has run its course, because they always go for the

lowest placed team? It probably needs a bit of an injection. Maybe

add some more teams, if we can find that, because everybody is boxing

clever and saying, we will take the lowest ranked team. You would need

quite a series of injuries to the top teams otherwise. So, let's have

a look at it. Do we need to include more teams, or does it need to be

earlier? A bigger blow for Leeds is it, to have the ban for Danny

McGuire? Huge. Here's a game breaker. He has got the X factor.

It was obvious for me that he was going to get a ban, because you're

not allowed to hit people around the head. It was not as serious as

some I have seen over the years, but he will have to live it.

over to Leeds, minus Danny McGuire, taking on Wigan. George Carmont

grabbed a hat-trick, but the Australian centre has said he is

retiring at the end of the season, so he is looking for a big send-off

in the Grand Final. The cherry and whites got to pick their semi-final,

and opted for a home tie against but for the second successive year,

Leeds are looking to make the Grand Final the hard way. They have seen

off join and, and now they have to beat Wigan. Wigan are without Sam

Tomkins, but they will feel they have got the ammunition to blast

their way to Old Trafford. The unexpected omission of Wigan's five

star performer Sam Tomkins, because of injury, has caused quite a stir.

20-year-old Jack Murphy comes in for only his second ever first-team

appearance. What a test for that young man. Leeds were denied the

services of Danny McGuire, suspended for one match earlier in

the week, so they will have Shaun Lunt making a starting appearance.

Also, Rob Burrow is back. So, the Grand Final at stake. This semi-

final is full of pedigree. It could be a tough, tough game. Mossop

tries to go more direct. Three gone, through to go. And a penalty for

Wigan! It is within kickable range, but they might choose to go for

another set of six. Mossop is a big boy, and Peacock and Sinfield were

underneath, but they were taking too long. The referee has had

enough, he wants to speed the game up a bit. And Wigan decide to play

on. Pat Richards decided there to go for touch. Here comes Lima.

Wigan, having survived some pressure at the other end, are now

on the attack. Harrison Hansen almost gets through there. It is

given away! It is picked up by Watkins, who is surely going to go

the distance! Kallum Watkins has received a gift, wrapped up in

cherry and white ribbons, and he is not a man to refuse. Leeds have the

first try of the night. It is pressure from the Leeds defence

which causes the try. It sat up really nicely for Kallum Watkins,

and then it was just a foot race. No chance, they were not going to

catch this boy. Put it down to the pressure from Kevin Sinfield. You

will not catch this kit, he is quick. And Sinfield looking to add

four -- to add two. And they have a six-point lead, just what they

would have wanted. Wigan have come here with a lot of confidence, but

they have got to replicate their league form. Leeds are in this game.

Jamie Jones-Buchanan, upended by Thomas Leuluai, who has to be one

of the defenders -- best defenders, pound for pound, in the game. It

comes back to Sinfield, they are trying to create the numbers. Back

down the middle once again goes Jamie Jones-Buchanan. They still

have a couple of tackles. It is Burrow again, wrestled to the

ground by O'Loughlin. A look of frustration from all round. Leeds

have got some juice from the try. Smith goes out of dummy half, with

that live game of his, but it goes right down the throat of the full-

back, Hardaker, who returns it with interest. Leeds are starting their

set far too far down the field, and that the ability of Leeds to put

the kicker under pressure dominate field position with the quality of

their own live game. And though prepared to play it, with people

player interfering, so the penalty goes the way of Leeds. I have got a

lot of sympathy with the fans around here, we do not agree with

the referee on this one. A tough decision, but he is going to have

to take it on the chin. I think Kevin Sinfield is going for goal. I

might have been tempted to play on. He is renowned for his ability to

nail these kicks. Here we go, in the semi-final, how are his nerves?

Same old Kevin Sinfield, keeps on turning up, keeps on banging them

tough, chewing up the time, live well, with Sinfield. It's another

good kick. It is a 4020, from the Book of Kevin Sinfield. He has just

given his team head-and-feed inside their opponents' 1/2. That is a

Wigan who started the night as favourites, but Leeds are winning

the game, and winning the battle, as the rain begins to Port Vale.

They have five more tackles to pose some more questions for this Wigan

defence. They have done well in the rain, I am sure the Leeds coach

but he was taken down, but from a defences -- defensive line which

had strayed offside. It is another penalty for Leeds, and he is going

to go for goal. We will take the two points, says Kevin Sinfield.

Here you can see it, where they offside? I think they were. Finch

was offside, and it was the right call. So, the man they call Sir

Kevin in Leeds, with the chance to bang over his third kick of the

night, and he has done so. Three I'm not sure Richards was expecting

that. And they have given possession back again. This was a

great play from the Wigan team, but they just did not execute properly.

Finch nearly got that ball away. And Hock has put the boot to it.

But here comes Hardaker! Leeds have momentum, and are back inside the

Wigan half once again. What a fantastic season Jamie Peacock is

having. He is the leader, he is the but the defender went backwards.

Sinfield goes for the one point. They are not going to come away

from this end without something! Sinfield is taking them up in

stages. He adds another one to the scoreline. Every time they go down

that end, they're going to come the start of this second half.

Wigan are now on the front foot. Shot pass to Harrison Hansen! And

despite the best efforts of Hardaker, Harrison Hansen goes over

within a few seconds of the start of a second half! The contest is up

There's just one score in it now. It really is a tough contest from

Sinfield is under less pressure when he gets the kick away. And the

catch is missed by Murphy. Just a bit of a spill of the ball and a

last minute dip as it came his way. He is having a cracking game

tonight. And young Jack Murphy, thrown in at the deep end for the

semi-final. How good is Wigan's defensive line here? How good is

Wigan hanging on, but only just at the moment. Three tackles gone,

three to come. Wigan's defenders negotiated by Wigan's defence, but

here comes the toughest test of them off. Wigan's will snaps again!

The referee has sent this upstairs to the video referee. Did he get it

down? Has he got it? Oh, he dropped it. Oh, he has dropped it.

video ref has said no try. Leeds missed their chance, and Wigan get

an escape. The referee is going to try and calm things down a little

here. Don't start any funny business, all right? De referee got

involved because a few words were spoken after that tackle that

denied the try. So we can survive, but Leeds are lifted. My word! Look

at this defence from Leeds. Something has really fired the

Leeds team up. There is a determination that we have not seen

so far tonight, not at this level. Leeds were playing a strong, but

they are playing even stronger now. But it has been stolen. Wigan get a

penalty and a real lift. What could he do about that? My word, we have

a fantastic game on our hands here now. Fantastic rugby league. Leeds

are still absolutely furious at not being given a try at one end. Wigan

game. This is end-to-end. -- Lilywhites is having a terrific

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away with it, Ryan Hall. This gives Wigan an unbelievable opportunity.

He was going to give a knock-on, but he said player on. That surely

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was a knock-on. Of course it was a to Leeds. Wigan were really probing

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lead here. Here they come with which its! He -- Richards! Into the

corner. Something had to give. Something had to crack. That is

just the amount of pressure that Leeds have had to cope with. This

is the difference between leading and losing here for Wigan. Leeds

are still hanging on to their lead. Matt Richards curls it back in.

Wigan lead for the first time tonight. There will be many twists

and turns, you fancy, before the slenderest of advantages here. A

drop goal from Leeds might just take us to golden point extra time.

A try from either would surely win Jack Murphy. Penalty for Leeds.

This really has tested Wigan tonight. It's offside. He never got

onside, and that was the right call. This is a potential match-winning

moment. And who can bear to look? How many big occasions has Sinfield

found himself in this situation in their prize, and they will not let

it go. Kevin Sinfield is their hero again. The mercurial master, Sam

Tomkins, can only watch from the What a finish. Here comes the

countdown. Sinfield inevitably will have the last word. Sinfield's

boots were the story of the night in so many ways. A baptism of fire

for young Jack Murphy. But it is Kevin Sinfield who is the hero.

We have probably been structurally better than that in terms of being

more efficient. Sometimes it didn't look that tidy, but in terms of

commitment and the willingness to defend free a team-mate, that is

what it takes to get through to a final. And we needed to do that

against a very good Wigan team. am struggling to put into words, if

I am honest. Feel really down and disappointed. The dressing room is

quite depressed, because we underperformed in the first half

and in the second half, we played a lot better. But Leeds are a top

quality team. They have been in this position many times. It is

something we need to get smarter out. I am sure you were are going

to mention Kevin Sinfield's kick. He is a legend. But he gets put in

a position to do that by everybody else's defending. It was a nervous

performance. He shows very little nerves, yeah. I would not like to

play poker with him. When you have a kick that close to the post with

a few minutes to go, it gives your team and opportunity to get into a

grand final. The due try and draw on everything and practise what you

have done. But it is not about me tonight. There are 16 other guys

out there, the fans, the backroom staff. Everybody played a part to

get where we are today. The absence of Sam Tomkins must have hurt you.

He is a good player, Sam. We need to get Jack Murphy up to speed

quicker. That is our challenge. If someone drops out, we need someone

who can do a similar job, but if not better. Can you do it again for

another Grand Final? We have bought another Grand Final, and that was

what we wanted. We have not had a free weekend since the end of

January. So hopefully, we can have one more special effort. For sheer

intensity, have you seen a better game than that this year? And no.

It was an unbelievable game. It had everything you would want. The

players got stuck into each other. It was intense, there was

excitement, drama, controversy. It was one of the best games of the

season. There was much talk before about Leeds missing Danny McGuire,

but what about Sam Tomkins being missing for Wigan? In it probably

affected Wigan a bit. He is their talisman, a massive game breaker.

But you have to take your hat off to Leeds, because the way they

defended, they would have nullified most threats last night. They

showed the champion qualities you need to get rid about final and

hopefully when it again. Kevin Sinfield's kicking game was amazing.

It was likened to a rapier going through but. They did not quite

come to terms with Kevin's kicking game. But he would be the first to

say that it was a team performance that got them through. Wigan will

be kicking themselves at a couple of opportunities they did not take

St Helens looking to their seventh Grand Final, this is going to be a

difficult one to call, isn't it? This one is to close. I am glad you

did not ask me the question. I just think Warrington will be desperate

to get that monkey off their back, but as we saw last night, teems

with pedigree for getting to the final, and there is no team with

more pedigree than St Helens. They will take some beating. And so it

is, Saints hosting Warrington. Beaten Grand finalists in the last

five years, St Helens are looking to make it sixth time lucky.

Warrington bounced back well a couple of weeks ago against Hull FC

to keep alive their dreams of reaching the Grand Final. Watching

this one, Ray French and Brian RAY FRENCH: welcome to St Helens'

new �25 million Langtry Park back division. The present of Ben

Westwood in the pack is a huge closely matched. All week, people

have been trying to find a winner, but I cannot.

BRIAN NOBLE: Ire with you, you is not a good kick from Briers. It

is picked up on the 30 metre line. Flanagan, who normally comes off

the bench, but starting here tonight. The Saints pack taking the

game to the Wolves. Good ball from Lomax. Wilkin comes in on a nice

angle. St Helens winning the quarter-final between these two

sides a couple of weeks ago, but it is a different matter tonight.

Needed some support there. Last tackle... Forward pass. That's

great defence in the end from Warrington. They were short of

numbers on that side. Had the pass been executed properly... Let's see

if this is forward. There is a case all year, Tony Puletua. Wilkin

coming in at that angle all the term, but he might be better

advised to use his speed on the outside. Was that a forward pass?

No, says the referee. Wellens pushes it out wide. Oh, it is about

one! But the referee has given offside. By were they offside?. The

referee says so, and that's all that matters. Well, who is offside?

There is nobody offside there. I'm not sure he has got that right.

ball with Perry, he tries to soak in some defenders. He does so. They

needed quick ball, but they did not get it. Puletua, a Bateman, once

again going towards the line. It comes out wide, and is he in? Is

Makinson in at the corner? Remember, the corner flag does not count now,

you can touch the corner flag, under the new rules this year. It

is not part of the pitch. That looks like a try to me. Just having

a look at the separation between ball and hand. Does he dropped it?

I think he drops it. They look for microscopic things now. I think

that is a try. Yes! The video referee agrees. First try of the

night, Tommy Makinson. Good hands from Lomax. Too much for the

Normally they just switch the ball from wing to wing. I think they

have been a bit conservative because they have not had any

decent field position. That's probably the best kick of the game

from Briers into the corner, so now they get a bit of an opportunity to

put the pressure on Saints defensively. Good run by Lance

Hohaia on the blind side. Jones cannot get away. Another three

tackles to come. St Helens looking to get over that halfway line. They

have lost the ball! Play on, says the referee. Now, we will see what

Warrington have got. Hodge and gets the ball out wide, and that's

tremendous play from the full but. Brett Hodgson timed his good to

perfection, and Myler goes over in the corner. That was the error,

falling, losing the ball, giving Warrington field position for the

first time, and how they answered long ball. He has lost the ball,

but it went backwards. Another set of six. Jones going for the line!

St Helens now with five tackles to come. It comes back inside. Louis

McCarthy-Scarsbrook cannot get a quick play-the-ball. That is a

penalty. Lomax again... He cannot get through. What a tackle from Ben

Westwood that was. He had to score there. Oh, he has given offside

again. He is saying that defeat must be behind the line, that's

what he is saying to Hodgson. give you 1,000 examples throughout

the year when that does not happen. Those are tough penalties.

RAY FRENCH: St Helens trying to take advantage.

BRIAN NOBLE: Could tackle. mack! Good, short pass, terrific

tackling here from the Wolves. Roby goes for it, but he has not got

over the line. And Meli is in at the corner! The video for referee

must be looking at the touch down, and there is nothing wrong with

that. That is a try. Very, very quick decision from the video

referee. Saints regained the lead, thanks to that man, Francis Meli.

Well, there were a succession of penalties for St Helens on the line.

The one for offside was a tough one. Flanagan finds a ball from

somewhere, it is a speculator. But Francis Meli picks up the

speculator and finishes it. Good and it should have been there. This

is better. Makinson tackled. On the last tackle... Wilkin kicks. Oh,

that is about one for Kitty Brutus to take. He has lost! -- for

Hodgson to take. They have gone to the video referee. They are looking

at the offside. That's onside. Louis McCarthy-Scarsbrook, he is in

his face. I do not think he interferes with him. It is a try.

St Helens fans delighted. It is the 213th try of Paul Wellens's career,

sixth in the all-time list now. second this leaves the boot of

Wilkin, there is a problem for Warrington. It takes an eternity to

come down. Louis McCarthy- Scarsbrook cannot cope with the

pressure, and Wellens will not get picked up by Myler! Will anybody

catch him? What a tremendous tackle. Great run by Myler. Atkins should

have sent the ball out, Warrington had six or seven attackers. That's

a penalty. Good long ball out from now. Flick pass from Briers, get

sick to Myler. It comes to other left-hand side, with 17.. St

Helens' defence really been tested now. A try for Warrington would be

so precious. Good running! He must be in! Just before the half-time,

never a better time for any team to score. He does not lose it, he has

still got control of it. Downward pressure. Press the button, Mr

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defence from Warrington. Out went everywhere. Riley decided to let it

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will decide this. That has gone backwards. For me, that is a try.

Tony Smith knots. And it is a try. is beginning to boil over. It is

always a sign that they want to get at each other. I don't have any

problems with that, do you? I don't, now that I am not playing! Me and

you will have a practice in the car park. Good ball. And it is in! The

referee has more hesitation with the try. Tony Smith may be barking

orders down to the bench, but he will be delighted with that. Milo

Waterhouse. The video referee will decide it. Did he get that ball

down? I don't think there was an What a try from Waterhouse, just

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sheer power and strength. He beats consults the judge. Riley pick it

up in full flow and put it down. Great movement. Reilly takes the

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it is a try. Not a clean catch, but a clean finish. The unsung heroes

are the Harrisons. That will be a dancing for joy. I am sure

Warrington will now be looking for that wind. It is all over.

Warrington in their first-ever Grand Final at Old Trafford on

Tonight I thought Saints were just that little bit better than us in

some areas in that first half. I didn't think we were too bad, but

like last time we played them, they were that little bit better and

have an edge on us. We had to dig deep. I thought in the second half,

our guys deserved the win. When you score three tries in the first half,

you think you are in a strong position, but they are a champion

team. I don't want to pre-empt what Tony things, but I would have

thought he was pretty happy. In the second half, they were fantastic.

Saints are a class side. They play a quick On-U. But we were focused.

We were calm. People were calling us jokers, well, not any more.

Leeds are the Super League grand final specialists. It should be

quite some contest. They are terrific at this time of year and

they talk about that a lot. They have a bit of a formula that they

play by. It is good that there is a different team in their against

them. Maybe we can change that formula. Do you want to walk away,

or would you rather stay? Bid is time for me to do something else. I

have been a man and boy at this club. There are plenty of

opportunities that exist, and it is time I did something different.

Brian, was that the proverbial game of two house? It looked like it.

Saints battered Warrington in the first half, and you rarely saw

Warrington in the St Helens half. And then the second half, well,

they were great. They played the kind of football they have been

playing all year. They were confident. I was really impressed

with their big blokes, Ward and Cooper and Adrian Morley and

Waterhouse. They were worthy winners in the end. He and they

soaked up the pressure and came back at them in a way they did not

do a couple of weeks ago for, when they were are muscled.

You could see that they had done their homework on people. They just

couldn't get anything going in the second half, St Helens. That is

testament to the strength of Warrington's defence.

So, we will have a repeat of the Challenge Cup final. Leeds against

Warrington. Clare Balding will have Do you think we will get a repeat

of the Challenge Cup final, or can lead still it? We will certainly

have the same two teams. But this Warrington team look particularly

good. I take my hat off to Brian McDermott. The job he has done is

testament not only to his team's champion mentality, by his own

champion mentality. What will they have to do differently that they

did not do at Wembley? They will have to be on top for long periods

of the game. But Leeds don't lack flair themselves when they decide

to play. They will have Danny McGuire back, so they will have the

full complement on Dec. You would be foolish to pick one or the other.

I am going to make you, go on. think Warrington are looking very

confident and very strong. But Leeds have plenty of ammunition.

But a champion mentality and a champion spirit and the fact that