22/09/2013 Rugby League: Super League Highlights

Hello, and welcome to Headingley Stadium, the home

Warrington can choose who they play next. The coach says

Warrington can choose who they play the choice to someone else.

It is hard to get it right. As it had its day? I think so. The

structure who you are going to play

beforehand. I liked the old formula. What surprised you? I think Leeds

Rhinos and Warrington add two of the best teams. I like Saint at the

moment. You have to have confidence.

is full of confidence. Were you surprised by Huddersfield? They were

very consistent. The previous four Games were not high-intensity Games.

The night suited Wigan. I thought Huddersfield didn't play really

well. The coaching staff identified the areas and corrected them. So who

will join Wigan and Warrington? First, Huddersfield against Hull FC.

Huddersfield Giants finished top of the table, but were inched out by

Wigan Warriors last week. They will be looking to their big names for

some big performances. Ability came from behind to eliminate Catalan

some big performances. Ability came Dragons at the KC Stadium. They will

be aiming for Old Trafford in search of redemption.

Huddersfield have a second chance, but they must prove they can cope

with the pressure. Sudden death tonight. Hometown-macro are seeking

to make amends for their poor performance recently. - - Hull FC

are seeking to make amends. Expect Luke Robinson to be at the heart of

Huddersfield attack. The Giants are well fixed to dominate in midfield.

Hull have Jamie Shaul, and the experience of Kirk Yeaman in the

centre. The pitch at the John Smith's

Stadium is perfect. Perfect conditions. The chance already. Here

we are again. Still in with a chance. Already, in for a trifle is

top sensational. This was far too easy. One step, and he is away. Very

good defence by Hull FC. They cannot regroup. Unfortunately, they made it

too easy for culture. - - they may be too easy for sure. He was coming

too easy for culture. - - they may in, for my money. Bitter frustration

there. I do not think that is a penalty. Now, I don't think so. Luke

Robinson, lots of passion. Aaron Murphy, looking for a gap in

midfield. Danny Brough. Luke Robinson is in their the second. My

word, is a lively will stop - - my word, is he lively. No problem with

the touchdown. No problems from the referee. Already, Huddersfield

racing away. It was a lovely cake. - - kick. Can he get that ball away?

Yes, he can. He is going for the corner.

Lovely tackle. Nobody could get to Scott Grix. That picture says it

all. Hull have got to stop this dominance.

They are running well off to have wax. Oh, this is too easy for is to

- - they are running well off the halfbacks. Oh, this is too easy.

That is too easy. Just watch Miller. He has gone already. Not a very

happy Hull chair man or coach. They need to get there fast feet in

there. They have lost it. That looked to me to be offside. He

is offside. Just offside, mind. Only That looked to me to be offside. He

in shoes, only inches. You and I need new glasses. I thought it was

offside. So did I. It is a try. Aaron Murphy.

Some of the Hull fans cannot watch any more. Some of them, not exactly

grinning and bearing it, but bearing it. When you finish on a hiding, it

sits with you all through the next season. You have obviously

experienced it. Yes. Joe again. - - Leroy Cudjoe again. It is wafer thin

defence. Nobody committed to it. Nobody gave the support there. It is

pathetic to see, really. If you are a Hull supporter, you must be

embarrassed now. Danny Tickle. The forwards are seemingly lacking the

size of strength to break through the defence of the Giants. That is

good running, though. Hull out by. It is Jamie Shaul. - -

Hull FC are back. Easy onside? Yes. Yes. As a full-back, you cannot do

anything with that. Did you land any like that? I can't

remember. Support there from Robinson.

Danny Brough. Shaun Lunt. Oh, it is too easy. Luke Robinson is in, with

a hat-trick of tries. Magnificent. Does he lose the ball here? Yes, he

does. That should have been a knock-on. Just watch.

Huddersfield forward are rampant in the middle.

Good ball. Joe Wardle, he is going to go either way. Another try. Shaun

Lunt. Watched defensively how they commit to the wrong one. It is a

basic error. Just watch. That is just too easy.

Jason Chan, we will see him in Papua New Guinea colours in the World Cup.

He keeps using that little chip. Another chance and Robinson is in a

game. That is his fourth, the little man scampering in. It was attempting

cake from Danny Brough and Robinson followed in and finally he touched

it down -- kick. You have got to grab that. You have got to go down

on it. Lovely little kick, though. Balanced. And there he is,

scampering in, Robinson. He is delighted, and already, they are

Robert the 50 point mark. -- over. Where is anybody? Here they are now.

They are queueing up out wide. Leroy Cudjoe is in! His second try of the

night. Good support play and running down the flanks. Again, it is just a

straight, strong and determined run. Lovely off-load. Jason Chan is on

his shoulder. He spins twice, off-load. There is the money ball,

creates the opening for Grix and Cudjoe scores. He was looking the

support and finally it came, courtesy of Cudjoe.

Pion said the referee. Another set of six. Into the corner. Good try,

good anticipation. And Tom Briscoe touching down in the corner. Here is

the kick, it bounces off the chest of Robinson, and then they exploit

the space. Good finish by Briscoe. Luke Robinson couldn't get hold of

it. It is good play by the referee, he very quickly waved play on and a

good advantage to Hull. Kirk Yeaman with his 300th match

tonight, I don't think he will want to remember it, though.

He has got it! He has got it down. That is a great finish by Briscoe.

Totally out of the blue. Tom Briscoe in for another, his second of this

second half. And Hull keep plugging away. Again, it looks like a miss

cake, really. Briscoe chases it, gets above his winger -- it looks

like MS -- a miskick. . Erol Crabtree, the longest serving

player in the Huddersfield ranks. Erol Crabtree, the longest serving

And outside, Shaun Lunt is in for another try. So easy, so well

rehearsed. Then that short side. They are a different level, I have

to say, tonight. Every time they trip the switch, go up a couple of

gears and score a try from it. After tonight, Huddersfield can't

fear anybody. They are away a! Inside support. Oh, he has lost it!

Now, is that tried being given to Ferres? -- try. Is he saying the

ball was knocked out by Richard Horne? It would

a flick. I think Ferres is going to be

a flick. I think Ferres is going to back with

a flick. I think Ferres is going to bad smile will get bigger,

a flick. I think Ferres is going to with his 16th Super

a flick. I think Ferres is going to the season.

Good tackle. the Giantsmulti-macro/ oh, no!

Good tackle. Lovely flick of the

ball. And Huddersfield in a game. Craig Kopczak in for a try. Doesn't

make it come easy drive. Huddersfield march on,

76-18. Paul, after that easy drive. Huddersfield march on,

opening round, you said you We have saved our worst performance

for the big stage. They were white hot and we were not at the races,

and the scoreline reflected that. Luke, you will certainly have

enjoyed that. It is always nice to win any play-off game, if it is by

one point or any scoreline. We didn't put in a great performance

last week and one thing we have done throughout the season is if we have

come off a loss and underperformed, we have knuckled down and train hard

and put in a good performance and I'm glad it has continued. It was

the first 20 minutes when it was done and over. It was, and I feel

sorry for our supporters who came done and over. It was, and I feel

here to cheer us on and was still singing at the end. We have let a

lot of people down tonight with our performance, not only ourselves but

our fans, the club. It is going to be a long off-season am carrying

that Iran. As an ex-prop forward, you must be delighted with the work

of your prop Matt Ridley pack. Yes, we are doing all right with some of

the simple things we are doing. Four tries for yourself. Yes, I have been

getting ripped because I have only scored two this season. It is nice

to get over the try line but it was all thanks to the kicking.

The Hull owner has come out and apologised to the fans and offered

them a refund, calling it an inadequate performance and said

there will be a review of the first team. A strong set of words. Yes, it

is strong but it has to be taken in context. Emotionally, they were

drained, going into the game. In the context. Emotionally, they were

quarterfinals, they want against the odds and defence has been

outstanding. They had the challenge cup debacle against Wigan, and

outstanding. They had the challenge Saints are on a big role. And having

a home play-off, they just got in on their defence. It all caught up with

them last night and they were absolutely ambushed. They looked

tired and they were gone. So you have to put everything into context

before you say the performance was so bad. And it does detract from

Huddersfield, who can only beat what is front of them. They learned a lot

from last week, they didn't play that well against Wigan and their

attacking structure looked a bit different. Everybody blamed Danny

Brough for his kicking game last week but from a technical point of

view, it was very slow, so they were week but from a technical point of

on a lot -- under a lot of pressure. But they had belief in

themselves for being consistent all season and they showed it against

Hull, who were gone after ten minutes. Wigan did them a favour,

they had to up their intensity. Wigan showed them that the intensity

in the play-offs goes up by ten or 20% and they showed them the

percentages are so important, getting forward in attack and

defence, how you set a six off in attack. Huddersfield went back to

the drawing board and said this is what we have been good at, let's get

back to doing it. Hull had no intensity and it got quite

embarrassing. Paul said they are happy that they got out with no

injuries but he will be unhappy that they didn't give them many arm

wrestles. Hoping for better tonight? I expect more from these two teams

and I think they will deliver. This will be intense, no doubt about

that. I think Leeds are the second-best team in the competition,

I think they are better than they were last year, they have ball

strikers in the outside, especially with the acquisition of Joel Moon,

he is outstanding, but I like the way that Saints are building

momentum. James Roby gives you confidence, watching tonight, he

causes havoc in the opposition and inspires his team-mates. So, again

we are so used to seeing at Old Trafford, for the last six grand

finals have been between Leeds and St Helens. The reigning champions

suffered an uncharacteristic defeat last week as they were

steam-rollered by the ruthless Warrington Wolves. They will be

hoping to bounce back and show why they are the play-off specialist. St

Helens are resurgent and easily saw of Hull KR, and James Roby was key

for Nathan Brown's side and they Saints will be looking to the fit

again England hooker for another inspirational performance.

They are certainly no strangers to this big occasion. It is a rivalry

that has been fuelled by some famous final showdowns in recent years, but

this year, only one of these two can make Old Trafford. In the regular

season for St Helens, and under -- an underwhelming time of it but

James Roby is very influential, at the heart of everything that takes

in this side. Leeds are looking to bounce back after that disappointing

in this side. Leeds are looking to show against Warrington last week,

led by their skipper Kevin Sinfield. Rob Burrow was outstanding

last week, especially in the first half. The redoubtable Jamie Peacock

leading the charge in the early stages.

It is a quick paced game at the moment. Final tackle.

The penalty has been given here. There might have been some

interference with Ryan Hall. Yes, you have to give him a free pack.

You can be in his running line but not grab his shirt. What an

opportunity for Leeds. Five tackles to have a real hammer at the St

Helens line. They have still got plenty of

tackles in the bank here. Buchanan calling for it, and gets

it. The St Helens defence had it read again. Good defending on their

own line. But Leeds have one tackle left. Sinfield with a little chip.

It is called easy enough, but such is the flight that he is tackled

back into his own area. I want to see the replay, because he catches

it in the field of play and stays in the field of play and the ball

touches in the field of play. It is a tough call against St Helens.

He might have found a channel here. Hardacre. Leeds have covered some

distance here. Sinfield. This is all quality. Good skills on

show. One team will crack, but they are both committed to not being that

one. This is a huge obstacle in getting to Old Trafford. Get over

this, and there will be another one to go. Lomax, Francis Meli life. - -

Meli. Saint Helen 's beginning to move

inside the Leeds half. The elbows hit the ground.

Therefore, it is a penalty. That is a tough one. The end result is a

penalty for Leeds. However just or unjust that might be. Saint Helens

have got some defending to do here. McGuire to Sinfield.

Interference, the referee has said. It is a close call. Leave to get the

benefit. This is McGuire. Now Ablett. He cannot get the ball away.

Kirk-macro. Their defence is working. 20 minutes

gone, and no points. This is a penalty. Zak Hardaker find some

space to run. That was great by Sinfield. Look at his balance.

Sinfield, Delaney. McGuire. Now it is Ablett. With 18 minutes of the

first half remaining, this is a very decent position lead to find

themselves in here. The referee had a really good look there and

decided. Here comes Turner. Tom Makinson has a chance to make

inroads. James Roby is there. Roby picks it up. Willie Manu is

tearing a hole in that Leeds defence again. They are working hard.

McCarthy Scarsbrook close, but no cigar. Nearly half an hour played.

Still most got. - - still no score. The ball is in play continuously.

Apple is doing well. The referee says to play on. Rob Rose gets the

ball away. Sutcliffe. He is looking to isolate. McGuire keeps it going

for Leeds here. Saint Helens stretched, but hanging on.

They are playing at breakneck speed. That affects decision-making.

Leeds are stepping it up here. In a game without points thus far, they

have come closer in the last couple of minutes on either side have so

far. Here comes Rob Burrow. Back to Zak Hardaker. Kallum Watkins. He

twists and turns. If he has scored, that is the first try. He has gone

down with pressure there. The video referee says it is. Kallum Watkins.

A very good try. The coaches are happy man.

He is the best kicker of the super league season in terms of

percentages. Good position here. Plenty of space

for Rob Burrow. A terrific catch from Tom Makinson. Bankers Zak

Hardaker. - - back those of Zak Hardaker.

If it is on the line, it is the try. That is a try. It is on the line for

If it is on the line, it is the try. is what it is a try. - - it is on

the line. It is a try. No try. He is saying he has lost the grip.

Erol Crabtree is here. How do you reflect on last night? It is very

surreal. We were expecting a very tough encounter, a bit like the one

on show tonight. It wasn't the case. Everything went our way. Policy and

offer much resistance - - LFC didn't offer much resistance. It is a great

offer much resistance - - LFC didn't game so far. It could go either way.

We will go to the second half. Plenty of space form of wire to make

the cake. - - plenty of space form acquire to make the cake.

Here is McGuire. It is an easy try. Quick thinking. Quick footwork. A

quick start of the second half I Leeds, who leads now by eight

points. Kevin Sinfield successful conversion

means that Leeds are in the lead by ten points to nil.

A penalty. Two errors in a row here by Leeds. It is giving Saint Helens

A penalty. Two errors in a row here a chance.

Willie Manu, through the gap. That is what Saint Helens needed. Short

passing but straight running. Jordan Turner looking to narrow the gap.

Leeds are leading by only four points. He is Watkins. He has lost

the ball. Here comes Lomax. He spins as well.

Ryan Hall gets hold of him. But St Helens have got momentum, and they

have got the belief. James Roby up quickly. Leeds

defenders swarming around Tony Puletua. It is short of the line.

Willie Manu off-loads, intercepted by the fly-half but from an offside

position. Willie Manu was under pressure, sometimes you have got to

take risks. They were offside, he had the get out clause if it didn't

work. The kind of fatigue this situation

creates very often leads to a try from the attacking side. But you

don't make tries when you throw the ball away. That was out of character

from James Roby. It releases the pressure, Leeds were begging for

mercy. Nothing wrong with the kick, that

was a fantastic kit. Up they get. Lomax, Adam Swift drops it. The

referee says it was knocked on. Adam Swift might just have made a huge

blunder. I didn't think he needed to pass it. He put the young kid under

pressure but he didn't respond to the past. That is a scary face! He

certainly thought it went backwards. Watkins has knocked it on and St

Helens are given a reprieve. That is an absolute shocker. And it

has given Leeds position back again. St Helens had them on the ropes

here. Sutcliffe scooped it up. One-on-one,

I think this will be a St Helens... I take it back, he does get his hand

on there, so it is feeding for the Saints.

Paul Wellens was caught high as he took it in, so a penalty for St

Helens further downfield. We are into the final ten minutes and we

still have a game to be decided. Still four tackles to go. Willie

Manu is there a gain on a run to the line! Hardaker cannot hold him up.

St Helens A-level, with a kick to come. It might be the gamebreaker.

-- are level. Willie Manu sees daylight and you are not going to

stop him there. Nathan Brown knows that that is a very important

moment. St Helens would have had the lead

for the first time but Turner has put it wide. It is 10-10.

Sinfield's restart has gone too long. It is a penalty on the halfway

line. Do they go for goal? A lot of calculations to be made. I think

they will kick it out. They have just scored, they need to keep the

pressure on. They had the opportunity to go the goal, but 50

yard said, it would have been a massive ask.

There is another ball on the field. I thought he was given a penalty.

They will just try down the middle. James Roby with a short pass. Trying

to get over. Held up. Tackled four, underneath the posts.

Jon Wilkin misses the drop goal attempt by a long way. The set-up

was perfect, it is just the execution. Great pressure from

Leeds, he just doesn't get it straight.

What a huge effort from Peacock. Here comes Carl Ablett. Leeds are

rolling into position. McCarthy-Scarsbrook makes the

tackle, that is the fifth. Maguire with a drop kick! Maguire

with a goal. -- Danny McGuire. This is an excellent kick. They look like

they are going to run it but Danny McGuire has been there and done it

and knew what was needed. Peacock lost it, got it back. Surely

there was a St Helens hand on that but the referee eventually says back

to tackle one. Ablett breaks. 15 seconds to go. Leeds are not going

to risk everything. Hold it tight and drive it in. You can hear the

South Stand counting down the clock. Sinfield picks it up. Why has he

kicked it? St Helens have it but the Ghouta sounds. The referee has

already called it -- the Ghouta. Leeds live to fight another day, St

Helens's season has ended but what a fight they gave us. It was an epic

game and obviously, we Helens's season has ended but what a

fight they gave us. It was didn't find that we were the winners right

until the last minute. A big game, a huge effort by both teams and the

Saints just tipped everything into that and threw everything at us, as

did we. I know Saints will be very disappointed, but I don't think they

should be ashamed of anything that was done for some it has been a

great finish for the year and we have been in their situation with

the injuries this year and it is a shame one of us has to go out. It is

heartbreaking to go down like we did, but on the other side, the guys

can feel super proud of their effort. It was a great game and

everyone will talk about it being the best game of the year, but

everyone will talk about it being unfortunately for us, you lose and

you are out and fortunately for Leeds, they are celebrating. We came

within an inch of winning the game. One of the big moments obviously. I

am a second row playing half-back, my drop goal attempts, juxtaposed to

Danny McGuire 's, who is a half-back. Personally, that is

difficult to take, because that was the difference. You expect these

games to be tough and it can come down to a drop goal and I realised

Kevin was going to be under pressure, so I put by itself into a

position she, shut my eyes and it went over. It was one of the

toughest games I have been involved in and the Saints were very tough,

we had to be very tough mentally. That was a bit more like it. It was

an outstanding game and Leeds showed That was a bit more like it. It was

why they have been champions, it could have gone either way, the

quality was there, it was frantic and the desperation was there,

everything we wanted. They are distraught, St Helens, but they can

everything we wanted. They are be mighty proud as well. It was a

fine line, it was probably their best performance but there are some

key areas where they lack consistency. Leeds are the masters

of the kicking game and Saints will probably wish they could have stuck

to what they are good at, kicking in the corner and building pressure

that way. Both of the fullbacks were outstanding, returning the ball

under extreme pressure and a great kick - chase game. We have seen

skill, everything. Wipe-out that game from yesterday, this is what

rugby league is about. Lovely composure from Danny McGuire.

Everybody was looking to Kevin Sinfield, but up popped Danny

McGuire. People do not want to come up with an error, but Danny McGuire

has been there and done it. Sinfield was under pressure from the charge

down so he gave it to Danny McGuire. I thought he would run it

but he calmly potted it, and that is the difference, you only get that

but he calmly potted it, and that is through experience and Leeds have

that. Nathan Brown was talking about all of the changes they have made

and maybe that came to pass, they had a second row in at half-back. A

couple of times there, some of their key players have not played a lot of

minutes and the intensity of the game probably told, but they came up

with two training ground practice routines that they perfected. That

was exquisite, the way they exposed Leeds. They do not have a lot to

regret, there was nothing between them, but the team that held their

nerve a little bit more was Leeds and they got it slightly.

So round two bring you up-to-date with this season's progression to

Old Trafford. It is the end of the season for whole and St Helens. --

41. The Rhinos are available for clubcall selection and as many

predicted, Warrington shows Huddersfield, so we can will play

Leeds. You can see highlights next Sunday on BBC Two from 5pm. And it

is just over one month until the Rugby league World Cup. It all kicks

off on Saturday the 26th of October, Australia against England, 2pm on

BBC One and BBC One HD. Then we switched to Wales against Italy at

4:30pm on BBC Two and BBC Two HD. There is live coverage across BBC TV

and radio and online throughout Next week, we want to see a lot more of

this and not a lot of what we saw week, we want to see a lot more of

with Huddersfield and Hull. The intensity increases and the stakes

become higher and these two teams showed what it is all about. There

was nothing between them, it was gripping and the skills level were

awesome, and they were putting their bodies on the line, prompting

defensive errors. It wasn't all about attack. And I think we will

see that next week. The champions march on, will they get to Old

Trafford yet again? We will find out next week. From Ian and me, goodbye.