Episode 1 Super League Show

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Hello. It seems like only yesterday that Kevin Sinfield lifted

the Super League trophy aloft for the fifth time.

Here we go again. The 2012 season is already upon us

and over the next 45 minutes, we'll have a comprehensive review

of the action from round one

and a few more things besides. Here's what's coming up tonight...

We are in Widnes, to see if the Vikings can make a winning return

to Super League.

Meet the Leeds Rhinos' man of many talents.

And three rugby league players, a giant egg and spoon

and an obstacle course.

Castleford Tigers go egg chasing.

We have three icons of rugby league in the studio tonight.

Not just the magnificent Super League trophy,

but also Widnes coach Dennis Betts and Castleford boss, Ian Millward.

The Super League has new sponsors and new teams and new coaches,

a couple of new grounds and a whole host of new players.

But here is a familiar old face to guide you through the runners and riders for 2012.

Previously in Super League...

# It's gonna get, it's gonna get It's gonna get louder

# We're gonna get, we're gonna get We're gonna get stronger. #

Leeds came from absolutely nowhere to claim the trophy,

but can McDermott's men make it six Super League titles?

You've got to get that emphasis that you can't live on being champions.

We'll be branded that all year,

but as far as we're concerned, as soon as we start, we're not champions and have to get it back.

St Helens are forever the bridesmaid,

but can a World Cup winner push them to the title in their brand-new home?

Hohaia with the dummy! He's through and he's over!

'We're playing in this competition to lift

that trophy at the end of the year. Last four or five years,

I guess this team hasn't been as successful as they wanted to be.

Myself and a couple of new boys and the rest of the guys here,

hopefully we can turn that around.

The Hull clubs are under new management, as are Wigan.

The Wildcats and the Tigers have new bosses, as well.

# It's gonna get louder

# We're gonna get, we're gonna get We're gonna get stronger. #

'I've been here for a while'

and had Terry Matterson for the whole time.

He did a lot of good stuff with us

after the relegation season to get us back to where we were,

but a change is always good. It's freshened a lot of the blokes that have been here for a while up.

Just bringing in new ideas and new styles of play.

It's made it exciting and I'm just looking forward to putting it into practice now.

Bradford and Salford - they've been there, done that, but both must improve to make the top eight.

It's been a long pre-season. It's been tough and the players

have enjoyed it, but haven't enjoyed it, because it's been so hard.

I think they just want to play now. Everyone's excited to get this season underway.

Will Trent Waterhouse be the missing link for Tony Smith at Warrington?

Oh, he's scored! It bounced up so easy for him!

Trent Waterhouse is in there!

Widnes finally have a licence to thrill and it's back to the future

for the Broncos of London.

We're going to have a go at making the top eight and having a look

across the competition, that's not out of our realm.

Nathan Brown has one last ride in the land of the Giants.

And is there a fancy for the French in Perpignan?

You don't go into a competition thinking you can't win it, otherwise there's no point in playing.

We obviously think

we're more than capable of winning trophies.

They're obviously the major goals, but there's a long way to go

to get there, so we build our own individual goals

and stepping stone goals, I suppose. If we can tick them off as we go,

then there's no reason why we can't be up there in October.

It's 2012, let the greatest games begin.

# Gotta move faster

# You can't tame this energy inside. #

Ian, a horrible opening question for you.

Is there one player you are particularly looking forward to seeing this season?

I suppose every coach

is always pinning his hopes on a youngster coming through.

In the world of rugby league, we are short on outside back centres,

in both countries, so Kallum Watkins is probably the excitement machine.

He looks bigger, he looks stronger. Reminds a bit of Leon Pryce,

but he's going to be a special centre and he's one that coaches will be trying to stop.

Both of you have been away from Super League for a little while. Has it changed a lot?

The game's pretty much the same, bit it's nice to be back involved.

I'm really looking forward to it, the excitement of the competition.

-The first weekend was very exciting.

-It was, indeed.

The pre-season excitement reached fever pitch as Widnes prepared to end their long exile from the elite.

The Friday night lights were shining on the Vikings -

and a return for one of the most famous clubs in the game.

The superstars of rugby league ensured that Widnes were always top of the bill in the '70s and '80s.

He's cutting inside! Oh, he's got it!

Yes! A try from nothing!

Offiah, there he is popping up inside and there he is going!

He's going to score! Oh, yes!

-# The boys are back in town

-Boys are back in town. #

Oh! Sheer class!

# The boys are back in town The boys are back in town. #

A high up and under.

Oh, it's hit the post! What drama!

And he's in!

Oh, a nice dummy by Ashby! Will anybody catch him?!

Oh, there's nobody on this side who will catch him!

What a magnificent try, scored from nothing!

This is a dangerous fella! There could be trouble here for Wakefield!

They're trying to get close to him. but he's over for a try!

-There it goes in the air!

-Widnes fans there, roaring.

A return to Super League for one of the game's pedigree clubs

and on this historic day there are plenty of new names hoping to find

a place in the affections of Widnes fans, who have long memories

of glory days past.

It's a new beginning for Wakefield, as well.

They survived the Super League axe last year and have a new coach

at the helm and 18 new signings in the off season.

In the starting 13 tonight, 12 are new recruits.

So, Jon Clarke has the honour of leading Widnes

back into the Super League, onto this artificial surface.

There will be plenty of talking points surrounding the 4G pitch

this year, as well.

But what a night for their chairman, Steve O'Connor.

So much patience to lead them back to the big time.

Chance to apply a little bit of pressure here, as well.

There is always that honour

of scoring that first try back in Super League.

Rhys Hanbury, stretching the Wakefield defence.

They look pretty well organised at the moment, as Cross tries

to plunge a little one further. Here's Danny Craven

with a little grubber kick. It's not dealt with!

Richie Mathers didn't put it out. Danny Craven has scored

Widnes' first try back in Super League!

Lovely weighted kick...

and real determination to get there.

Here's Aiton...

Opportunities available here, but good first attempt at the tackle.

But a good pick-up by Collis, as well.

Willie Isa looked to have him stopped at the first.

Widnes hanging on at the moment.

Here's Aiton... Smith...

They're joining up from deep.

And Lauitiiti!

Ali Lauitiiti!

Into the line with thunderous effect.

And Wakefield have their first try.

Smith with the early ball, Aiton linking up

and Ali Lauitiiti going through some soft defending.

That looked a little high-ish.

Lloyd White, the former Crusaders man at dummy half.

Widnes again searching back through the middle here.

Good offload, as well. They have got a bit of room for Ah Van

on the wing!

An invitation that was never going to be dismissed.

Wakefield's defence drawn to the middle.

The offload in amongst it causing the width out wide

and Ah Van with the try.

A determined drive. Another claim for high,

but the referee is quite willing to allow play to continue.

The kick has taken a deflection here!

Has he got the touch down?

Andy Raleigh will tell you he has.

Was there a knock on there?

Maybe a slight bobble.

And a grounding, absolutely certain.

This might be given, you know.

The video referee gives Wakefield, and Andy Raleigh, their try.

Kyle Amor to his feet. Here's Wood.

Kick's charged down by Cahill and collected as well!

It's not a knock on, it is a charge down.

And Hep Cahill, not the quickest,

but he doesn't have to be!

It's a thunderous noise around the Stobart Stadium now!

And Hep Cahill has drawn them to their feet!

Charged down, so play on.

With the defence going one way, Cahill was going the other!

And despite the pursuit, was always going to score the try.

Four tackles gone.

Johnson to his feet. Still a couple of tackles to come here.

Smith with a lovely delayed pass. And here comes Mathers!

It's still took some scoring from Ritchie Mathers!

But the pass from Smith and the dummy runs here,

opening up this Widnes defence,

and Richie Mathers is over.

Here's Kyle Wood.

Wakefield threatening to get a stranglehold on this game now.

You can see how close they are.

Smith with the step and again.

And the strength to hold off a last-ditch tackle.

They might have found a new hero.

Terrific footwork by Tim Smith.

And a very good try.

He will be greatly enthused no doubt with what he has seen so far.

Cross is in trouble here and it's ten minutes!

He grabbed around the face and his reaction might just have

helped provoke the yellow card being produced here.

Here's Kyle Wood.

It's like they're just setting themselves up again here.

A bit of bad discipline in the second half from Widnes.

Wakefield have taken full advantage

and are going to score again through Peter Fox!

One time and England prospect, now a Wakefield player with a finish

that makes sure his side have complete ascendancy here.

Wood.

Smith again.

And heading towards the right flank once more.

Still two tackles to come. Wood.

He felt he had the beating of that defence

and has done very well. Kept it alive.

Quick hands, terrific hands and here's Fox to finish!

It's a brace for Peter Fox.

A win surely for Wakefield Trinity Wildcats?!

The party poopers at the Stobart.

But they have done it with some style in this second half.

And two very welcome tries for Peter Fox at the end.

Dennis, obviously such a big night, but a disappointing result?

The players were disappointed,

they put in such effort to pre-season.

To get us into a situation where we can try to be competitive in the league.

But it was a massive night.

There was nearly 9,000 people and the majority of them

from Widnes.

It was a great night for the town.

the crowd looked fantastic, the stadium was outstanding.

Just to be back in with the big boys,

was a good night for the club.

How tough has it been to get your squad together?

Though you knew in March you didn't get money to get players?

Yeah, it was quite a false situation, we thought we had a head start

but you can't talk to players until September.

And if you've got a player at the club who's

coming out of contract, you're talking to him initially.

So we couldn't talk to players until September

and then we didn't get any funding until December.

So, it only gave us the ability to plan and write things down, but to action those

exactly the same as other clubs when they action their plans.

Let's have a look at it, you were pummelled in the penalty camp,

particularly in the second half.

how frustrating for you as a coach is that?

As you can see, it was very frustrating at times.

We got fatigued and we lost the battle

and as we started to lose that, we started to get frustrated.

That frustration came out with some real poor tackling technique

and we just got a bit lazy.

Rightly so, a lot of the penalties I have seen, some of them

were tough calls, but nothing I can really argue about.

And we should point out,

quite a few of your guys are stepping up?

They haven't played in Super League?

We had five debutants on the night from Super League.

We've got eight blokes in our squad that have been

full-time professionals for only 12 weeks.

So we are at a different situation.

Wakefield have recruited massively

and they've done a fantastic job in that recruitment.

But we've got a completely different picture.

We've brought in 16 players and two of them aren't in the country.

So we are just building something that's going to take some time

to gel and pull people together.

Wakefield did fantastically well on the night.

How key is Tim Smith going to be?

He's got class, Rookie of the Year Down Under in 2005.

How important could he be to Wakefield?

We're looking for consistency in Tim.

We talk about he won NRL Rookie of the Year

in 2005 in Australia.

It's been his inconsistency.

He can get what we call "loose" in some of his decision-making.

His kicking game I thought in the first half didn't apply any pressure.

He put his team on the back foot a little bit.

He's got some great skills, vision

and sometimes he wants to show the whole package in 80 minutes.

Instead of being a little bit more selective in what he does.

I was talking to Richard Hafar after the game

and he was disappointed in his first half.

And that's a pretty good judgement.

As they needed him to build some pressure

and in the second half he got that.

He's talented, but for them to be successful they need him

to be consistent.

Got to talk about your pitch, the iPitch.

Some of Wakefield's players have been tweeting pictures

of their knees and elbows, they weren't overly pleased.

I'd like to look at some tweets from the Castleford, Salford game

and also the Leeds - Hull KR game as well.

It was minus four or five degrees.

It was a pretty icy night.

How different is it though?

I think it's a fantastic surface. It's revolutionary.

People don't like change - it's different under the foot.

But, as a business venture, it's fantastic.

It gives is somewhere to train, we've got games on we wouldn't have on.

At minus six you might not have had that on.

It's fantastic and we've got to give it time

to bed in but talking about knees and scrapes,

this is a game that's played at high intensity with a lot of collision.

With grounds a little bit firm, you're going to get some scrapes.

In the other game,

defending champions, Leeds, kicked off their season

on Friday night against Hull KR and a winning start for the Rhinos.

But it wasn't easy, was it?

The important thing for Leeds with a World Club Challenge game

coming against the Australian champions, Manley, soon,

they've looked sharp in their friendly games, and they looked sharp here.

In fact, they look very tuned in early

and you've got to be like that with the World Club coming up.

I liked when they were behind, they had composure.

And they get that through Singfield and McGuire.

When Burrow comes off the bench, they are a handful.

Hull KR, two tries either side of half-time put them ahead.

Do they look different with a new coach?

They'll be new but they're missing Blake Green,

their stand off and that's had an effect on them.

And also their captain, so a lot of pressure on Michael Dobson, their halfback.

This is your man coming up - Kallum Watkins?

Yes, look at the size of him and they've done some great work.

They've been keen to get him on a five-year contract.

You watch on this next run,

he is very composed in everything he does, with plenty of ability.

I'm just working out how we're going to stop him!

If you look here, both teams had a very good kicking game

and applied pressure through this.

They've done very well, Hull KR

in their first game to take the champions right to the wire.

But a little bit of class, edge and composure.

A hat-trick try, that one?

And with the World Club Cup game coming up,

you've got to be up to the mark.

It's a special event in a couple of years time,

but it's the same pattern, McGuire, Singfield.

They are going to be tough to beat this year.

They should be, as defending champions!

Kallum Watkins was the star of the show for Leeds on Friday,

but over the last few years it's been winger, Ryan Hall,

who has led the Rhinos try-scoring charts.

Always one of England's best performers in the Four Nations at the end of last year.

And, as we found out, he's a man of many talents.

HE PLAYS "THE ENTERTAINER"

I am a jack of all trades.

I can do lots of things, I can keep myself occupied.

I've always been brought up with music.

My mum always wanted me to play a musical instrument.

So from primary school, I played the violin.

Then on to secondary school, I picked up the saxophone.

And others, the piano,

I never had any lessons in that. I just taught myself it.

I always used to be pretty good at everything,

but not perfect at everything.

So obviously I was best at rugby league, so that's what I did.

# Sometimes I get a good feeling

# Yeah

# I get a feeling that I never, never, never, never had before

# No, no

# I get a good feeling, yeah

Just looking back at last year,

at what point did you think you could actually win it?

It started off terribly.

From our standards, they weren't up to the usual par.

After the Catalans game, we looked at ourselves

and thought, we need to pick things up.

So a couple of games after that we got on a roll and it felt like the old Leeds.

That's when we felt like, come on we can win this.

Was that the motivation, people had written you off?

That was one of the main things.

We kept on hearing bad news about us all over.

So we used that as motivational power.

JP said it was his favourite run.

Because the way that it came about,

the media attention was all on other teams.

So we came from nowhere to win it.

So that's the special thing about it.

Gary Hetherington said it's one of the most exciting squads going into Super League.

It's quite a nice compliment from Gary,

because he's seen some champion sides coming through his ranks.

The Leeds youth system's always been good and we thrive on the youth coming through.

The older guys need a kick start

and the youngsters come in and it's a great kick start for them.

And it goes to Hall. Hall puts the foot down

and it's another - another! - outstanding finish by Ryan Hall!

A really good, encouraging season from the England guys,

and being a part of that team

who nearly won the Four Nations again...

We've got a good culture there now. It's been coming for a while now.

We haven't beaten anybody in a major tournament for 40-odd years now,

so it's along time coming, and we need to get one soon.

And I think this group of players in the England set-up

are the people to do that.

Did you have a wry smile

when the rule change about avoiding the corner flag was made

after all the effort you had made to avoid the corner flag?!

Well, it's a bit strange, cos you wait all year

and you don't get many opportunities to go in the corner like that.

As it happened, I got two in one game and three in the series,

so it all came at once, really.

I don't think it'll make too much difference.

But when it happens, obviously,

I know that I can elbow it or get in its way.

HE PLAYS "FUR ELISE"

You were heading for university. Do you expect to go back to an academic life?

Yeah. Before I went into the first team at Leeds,

I hadn't started the maths degree,

but I was ready to start that September.

So I had to ring them up and apologise

and say that I've chosen a different career course.

So I put that to one side, my studies,

but recently, over the last couple of months,

I've started an accountant's course at Leeds City College.

That'll take three years, and I'll come out the other side an accountant.

One of your party tricks is the Rubik's cube.

-Where did that come from?

-How did you learn that?

At school, I'd always been pretty good at maths,

and the Rubik's cube is quite mathematical,

so it's one of them things I just picked up along the way.

It's a decent party trick, cos not many people can do it.

What do your team-mates make of that one?

A couple of them were really impressed, Jamie Jones especially.

He were amazed by it, that I could do it.

The first time I ever did it were going to Florida in a pre-season camp

and Jamie Jones made me teach him how to do it.

So he can do it, and a couple of others can.

Keith Senior can now do it, and Luke Burgess, who's moved on,

he can now do it.

Beat that.

We've proved you two can't. You've had about four minutes there.

You're trying to change the stickers.

Dennis, fantastic that Ryan Hall is committed to rugby league.

It's sensational that he was given the opportunity.

It's great that we've got lads like him in our game,

and he's committed himself long-term.

Outstanding prospect. Outstanding player.

Well, not a prospect, a talent.

You didn't give me long enough!

-Do it by the end of the programme.

-Can I have another day?

Take it home and practise.

St Helens have been runners-up in the last of five Grand Finals.

They began their season on Saturday afternoon

against the new-look but old-look London Broncos.

No surprise in the result,

but London gave them a good run for their money.

Early on, the talent they've brought in will shine through the season.

How important is Jonny Lomax going to be?

Well, Jonny Lomax shone last year.

He's always been talented. You talk to a lot of the lads at St Helens,

and Jonny Lomax and Kyle Eastmond were very talented kids.

He would have played internationally if not for injury.

And Craig Gower - we saw a beautiful chip there -

-he's going to be key for them.

-He's a sensational player.

He's got a lot to prove but nothing to prove.

He's coming back into the game after spending time in Italian rugby union,

and made a big statement in that game, as well.

Jon Wilkin tweeted afterwards

-he thinks London will win a lot of games this year.

-They've got talent.

They've spent the salary cap and they're looking to invest.

The players they've brought in are very talented.

Craig Gower's a very good signing.

What about the rebranding for London, back to Broncos?

Yeah, I think obviously we could talk about the importance of it down there,

but if you look at it, when they have invested money,

they've been very good, with seasoned players.

They've bought some seasoned players.

It's a good time for them to get on top of teams.

When the field's a little bit wet

and they're down there in their own environment,

they score a lot of tries.

Michael Witt is a good addition. He's got a good kicking game.

Got some tough forwards.

I'm not looking forward to going down to London.

It was an old guy that was man of the match, though, James Roby.

-James Roby can talk about being an old guy!

-Compared to those youngsters!

Well, he's sensational.

He's probably the best, him and Cameron Smith,

the best hookers in the world.

They're going to be tough?

In pre-season, they didn't play that well and still beat us quite convincingly!

So both last year's Grand Finalists are off and running,

we've seen Widnes make their Super League return,

and there's still four more games to go!

We see how the snow settled on Salford's new home

as they entertained Castleford...

and whether the Tigers' pre-match preparations paid dividends

as they undertook our brand-new challenge....

while last season's league leaders

got their campaign off and running on Sunday afternoon.

2012 is the start of a new era in Salford.

After 110 years at the Willows,

the City Reds have a brand-new home in Barton.

Their first match there

brought Castleford to Greater Manchester,

and Dave Woods was watching.

It's a night of fire and ice

to usher in a new era for the Salford City Reds,

the official opening of their new stadium, the Salford City Stadium,

and they've come in numbers despite this appalling weather.

It's going to be a night when handling is at a premium here,

you would have thought.

Joel Moon has just pushed his side to within about 20 metres,

although those lines might start disappearing!

Here's Matty Smith

putting his foot down to score the first try at the new ground!

Matty Smith writes himself a little piece of history.

And he's done it well, as well.

Terrific pace to finish.

It's one of those nights, isn't it?

Find warmth where you can!

It's a barge and a hold,

and Castleford are going to be held up just at the moment.

Wants to play the ball, and does.

Spinning it away...

A little dummy, and a second attempt, and Richard Owen is in!

Well, again a couple of double pumps,

a couple of dummies kept the defence guessing here.

Rangi Chase laying the way open for Richard Owen to score.

It's not unexpected

that it's such a low-scoring game on such a cold night.

Full marks to the Salford ground staff

for actually getting the game on here.

Castleford looking to prosper. A little kick on, and a chase.

The chase is a good one! Josh Griffin!

Well, there's still a question in the air here for Thierry Alibert.

Was there an obstruction here?

As Griffin kicks it on, does he push away Jody Broughton?

That's the question that's being asked.

No problems with the grounding.

And no problems with the early incident, either. The try is given.

Phil Veivers, the Salford coach.

Castleford looking to get some control of this game, if they can.

Stuart Jones is held up only five yards away.

It's Adam Milner who's in at dummy half.

James looking to boss things again here.

Owen into the line. Just held on to!

Just grabbed a hold of by Joel Moon.

Here come Castleford. One final chance in this set.

Lovely little kick by Rangi Chase...

and scored by Adam Milner.

Well, the finger pointed. Milner was there very quickly,

whether he was offside or not.

the referee says no.

It was just clever reading of that kick over the top

and a safe pair of hands.

Well, they'll be looking for a kick here

to get it downfield quickly.

It's all about position on nights like this.

Get it in your opponents' half.

And if you can't kick it, how about running it? Here's Moon.

Offloads again to Patten.

Patten on the inside. Terrific stuff from Salford.

Terrific stuff from Salford!

Matty Smith with a dummy then throws it out,

and eventually touched down wonderfully...

..Matty Ashurst the man who was on the end of it,

but so many good moments in the build-up, as well.

Well, we talked about the conditions so often,

and on a night like this, how good a try was this!

Just keeping that ball alive,

the confidence to do so still searing through their veins,

and Matty Smith with the final pass and Matty Ashurst with the score.

Here's Milner.

On again by Snitch. Milner...

..still a busy character in the centre of things here.

Young Daryl Clark is up there at dummy half.

Castleford might sense they have something out wide here.

It's Owen!

And Richard Owen has the wherewithal to get over for his second try.

Well, these bright young things at Castleford are beginning to shine.

And Richie Owen with a brace on the night. It's a very good finish.

So, how many jokes were there about summer rugby league?

I think for us it's very uncommon to see that,

and it just shows you how we don't like it.

I've got to acknowledge both teams.

Their handling was really good in the conditions, and I thought

the attitude of both teams - they still continued to play.

That's what I was pleased about with my team -

their attitude and enthusiasm wasn't dented by the conditions.

They went about their business.

It was a good spectacle for the conditions.

You had to be there to realise how tough it was.

Dave talked about the starlets. Richard Owen got a brace for you.

He had a difficult off-season, getting in trouble, but he's a good player.

Yeah, I think if you look at... He's very raw but very talented.

He's got speed, he's what we're trying to develop as a full-back.

He's still new to that role.

In Super League, played on the wing

and having had a season out with a major leg injury.

-What made you think he can do full-back?

-It wasn't only us.

There was another couple of Super League teams looking at him, too

and we had to make a decision. If we were going to retain him

we had to help educate him and offer him that full-back role.

He has speed and he'd come up with some errors in this game

but that's part of the process when you're younger, to develop your game.

He's going to be exciting when the fields get drier,

and he's a good kid. It's like everyone.

We all make mistakes but he's learning on and off the field.

Dennis, what about Salford? The best try of the game was theirs, Matty Ashurst?

It was a tough night. You've got to take credit to both teams that night.

It was freezing, feeling your hands. The skill level stayed high.

They got caught up in the emotion. It's something that happened to us.

It's a big night for them, new stadium, and this is a great try.

Matty Ashurst does well. Matty Smith was there.

I think he's the key to Salford at the moment. He's playing really well.

The skill level in this try is so high and Ian was just saying

this side had done a lot of work prior to this

and looking a little bit tired.

When you're freezing cold, these are hard tackles to make.

It looks like a fantastic try cos,

because of the weather and conditions,

you have to take your hat off to the skill shown from both sides that night.

-What did you make of the new stadium?

-Oh, fantastic!

It's a great benchmark for people wanting to get stadiums.

Castleford would like a new stadium in 2014. Fantastic.

Obviously, they're looking for results.

They get new people come in. Manchester, big city.

We enjoyed being there at the Old Willows.

104 years, you said, and it felt every one of those 104 years.

-No, good stadium.

-Nice view to get off to a winning start?

Yeah, much of this weekend has been... There's been a lot of pressure on coaches too,

because to get off to a winning start.

We all realise we're coming off a pre-season at different levels with fitness and timing,

but also we're in a situation, we know it's a long season and it's a process.

Warrington and Wigan finished first and second

in the Super League standings at the end of the last regular season.

Neither made the grand final, of course.

Both were in action on Sunday afternoon.

Dennis, you were at the DW to see Huddersfield beat Wigan.

-A surprise or not?

-It was a surprise but...

Huddersfield were a great side. Very well coached, lots of skill.

They went there and because they've got some forwards that are injured,

they wanted to play with the ball.

I think it shook them a little bit

because there was lots of ball movement.

They were very confrontational, Wigan, but...

They didn't have many prop forwards. Patrick, they didn't think

he'd make it with a broken wrist, earlier in the season?

Good job... It wasn't his wrist that was the problem

when he scored his try, in the game. He come from a long way back

and this is another one of their forwards...

-The second one. The best one's to come.

-Yes.

Here, another good, well-worked try. Good breaks, good offloading.

A little bit of determination to get him over the line there.

From both sides, like he said, it's early in the season.

This is another really good try from Wigan.

And their substitution from Farrell.

How tough for Shaun Wane to lose this first one?

-Again, it's early in the season and...

-This isn't bad from a big guy!

Like I say, his wrist doesn't look too sore now, does it?

But it's a really tough, tough ask.

Michael Maguire's done a fantastic job, two years.

They've been, erm... They've been a bit of rebuilding there.

They've lost some players

and Shaun's got a tough task to match that but I think he's up to it.

This was the Hull-Warrington game.

-An absolute humdinger of a match, this one.

-I expect it to be.

Two different contrasts in their build-up.

In Australia for three weeks. Warrington had one warm-up game.

Hull had bought well on the off-season,

bought a lot of good-quality players,

and as we know, it's a big club

and these two clubs will feature in the top eight this year

and I was interested to see how Trent Waterhouse come on board,

the Warrington new signing, back-rower, you know,

he's got size and he'll suit the way they like to play Warrington.

I don't think Tony'd be too upset about...

He knows they're not far off the mark in this game,

and like we said, it's a long season.

They predominantly last year were the best attacking team

in Super League.

And let's understand, it was a draw, an away game.

So it's not a bad result but I think it'd give both teams confidence.

And a new Hull coach, Peter Gentle, Hull COACHES, this season.

Yeah, and I keep saying, game one's still about looking at your troops

and seeing what works for them, how they're bedding into your style.

But I've got to say there's some talented young kids coming through

this weekend that we're all looking at.

I watch Rhys Evans score a try late in this game

and he's a talented young player coming through the ranks.

And we're watching players, all games on the weekend

getting a little bit tired with their technique.

But I just think fans don't read too much into it

but enjoy some of the skill in some tough conditions.

-This was a beautiful try, wasn't it?

-Yeah, Rhys finishes off here,

and if you look at the shifting of the ball, everyone's...

The technique's really strong

and obviously he doesn't kick the goal from the end, but...

-Ben Westwood missed the conversion cos they would have had it.

-Yeah.

Just on Huddersfield. How much will it affect them

that Nathan Brown goes at the end of the season? We already know Paul Anderson takes over.

It's been a bit controversial over the last couple of years

because they keep extending his contract and Nathan decides to stay.

But this year, they just said, "No, it'll definitely be..."

It won't be brought up again. He's leaving at the end of the year.

They've given Paul Anderson the job.

So that might keep them calm and make them do something that...

Cos all the players really like Nathan and they think a lot of him,

so maybe a little bit of effort to get them to a final this year.

Now, what you get if you ask a bunch of Rugby League players

to take part in a giant egg-and-spoon race?

It sounds like a recipe for disaster and it might well be!

First up in this bright new series, featuring all 14 Super League clubs,

for Ian Millward's Castleford Tigers, this is Egg-Chasers.

'At the Coliseum, three brave Tigers stepped forward

'to take part in the toughest egg-and-spoon race on the planet.'

You'll be needing this, lads.

'It's a course designed to test the player's speed, agility

'and composure to the limit.

'So here's how it works.

'Three players will run in a relay up and down the course

'whilst holding a giant egg and spoon.

'The aim of the game is to complete the relay

'in the quickest time possible.

'Each man will have to jump, duck and weave around a range of obstacles.

'If the egg is dropped or an obstacle failed,

'a five-second time penalty will be incurred.

'Jordan Thomson with a look that would scramble most eggs,

'and he's the first to go as well.

'The flamed-haired flyer for the Castleford Tigers.

'A good little piece of concentration here from Jordan Thompson,

'despite his team-mates hurling bottles of water at him!

'Come on, Daryl!

'Daryl Clark is next to go, the young hooker.

'That's it. Good leap by Clark. And a good technique as well.

'Forwards and backwards as the artillery reload behind him.

'Underneath the sticks this time and a little couple of skips and a jump.

'Now, Adam Milner, last to go. Looking for a quick time.

'Remember, he can't handle the ball, otherwise five seconds are added on.

'A duck and a dive, a big grin. Adam, over he goes!

'Oh! He's touched it but he is in!

'Well, fantastic work from the Castleford Tigers,

'their threesome setting the pace.

'The only minor blemish here,

'just a little touch of the ball as steadicam shows.

'But a good time for Castleford -

'the course completed in 44.78 seconds,

'although with a five-second penalty added for handling at the end.

'That means a finishing time of 49.78 for the Castleford Tigers,

'already setting a top target first up for all the others to beat.

'So join us next time to find out

'if the next Super League rival can crack the Tigers' time,

'or will we see another scramble to the finish line on the Egg-Chasers?'

Given that you won, is that now part of the pre-match preparation?

I said to the boys after we did that,

"If the media asks you after the game what's he brought to us?"

just say, "He's really improved our egg-and-spoon race technique!"

So that was a bit of banter in the dressing room after it.

No, it's all good fun. It helps breaks up training.

We'll see how you get on later in the season.

Let's complete our round one review with highlights from Odsal,

and it was one-way traffic, this one, wasn't it, Dennis?

Yeah. The Catalan Dragons have been fantastic in their pre-season.

Very big side, they've got lots of talent in their half-backs.

In Henderson and Dureau they've got two players that are firing at the moment.

Look at the quality of some of the tries from the push and the pass.

Everybody's supporting.

They look like a side that knows what they're doing.

Exciting times at Catalan now because they've got a big side,

they've got plenty of French boys in there

but they've got players that can really play.

How worrying, this, for Braf, as they ended last season on a whimper

and they wanted to start with a bit of a bang, and they've had this?

I expect Catalan to be one of the real form teams of the season.

I love the style they play. They have some real stability

in their halves, like Henderson, Dureau,

and then they're big and physical team to back it up on top of that.

I like them. And they started the way I thought they would be

a contender this year. They were really dominant at times, Bradford.

But I was at the game today

and I thought they would be a bit of a chance

and they didn't do a lot of things wrong.

But the other team were just so dominant with everything they did

and Dureau is probably now, and Henderson,

they're really up there with the top players in their position

and they're a bit like a conductor.

They just get the orchestra playing at the right tune at the moment.

Let's get a quick prediction from you, Dennis.

Who will be the man of steel?

If you were to pick one now. It's a difficult one, I know!

Don't you know!

It's like Dave Woods having to do some more one-liners

after doing that 14 times! I couldn't tell you.

I think James Roby, again, will be one to look at.

Lomax again, the St Helens boys.

I'd like to see someone like Kevin Sinfield push through for it as well.

He was in running last year and he was sensational.

I hope he can put a year together that he can get a lot of credit

for how much work he's put in throughout his career.

Do you think there'll be a breakthrough team this year,

one we're not expecting to be right at the top?

Well, Catalans have recruited well.

To buy Leon Pryce and Vinnie Anderson,

they've made a real statement on top of their good last season.

It'd be great for our game, them pushing up there.

The two Hull teams, you know, they've recruited pretty heavily.

So there's a real question mark where they are at the moment.

But having said that, up the top there's a fair cross-section,

and obviously, we all aspire to move there.

And you don't know. Like also my team. It's a young team.

You don't know where the journey takes young men,

so it's an interesting season.

-It is the start of a very long road, isn't it?

-Yeah.

Don't forget to stay in touch right throughout the week

via Facebook and Twitter.

My thanks to Ian and Dennis for joining us for this first week.

The Super League Show will be back

with the highlights from round two, same time, same place next week.

It's good to be able to say that at last. Good night.

Subtitles by Red Bee Media Ltd