Episode 11 Super League Show

There will be a few bumps and bruises around the Super League

squads tonight. Two games in four days well have taken their toll,

but bank holiday put up another round of compelling matches. Giving

us their views is Jamie Jones Buchanan and Robbie hunter Paul.

Let's start with the top of the table clash, Huddersfield against

Hull. The Super League leadership was on the line. Huddersfield

remain top of the Super League after holding their nerve against

high-flying Hull. The conditions ensured a low-scoring match with

Danny Tickle and Danny Brough exchanging penalties in a scrappy

first half as the Giants struggled to break down Hull's defiant

defence. Danny Tickle edged them halfway, but that Leeds did not

last long. Crabtree crashed over from close range and the Giants

lead for the first time. Robinson was at it again shortly afterwards.

They opened up a commanding lead with just 10 minutes remaining. The

Giants finished with a flurry as Danny Brough raced clear to send

Joe Wardle touching down. The black and whites will be looking for

revenge on Sunday when both sides meet in the Challenge Cup. You were

at the game. 62 minutes until the first try. I think the fatigue

aspect came into this a little bit because the game it was quite

scrappage. It was a great afternoon. The Energy added to the nerves of

the afternoon. If you look across the board there were a third more

errors. The first game had 150 errors and on Monday there were

over 200. That goes into that argument about whether or not we

should be playing two games in four days. But for Huddersfield a great

win and they are beating the top teams. A lot of people were

focusing on the traditional big teams and Huddersfield have been

but they will be on everybody's radar right now because they are

the team to beat. They are playing fantastic, productive rugby league

and they are throwing the ball around. They are one of the teams

to beat. They are play attractive rugby. It was tough for Hull and

they went in with a lot of injured players to back-up that emotional

game for them. It is a tough period, the Easter period. The lads almost

sacrificed themselves over the Easter period. But the games are

not going to be as good a quality, there will be more errors, and they

were poor conditions as well. I think that was a great example of

an uncharacteristic game. There were a lot of uncharacteristic

errors. I did not know whether to laugh or cry as a Leeds supporter.

The lads were putting their bodies on the line to do it and it is the

same for all teams and it makes it more interesting. Briefly,

everybody at Huddersfield will be pleased that Nathan Brown has had

an effect. They are trying to do what they can. An Easter double for

Huddersfield and we can match them when they beat Wakefield at the DW

stadium. A terrific period for Wigan. They have come up with the

wins they have been after and they are a tough team to beat. When they

play as directly as they can, they are tough for any team to come up

against and play. Especially at the DW stadium it makes it even tougher.

When Wigan are on form, they look pretty impressive. They just put

their skill on show. They show some real consistency and real skill.

They are a really tough side and really physical. They take a lot of

pride in being dominant. The finishes are outstanding. They

throw some of the best players at you in Super League. There was a

quality gap between the sides. There were quite a few injuries as

well and it is an knock-on effect of the harsh Easter period. But

also Wigan had the big squad. When they go down to the second team or

even their juniors, a lot of them are of the highest quality. They

have got a good development system. When they have injuries, the

players come through to fill in the gaps. You are not just filling in

the gaps, you are adding a different element to it. It is high

quality. We have seen some miserable bank holiday weather

conditions, so let's get a bit of sunshine. Warrington Wolves

travelled to the south of France for their fixture against Catalan

dragons. It is as it often tends to be a fabulous atmosphere inside the

stadium. The warm sun is shining for two sides who have every right

to believe this could be their year. Nothing settled today, but markers

for the rest of the season will be laid down and real celebrations

back. Looking for a bit of early capital. Warrington's defence

having to work hard and slowing that rug down as well. Henderson

stands and weights. It is confirmed by the referee. That went over with

is a fabulous try for the Catalan dragons. The locals are loving it

and well they might. They had made a point this season of playing with

the rear expansive style and here it was for all to see. Darryl

real sense of the line. It is a try he has scored so many times over

the years. So close, out he goes and over he does. The Warrington

finger pointed for Steve Menzies. He is just about the oldest swinger

said play on and Riley scores. They cannot go to the video referee for

the forward pass. The referee is satisfied that he got over cleanly

enough. You have to ask the question was that a forward pass?

It certainly looked like one. Henderson wants to get up and away

again. Three defenders needed to make sure Menzies could not get the

ball away. It is touch down by Louis Anderson. The former

Warrington Wolves has struck. Completely missed by John Monahan.

Anderson is there to complete the business. What a time to score,

Fabulous work. Plenty of dash and dark, so poured out wild. --

support out wide. They love their celebrations in this part of the

done a terrific effort. There is double movement here. It is the

question of whether he got the ball down and that suggests he has not.

The video referee has made his decision. No screen in Perpignan on,

break, and then the foot goes down! Absolutely breathtaking try!

Wonderful stuff from the Catalan Centre! They're love every moment

of this! Once he has passed him, it is time for the celebration and

Darryl Millard with a score that really does put distance between

they are home and dry! The champagne has been opened almost in

this second half for Catalan because they are almost scoring at

will. The band are here to play support, and look at this! Steve

Menzies, for his second! There is simply no stopping him, he goes on

and on, and so also the Catalans reason why. Steve Menzies in

support and he still has the energy and the pace to go the distance. He

has been a giant of a player in something of a consolation if they

can, but what a day it has been for scores for the second game running!

Terrific support play. Hodge them was in support and Brad Dwyer,

keeping up the good work. But for all that celebration at the end, it

Catalan have 100% record at home. of spades because if the sun

doesn't burn you, they will be to black and blue! Look at that

contrast from playing at home and playing a wave. The crowd, it is

like a festival at their ground. It is brilliant and they have been a

They've just got better and better and the team that keeps winning

brings all the crowds in. It will be a big job for any team to come

in and change that. But you would be foolish to write Warrington off.

Everybody surprised at such a big score against a team like

Warrington but they will bounce back soon. Robbie, you retired, but

you are a whippersnapper compared to Steve Menzies, who is proving

that age does not matter! What matters, what makes the

longevity of Steve Menzies matter, he is that he is not just a great

athlete, and he is, he has great agility and speed, but he is smart.

That is a lot of things people do not take into account. It is not

just Bish and bash. That is the stuff that bashes you up. He is

smart. He can release the ball and he can support. He has still got

the legs because he has not been doing be ugly stuff in the middle

of the park. He played centre at one stage back in Australia as well

as he was coming up. He has been able to stand out and understand

the game innately and understand where his skills can best be used

and that is why we have seen him with this Korea. Leon Pryce have

settled in extremely well. -- with his career. I was looking through

some old coaching manuals earlier and I saw him in his Great Britain

kit and it reminds me of some of the things Leon Pryce has done. It

adds a bit of experience to a very strong Catalan side. It will take a

bit of time to find his feet. Warrington seemed to be coming up

with a lot of errors at the moment. Tony Smith has been complaining

about it. Every team has their highs and lows. They are going

through one of their low points. It is too good a system that Tony

Smith has for them not to have this they add some point. They will get

out of this and what, they will kick on. Nothing for them to worry

too much about. Richard Lewis is to stand down as the chairman of the

RFL. He leads to take over as chief executive of the All England Club

at Wimbledon. Maurice Watkins take over as the interim chairman.

Thoughts? I think it is a loss. He has done a good job. He has been in

charge for ten years. The sport has grown, especially in participation

numbers. We are looking at doing different things. Some very big

boots to fill. The Bradford Bulls were at Wigan on Monday, another

game against the backdrop of financial uncertainty, but the

Bulls have had a cracking season. Yes, when they are going through

adversity, these things can bring the best out of you and the lads

come together really strong. I gave an interview for a magazine a few

weeks ago and they were saying they are gaining in confidence and

starting to believe in themselves and some of the results we have

been getting only adds to their confidence and their performance as

well. It does maybe poll the team together but for Widnes, another

heavy defeat to. Yes. They've got off to a cracking start against

Warrington on Thursday and showed a lot of promise but their squad is

not deep in quality, and these weekends, two games in four days,

that will really take its toll. On the flipside, Bradford are playing

under a lot of adversity. It does a great job of pulling the squad

together because you feel it is No excuses for that there, he went

straight through the middle of a couple of people! Some structural

things that need to be looked at but they are playing against a team

that is playing really well. Let's move on to the Hull KR game and

Salford. It looks like it was probably half a decent game to

watch. Not a massive scoreline but some very good play from both teams.

Particularly Salford out on the bounce back? After the Derby?

very important because it never goes well when you lose against

Hull FC. It hurts the fans, it hurts themselves. Saying that,

going to Salford and to come away with a win, Salford are playing

really well. They played against the Giants and they are playing

attractive and positive rugby league. They are taking chances and

it was a tough game but the best team won on the day. Can you see

are over these two breaking into the top eight? Yes. The Hull KR

coach mentioned it was a massive win for them. Every two points is

like gold dust. I agree with Robbie, Salford have put some good ships

together. Apart from Huddersfield, I think they are one of the best

If they can keep some consistency every week, I am sure they will

pick up some wins. The referee was supposed to be taking charge at

Salford but was handed a one-match suspension because of the game at

Catalan at London. It was the second time the French official had

made the same mistake. A big game at the Coliseum yesterday. St

Helens were in town. Saints looking to bounce back and the Tigers were

looking for a third consecutive win. St Helens bounce back from their

Good Friday derby defeat Against Wigan with a hard-fought victory

over Castleford. Aid Gardner the jury was short-lived, as the

things hit back almost immediately through power house Sia Soliola.

The Tigers then coughed up possession, allowing Michael

Shenton to race clear against his former club.

Things were soon in complete control after Francis Meli

intercepted a pass to send the visitors on their way to their

third win in four matches. Interim coaching team were clearly having a

positive effect. Brett Ferres added a late

consolation for the Tigers, but their two match winning run was

Horrible conditions they had to play in but a really young

Castleford side, a lot of the big names out for them. He will be

really pleased, even though they lost. I reckon he will be. Taking

into consideration what has happened for Castleford at the

beginning of the season, loss after a loss after loss, to have so much

of his key personnel out and still to come up with six points loss

against St Helens, that has had a revival, I think it is showing a

lot of the things he has put in place. He puts in place a structure

of the ring for the whole of the club, not just the first team. -- a

structure will fame. The fact that the juniors can do a good job and

not take too much away shows the quality of the coach. A big deal to

bounce back and get a win, for Saints. Yes. The coach has put the

system together. A young lad, during the Easter period, they

started to use the full squad. As a young lad you come in with some

real enthusiasm and we have a coach that rewards that sort of thing. It

is a real opportunity for the young ones to come through and shine and

that is the case there. Leeds were beaten by Bradford on Friday, the

third consecutive defeat for the Rhinos. It has been a tough period

but the lads wanted to go out and earlier in the game. You can't take

anything away from their defensive effort. They've really worked hard

for what they got and there were some good skill in the end. Some

makes perfect with this sort of thing. Any young kids watching, all

of the skill that they see in some of these build up tries, it is just

three practising hard. And how key to have Rob Burrow back? That is

massive. When you have got key players like that to us so

dangerous, it can take its toll and having Rob Burrow coming back and

getting the line on, it makes a huge difference. It is not always

him that goes through. And this one goes down, this is not a replay!

This is one you must practise. Again and again and again. Ryan

Hall, timing, and to catch it off your chest is unbelievable. This

just builds confidence and that snowballs. How disappointed are you

in London? They had been on the back of a couple of absolute

hidings. The only thing I can say that is positive for them at this

time is the fact that the majority of the tries have been scored on

the edge of the field, so that means that the middle defence has

been quite strong. Leeds move the ball quite a lot in this game.

classic try shows of their defending, from Zak Hardaker.

is not a great example of Defence to be honest! They say, it is not

actually doing the job you want it to do, but Leeds are having to move

the ball or kick the ball so the only positive is that no one is

going straight through the middle of their pack. The defence needs to

be improved. Jamie, when will you As soon as possible, I will see the

surgeon next week and once he gives me the all clear, I will go in. My

knees feel great. I am getting back running, doing cycling and trying