Episode 2 Super League Show

.

Hello. Super League 17 is little more than a week old

and we've already had enough talking points

to keep us going for the entire summer.

We'll get through as many of them as we can over the next 45 minutes

and we'll have a complete round-up

of all six matches played in Round Two. Here's what's coming up.

Two of Super League's superpowers face off

in a Saturday special at Wigan.

Talking heads. We meet the new coaches making their mark in Hull.

And hold on tight.

The Warrington Wolves are the latest team to go egg-chasing.

We have representatives of Wigan and St Helens in the studio with us.

Between them, they've kicked more than 600 goals in Super League.

Pat Richards of Wigan has 601. Saints' Jon Wilkin...

But we'll move on, shall we, Jon?

Because Saturday night saw undoubtedly the biggest fixture of the season so far,

Wigan versus Leeds,

a genuine clash of the titans.

Oh, here's an opportunity. Look at the speed on this lad, and he's...

What a magnificent try!

There he goes!

Unbelievable!

Here it comes! Wigan looking to strike again!

Laverty too!

Oh!

This is going to be the try of the season!

That was absolutely sensational!

This is a champion side!

And Martin Offiah trying to make some space!

Martin Offiah, he's got Alan Tait to beat

on the outside! He's going the full length!

That is one sensational try!

For the first time in a long time,

English coaches in charge of both these clubs

for this most traditional of fixtures.

The young centre Jack Hughes starts for Wigan

in the absence of the injured George Carmont.

Leeds haven't lost a game

since that Challenge Cup final defeat to Wigan last August.

Kallum Watkins misses out with a wrist injury.

Weller Hauraki comes into the side.

And carrying on in the spirit of j'accuse...!

It's the Frenchman Thierry Alibert, our referee tonight.

There's McIlorum.

Wigan sensing maybe an opportunity growing here.

Certainly close enough. Hock with the offload.

Tomkins involved again.

And Wigan keeping it alive here.

Hock with the drive.

Four to put him down.

Here's McIlorum. Wants to get on with it.

Wigan within sight.

Here's O'Loughlin. Good hands to Charnley!

And Josh Charnley might just have scored the first of the night.

WHISTLE BLOWS

Or has he?

They're looking for obstruction here

in the build-up to this try.

Now have a look at the dummy runner.

Was Jamie Jones-Buchanan taken out of defence here?

Finch with the ball away,

and Jones-Buchanan was hit.

And the video referee has decided it was an obstruction. No try!

That's raised a few questions.

Move! Get in!

There's Finch.

Four! Move!

Hughes.

He looked reasonably impressive so far tonight, the youngster.

Certainly an athletic build.

Here's Tomkins now, takes a couple of players out with the angle of his run

and Charnley putting the foot down,

looking for the line, this time inside Brent Webb,

and Charnley by the sticks.

Not happy with the involvement of Lee Smith at the end of it.

But the try given on this occasion.

That's a little bit naughty in the in-goal area.

But Josh Charnley has his try

and it came on the back of some very good work by Sam Tomkins here,

drawing two defenders in. Good centre play by Goulding,

and a very smart finish by the Wigan winger.

Although he wasn't happy with Lee Smith.

Shaun Wane looking for his first win as Wigan coach, of course,

after that surprise defeat to Huddersfield last week.

Here's McIlorum.

Tomkins again involved, and Tomkins ripping a hole in that Leeds defence

and laying it on a plate for Charnley to get a second!

Might have had a hat-trick already tonight, but for the video referee,

but he does have two.

And they have both come courtesy of some very good play by Sam Tomkins.

Charnley with the simplest of finishes.

Move! It's out!

Here's McIlorum.

Oh, and it's been dropped.

Leapt on by Harrison Hansen with a line,

not quite at his mercy,

but certainly begging to be questioned by that Wigan attack.

Jones-Buchanan taking it away.

This was the moment, this was the moment, and as he drops it,

Leeds make a break here. It's Ryan Hall

and Burrow kicks it on.

It's given us a forward pass

when Burrow would have fancied his chances of scoring.

And that's a harsh decision. It's a very harsh decision.

Frustration for Leeds, and Ryan Hall.

It remains 12-nil.

There's McIlorum.

Looked a little high, and was.

Darrell Griffin and Jamie Peacock maybe both guilty

of taking the player higher than they should have done.

My word, there was a bit of a crunch there, wasn't there?

So the penalty goes Wigan and Tuson's way,

and a chance for Pat Richards to extend the lead here.

12-nil at the moment,

this to make it a three-score lead that Wigan have.

14 points to nil. The task is getting harder for Leeds here.

Wigan are grinding it out, and young and old alike

will be enjoying what they're seeing if they're watching in Wigan colours.

Move it!

Hold!

Robbie Burrow, into the marshalling position.

Slipped back on the inside by Kevin Sinfield, and Webb in support!

Wigan's defence was smart enough, but they're under pressure here.

It's Leeds's turn to pose a question.

The drive by Griffin! Darrell Griffin!

Has he got this down?

The referee says he has

and Leeds are back in the game.

Sheer determination here from Darrell Griffin, and the try was his reward.

And a coach who will have appreciated that.

So Leeds right back in contention here.

Another try quickly, and it's a very different storyline here tonight.

Move! Hold, hold.

Struggled to find their poise at times, but here they are

with a real chance to grasp themselves back in the game.

Griffin with the offload on Webb!

Well, almost a tryline at his mercy, even from 80 yards out,

because there was nobody home,

and this stocked Griffin with a great offload

but Webb couldn't keep hold and a try goes a-begging.

Here's Peacock.

So they've had their chances here.

It's a question of keeping their mojo when it matters. And Hall again!

Another one spilt by Leeds.

Moving it wide, and Hauraki with the overlap on the outside

couldn't keep hold, couldn't get it away.

And Leeds miss a very good opportunity again.

Here's Richards.

Wigan looking for this centre ground once more,

and out wide, here's O'Loughlin and Goulding.

Good offload from Goulding.

Hat-trick for Josh Charnley!

The simplest of the night, as far as he's concerned.

But great hands in the build-up, not least from Goulding and O'Laughlin...

..to simply draw this Leeds defence in

and leave an almighty gap out wide.

Good work by Goulding.

It's a first hat-trick in Wigan colours for Josh Charnley,

and a first win as Wigan coach for Shaun Wane.

Pat, were you a bit chastened after last week's defeat to Huddersfield?

Yeah, it wasn't the greatest start for us,

but it was great to turn it around, come out and perform like we did,

that was really pleasing.

We spoke about a few things last week we weren't happy about,

and like I said, to go out and perform pretty well,

it was really pleasing.

It's a tough game, isn't it? Leeds as your second in the season.

Yeah, exactly. They're the champions as well,

so it was great to have a big game at home after a loss like that.

We didn't want to start the season off like that,

but yeah, it was great to have them come out,

and it was on telly as well,

so it was a great atmosphere at the ground as well.

Josh Charnley had three cracking tries. He looks a right character.

Yeah, I don't know too much about those dance moves and his hairstyle,

but he's a good finisher

and playing really good footy at the moment,

and all the other boys in the middle done a great job setting him up

and he'd be the first to say that.

And Sam Tomkins very involved in all of them,

he looks absolutely on top of the game.

How has he coped with all the attention on him?

He's doing great, nothing really changes too much

once he steps out on the field, and the training field too.

Sam's a great professional, doing a great job for us.

He's certainly got that X factor.

He's got so much speed out there,

it just creates that avalanche a lot of the time, and yeah,

I'm certainly glad he's on our side.

Should Josh Charnley have had a fourth try, an opening try?

What did you make of the obstruction?

Yeah, I thought it could have been given.

The player didn't get impeded too much, and it went on from that,

so I thought it was a try,

but, you know, I think the benefit of the doubt should have been given.

Common sense should have prevailed.

But they're the rules, you can't obviously touch a player,

and we got on with it. It didn't come back to haunt us,

so we're just glad to get the win.

-Jon, is that a rule that should be looked at?

-I think, like he said,

common sense should prevail there.

I think the defender was impeded,

but wasn't involved in the sort of play that resulted in the try

so I think for me it was a try.

I think all coaches and players would probably agree with that,

so when there's a case like that, I think we probably need to look at it.

What do you make of Leeds' performance last night?

I thought they tried really hard, the effort was there,

but I think what they came up against

was a Wigan side who really turned up with their A game.

Certainly defensively, I thought Wigan were outstanding

and that was probably the star of the show for me, Wigan's defence.

I know Charnley got the headlines with his tries,

but certainly Wigan looked so solid,

composed, controlled in a lot of elements of their defence.

Yeah, I think it's a challenge for Leeds,

as a few of their players really had stand-out games.

-Rob Burrow ran for, I think...

-What did you make of him?

He played the full 80 minutes, which didn't happen last year.

He came off the bench.

I think with the interchanges, you need players like this now.

Unfortunately for Rob, he was defending out on an edge.

He only made 12 tackles in the game,

which is not a lot for a guy playing a hooker,

but he ran for 146 metres in the game. I think he topped the metres,

so it shows you that he's done very well in the game.

Another stand-out player, Jamie Jones Buchanan for Leeds,

I thought he did well. He does a lot of the tough stuff,

regular for Leeds. Yeah, Rob would be a big player for Leeds,

as we found out in the grand final against us,

he really was the difference between the two sides in that game.

A typically brought blunt quote from Brian McDermott afterwards -

he called it "a 12-round title fight but we couldn't land a punch."

That's it, yeah, Wigan's strength is that consistency in their defence

and scoring points against them, for any side, is a challenge this year

and the key to unlocking it is going to be the key to beating them,

and I'll try and get some tips off Pat after the show.

-There may be some ways round it.

-Just quickly,

are there any major tweaks from Shaun Wane, the new coach?

Yeah, Waney's done a great job so far. Our pre-season's been spot-on.

He's been there for the last couple of years, but yeah,

since it's been taken over, he's added a few little things,

his own little subtleties to our game,

and he was really pleased with our performance.

Like Jon said, our defence, we base our game on that

and to defend like that against a really dangerous side like Leeds

who throw the ball around a lot, we were really pleased with that.

Well, the fixture computer has been a little cruel to London Broncos.

In Round One, they had to face St Helens

and on Sunday, in Round Two, they travelled to Warrington.

Jon, a bit of a hammering for them.

Yeah, I think facing Warrington at any stage of the year is difficult.

They've probably come back from Australia preseason,

had a bit of a rusty start and then really hit their straps this week.

What you see from them is their ability to score tries from anywhere on the field,

to throw the ball around.

When you've got creative players like Lee Briers on the field,

you're always going to create opportunities.

I think, for me, last year, they really set the standard in attack -

they scored over 1,000 points last year

and this year, for me, they're a big, big threat

for anybody who plays them.

Controlling the number of points they score is a challenge for anyone,

and they seem to have set off like they ended last year.

Lee Briers missed last week - he was dropped.

Back and absolutely central and praised very much by Tony Smith.

You see his contribution across the park.

Yeah, Lee's one of those players that he has days like this,

where everything he touches turns to gold.

And he certainly seems, from this performance,

that he's got everything right.

He made a lot of good decisions with the ball

and what will be pleasing as well is that,

for Warrington, they've not conceded many points.

As a coach, you're happy to score these high-scoring games.

You know, get your points up.

It's great they're not conceding as well.

Tony Smith will be as pleased with that as with the attacking side of things.

You were quite impressed with London last week?

Yeah, I think that they were primed to play that game.

Very difficult to play in London.

I think London away is a difficult fixture for anyone.

They faced a very confident Warrington side

with new recruits like Ratchford in the side.

You know, they'll learn some lessons from this.

A great try, this, for him on his home debut, isn't it?

Yeah, and it just shows you what he's about -

he's all about his instincts, Stef, and he showed great instincts there,

to carry on his run and score the try.

Yeah, I think, like I said, Warrington are a threat

because they can score from any position on the field

and when they've got players like Lee setting up tries

and scoring tries, they're going to be tough.

Pat, do you think Warrington feel they've got a point to prove

after the ending of last season for them?

Yeah, they were consistent all the way through the year.

And they wouldn't have been happy to finish the way they did,

but, just like everyone else,

they've got a long way to wait for the business end to...

When it really matters to start again.

So it's about week-in, week-out but, like you see there,

once Warrington get on a roll, they're pretty hard to stop.

They are indeed. If you were with us last week,

you will have seen Castleford Tigers have the prestigious honour

of being the first team to try their hand at Egg Chasers.

It's a bit of fun featuring a bunch of Super League players,

a giant egg and spoon, and an obstacle course.

I'll let Dave Woods guide you through it.

Seconds away, it's time for Round Two of the Egg Chasers.

This week, the Warrington Wolves are into the FRYING PAN

of our CRACKING new obstacle course.

A late handling error cost the Castleford Tigers

a five-second penalty last week.

The Wolves are hungry like, well, wolves

to climb to the top of the pack.

Three team-mates negotiate the course

whilst carrying a giant egg and spoon.

Over the season, the quickest team will claim the prize.

But be careful, because time penalties apply.

So who are the three Warrington Wolves

ready to accept the egg-chasing challenge?

Chris Riley, winger.

Ryan Atkins, centre.

Brooke Broughton, prop forward.

Ryan Shaw, spoon carrier.

LAUGHTER

KLAXON

So Brooke Broughton is the first to go -

a fine, upstanding, young prop forward.

Looks like he might eat this egg at the end of the course. He's a big lad!

Carefully does it, carefully does it.

But he doesn't want to let his team-mates down.

Over the hurdle and that's not a bad first run

by the young Warrington player. Here comes Ryan Atkins.

Nice skip by him.

He's a little slow, though, isn't he?

A little too cautious.

It's like watching your grandfather dancing with your grandmother, this.

But he is going to get there in the end, finally.

Now Chris Riley.

There's something about redheads when it comes to this obstacle course -

they do take it very seriously.

Here he comes, carefully again.

Oh, wake me up when he's finished, will you?

Come on, Chris! Get a move on! There's a time to be beaten!

And the obstacles are just getting harder!

Ah, who needs enemies with friends like that?

Warrington? Pathetic.

Absolutely pathetic.

Well, the Wolves completed the course in a mind-numbing 52.5 seconds.

And 15 seconds' worth of time penalties

are likely to cost them in the final analysis.

Well, if anybody still cares,

Castleford Tigers lead after Week Two,

and that time of 49.78 seconds looks like a tough one to beat.

Egg Chasers will be back next week, and we promise to be pun-free.

OM-LETTing you make up your own puns at home.

-Yes!

-Now I should tell you both that obviously the two teams

that have done it have then won their game that week,

so I trust you'll take it seriously.

Picking up any tips?

Yeah, I could do with that spoon for my cereal in the morning.

It'd make it a lot shorter process.

-Maybe at the end of the run, we'll put it up for bids for you.

-Cheers.

Huddersfield were the big winners of Week One

and they were looking to back up their win at Wigan

with home success against Widnes.

They did it in some style, Pat.

How impressed were you when Huddersfield beat you last week?

Yeah, I thought they played really well.

Their defence was great, they ran hard.

Danny Brough's kicking game was really solid as well,

and they've got a few players that can really hurt you when they get on a roll.

I think in this game, they scored some really great tries.

That's the first of four for Leroy Cudjoe.

Yeah, he played well last week as well.

He's a good talent out there, he's a big handful when he gets going

and, you know, Nathan Brown's got this side pretty well coached

and, as you see, they have great shape there

and they're always in the right position,

so I think Widnes found it a tough day.

And only one overseas player in the 17.

That's a great sign for Super League, isn't it?

Yeah, it is. Yeah.

You know, they're all putting their hand up, obviously,

for the international game as well

and it's a great thing for the league as well.

Widnes... We had Denis Betts in last week - he's realistic about it,

but they are going to struggle a bit.

Yeah, I think the biggest concern here would be the defence

and maybe the ease at which Huddersfield scored some of these tries.

You have to credit Huddersfield with the skill, vision and awareness to take advantage,

but I'm sure that the one key focus for Widnes this coming week

or for the rest of the season will be that defence.

You just really can't afford to give teams as many opportunities

as they did, and I think what you saw with Huddersfield

is a really ruthless performance

with a lot of, you know, very quick, young English players in the side.

And that's one of the strengths of the Huddersfield team, that leg speed.

A lot of leg speed within their team, a lot of players who,

you know, have got good speed and good agility.

But for Widnes, it's just a case of

having a look at their own individual defensive game

and just trying to improve.

That was just a consolation try for them there, really.

It's going to be tough for them, mentally,

to deal with a defeat like that.

They had a psychologist in over the winter,

but it'll be tough to come back from something that.

It is, yeah. It's tough, it's tough,

especially when you're watching sides run tries in against you.

It can dent your confidence. But for Widnes, it's...

The key is, probably, keeping their players fit.

If they get their best choice 13 on the field consistently,

you know, I think they will be a threat this year.

The challenge is, you know, keeping the side fresh

and making sure they really pick their games

that they're going to go out there and really have an effort to win.

They've got some great players in the side

and this may be a one-off blip and they'll come good next week.

Pat, just very quickly,

is Widnes/Salford a big game for both of them next week?

Yeah, definitely.

Both sides are obviously going to want to get off to a good start.

We were the same last week.

We lost the first one, we weren't happy with that.

It just... A win...

That first win, you chalk that off

and you can just take a bit of confidence out of that

and build your season.

Yeah, both sides will be looking forward to a great performance next week.

And it'll kick their season off.

So we've seen wins for Wigan, Warrington and Huddersfield.

Here's what's still to come tonight.

It's a historic night for St Helens

as they open their new home at Langtree Park.

We get to know the new neighbours.

Craig Sandercock and Peter Gentle say hello to Hull.

And try and try again - all the best

and the rest of the action from Round Two.

Super League was once again breaking new ground in Round Two.

Last week, Salford christened their new home and on Friday,

they were the guests as St Helens celebrated

the first competitive fixture at Langtree Park.

They came from far and wide to witness the occasion,

including one of the club's greatest ever players.

CHEERING DROWNS COMMENTARY

Vollenhoven!

Vollenhoven outside!

He gives it to Vollenhoven.

And Vollenhoven loops behind for a sensational try!

It really is one of the nicest stadiums I've seen,

and the decor and everything inside -

the ladies' toilets is out of this world!

No lady can say, "Oh, I've been in the queue so long!"

The players, the spectators,

the whole of St Helens can be proud of this stadium.

But what of Knowsley Road?

St Helens' famous old ground has been demolished and is now just a building site,

with new houses being erected on the spot

that witnessed some of rugby league's greatest ever moments.

Would you believe it?

You'd better believe it! This is St Helens!

Very sad. Look, there's a lot of memories there.

A lot of memories over 120 years.

But that's in the past. We must look forward, and this is the future.

So the first footsteps into the future for St Helens.

Tom Van Vollenhoven and the other Saints legends

adding a touch of class to the grand opening night.

They're hoping this will be a night to remember.

All except one ex-Saint -

the current Salford coach, Phil Veivers.

-Here's Howarth.

-Go, two.

Anxious to get on with it here, from dummy half Matty Smith,

another of those who once plied his trade at St Helens.

Good hands here along the line. Joel Moon. Good offload for Broughton!

Jodie Broughton! Party pooped!

Salford with the first try at this new stadium.

It's a good one, too.

An excellent finish by Jodie Broughton.

Salford have the lead, against all expectations.

Ooh, that's a big hit by Danny Williams.

Chris Flannery would not have expected that.

Terrific strike by the winger.

Salford mean business here tonight.

Despite the fact the script suggests St Helens should have the victory.

But here comes Williams again. Little kick. Touched down by Ashley Gibson!

It's great play by Williams to keep his head and put the kick in.

Gibson follows up. Two tries for Salford.

St Helens on the rack.

Go.

Roby.

St Helens looking out wide through Meli.

Again, it was a big hit from the shoulder of Williams, but Meli bouncing off him.

This is Josh Perry.

That's a terrific offload if they're waiting for it, and they are.

Eventually. Lomax.

Trying to fiddle a way through.

St Helens getting closer. The noise is getting louder.

Roby.

Soliola. Three around him. Soliola's over.

CHEERING Well, has he got it down here?

WHISTLE

Certainly Richard Silverwood's not sure.

The video referee has a look.

Well, it's not conclusive.

It's not conclusive, one way or another.

And the try is given as a benefit of the doubt.

And they can barely believe it in the Salford trenches.

Two! Move once!

On the line!

That's how close they are.

Here's Howarth.

Matty Smith. Quick hands again. Here comes a chance for Gibson!

Had two wrapped around him, but did he still get it down?

Well, having seen one try given in the benefit of the doubt,

are we to see another one here?

Although it's good work by Dixon to get his hands on that ball,

was it touched down?

No gamble.

"No gamble," says the referee. "No try," says the video referee.

I think that's known as an ironic smile.

Third tackle.

Down the line. Don't be offside, four!

-Go!

-Here's Roby.

Spinning it back to Lomax again.

Salford quick off their line,

which means that Wilkin has to take the tackle and start from here.

Here's Roby on the sixth.

Sliding the kick through for the chaser, Dixon.

Picked up again by Roby!

WHISTLE

Couple of questions to be asked here.

I want to check the grounding. OK?

Checking the grounding and the obstruction,

but if this is grounded, it doesn't matter about the obstruction.

Did it hit the ground there?

That's the question. Is that the moment?

Have a look again.

Is THIS the moment when the ball touches the green grass THERE?

Ian Smith with a decision to make.

And, once again, it goes St Helens' way.

Here's Makinson.

A little bit untidy but picked up nicely by Lomax.

The chip over the top...collected by Gaskell. Dixon on the inside.

Went on the outside. Here comes Meli!

Francis Meli scores!

But, inevitably, we'll have to look again.

Just want to check and see if Gaskell...

Was Gaskell offside or on?

Here.

And he's quite clearly behind Lomax.

So this try WILL be given.

And St Helens have the lead for the first time

in their new Langtree Park stadium.

A lot of that down to the skills of Gaskell and the finishing of Meli.

Move. Back ten.

Here's Roby.

Up and away again from Hohaia.

Into the hands of Dixon. Andy Dixon!

Fourth try for St Helens and it's beginning to look a lot easier now.

Not so much pomp in the first half, but a little more in the second.

And there's one former Saint, Sean Long, who's not enjoying the moment.

These days the assistant coach of the Salford City Reds.

Lomax, quick hands, Wilkin!

The youngsters have had a go, and now the relative old-timers

are getting their names in lights as well.

Jon Wilkin, over for a fifth.

And where once it was hard, it's becoming a lot easier for St Helens.

Glee has turned to glum amongst the Salford camp.

Hold, go.

Roby...Lomax.

Looking for an individual finish.

Release him.

Just held up. And here comes Roby.

Spinning away. Again, a little kick through...

to perfection for Andy Dixon.

And a second try for the St Helens youngster.

Six now. Here's Roby.

A matter of seconds remaining.

Well, it went backwards, the referee's decided.

Here's another of the youngsters, Nathan Ashe,

getting a cameo role in the late stages of this second half.

Roby, Laffranchi...

Well, again, it's a little messy. The referee will need another look.

But one angle suggests he's definitely grounded it here.

And he has.

A try at the very last for St Helens.

Don't mess around in the ruck, come on.

The video referee will confirm it.

And St Helens ultimately get a jubilant start at their new stadium.

Is it home sweet home for you already, Jon?

Well, it's getting there.

I think it'll be a long time before we're well and truly settled in.

It was a fantastic occasion for the club.

I'm proud to be have been part of it as a player,

especially to have all those past players

and the greats of our club there as well

to celebrate the opening of the new stadium.

Roy Simmons said that maybe you were affected

by the build-up and occasion in the first half.

It was pretty emotional, seeing the likes of Tom van Vollenhoven there.

It just reminds you that you're part of something more than just a current team of Super League players,

that the club's history is so important.

I think we probably did get caught up in that nostalgia really,

and credit Salford, they started the game very well

and completed their sets and really put us under pressure early doors.

What was said at half-time? Roy Simmons strikes me as a quiet chap.

-Does he throw things around after a first half like that?

-No, he's pretty reserved.

He just comes through a few individuals.

He had a message for everyone, then it's more individuals,

get to the people he needs to speak to, and it was pretty simple for us.

Get to the end of our sets, complete our sets.

Our ball control was terrible in the first half. The message was simple.

We did that in the second half and you saw the results

-in a good second-half performance.

-It was quite apt,

a night of legends in the build-up.

You've got some cracking youngsters coming through, a new generation at St Helens.

Saints have been fantastic in their development of young players.

All the time I've been there. Players like Gary Wheeler.

You see products of the academy system who come in,

not just to make up the numbers, but they contribute to the game.

Gary Wheeler came up with a few little breaks

during the match

and looked every part the great player he promises to be.

For us, it's great to see the young players coming in,

the young local lads,

and really contributing to the side on a historic night for the club.

They were an integral part to us winning this game.

Especially Jonny Lomax, I think. He's been sensational for us.

How do you cope with being referred to as a relative veteran?

I just wince every day after training.

What's it like, Pat, as you're watching?

You've got a crop of youngsters at Wigan. What does it do to the side?

They come with a lot of enthusiasm. We had another bloke, Jack Hughes,

he came in the other night, and Tom Spencer made his debut too.

It's great to see kids going from

being in the academy and first grade,

then getting an opportunity and taking it with both hands.

As Jon said, it's not use just plodding along,

they're making a big impact into the game.

At St Helens and Wigan, we're lucky, we've got some great juniors

starting to come through into the first grade.

The video referee had a busy night. What did we make of the Soliola try that was given?

Were you with the video... Have you watched that?

Did you think he was going to give it, Jon?

It's very difficult. You can't tell whether the ball's down or not.

This is where the benefit of the doubt comes in.

Phil Beevor's face says it all - he was not impressed.

In those situations, 50/50 calls,

when you're on the field, you always assume they'll go your way,

so you're always upset and Phil's just showing how much he cares there.

Yeah, there was a lot of crucial decisions and we did get a few,

but through the season, they do even themselves out.

Tony Smith said, after his game last week, that there should be video referees at all matches.

We seem a long way from that,

but is it unfair on the guys playing without the video referees?

It would be an even competition if that was the case in every game.

They have it in Australia, every game is televised,

so maybe that's something we can look at in the future.

Every game's worth two competition points,

so it should be treated that way

and it would be great to see it in every game.

The "under new management" signs were up in Hull over the winter,

as its two Super League clubs appoint new head coaches.

Craig Sandercock and Peter Gentle have travelled halfway round the world

to take charge on either side of the city.

Here's what happened when east met west.

-How are you settling in, Craig?

-Yeah, good, Pete.

It's good living in Hull, the people have been fantastic,

everyone's very supportive, so at the moment I couldn't be happier.

It's a long way to come, that's for sure, and it's a big decision

because I did sign a new deal with Newcastle, but you know,

there's only 30 real professional rugby league teams in the world,

and to be offered a head coach, you'd be silly to turn it down.

And yourself? You were pretty comfortable at the Tiges.

Yeah, I was. It was a big upheaval for the family, as you're well aware,

to relocate. Super League head coach was always on my radar.

And I've been fortunate to pick up a role.

I heard you had the pick of ten clubs, mate, so you've done well.

Don't believe everything you read!

Horne out to dummy half. Pass to Lynch, numbers on this side.

Manu, Yeaman will score. First try for the black and whites.

First one on the board this season.

Which players in the Super League really stand out to you,

and when we coach against them, we have to look out for?

Sam Tomkins is the first that comes to mind.

He's a special sort of player, isn't he?

But we'll be worrying about ourselves

and we'll do plenty of homework on Sam Tomkins in the game,

and hopefully we can nullify him.

Any tips you can throw my way, mate?

Hopefully, you play him before we do.

Who are you looking forward to playing?

Growing up, you know, I grew up on the Wigan and the Hull

and Peter Sterling, Brett Kenny and those top players.

So I'm just excited about actually being involved

-in playing those sides.

-Yeah, definitely.

What do you think of the rivalry between our two great clubs?

It's massive, isn't it?

From the fans' point of view, it's massive.

From our point of view, as you'll be aware,

we're just interested in winning each game,

picking up two points from whoever we can.

Probably winning a derby game is a bonus more than anything,

but it's not something we put extra work in each week

-to win the derby game.

-Exactly right.

The two competition points are the most crucial

and every week you prepare the same, to play every team the same,

but obviously for our supporters

-it probably means a lot more.

-It certainly does.

What are your expectations for Hull RFC this season, mate?

We're not going to put a number on it. As I mentioned,

too many variables go into it - suspensions, injuries,

form - there's plenty of things there.

The stars have to be all aligned to give one a special season.

There's plenty of potential there and if we can realise that,

we'll be thereabouts come the end of the season. How about yourself?

Yeah, pretty similar, I imagine.

It's all about, er...individual improvement.

I think if we can get every player in your team to improve,

whether they're the youngest kid or the most experienced player,

then as a team you'll get some results.

If you want to compete against those big four or five clubs,

you really need to focus

-on that individual improvement.

-Yeah, definitely.

Jon, as a Hull lad, do you think they have a little bit to learn about the Hull derby?

I'm sure they'll find out very soon

about how important it is to the people of area.

It's everything that a derby should be.

You know, it's fiercely competitive and the rivalry exists in the city,

pretty much divided by the River Hull.

It's as strong today as it ever has been.

Pat, Hull FC went to play Catalan Dragons, and that game was off.

Somewhat ironic that all the games here managed to go on.

In the South of France we couldn't.

It's not a trip you want to do twice, is it?

Yeah, it'll be an interesting one to get rearranged.

We had one last year against Cas, but they're only an hour away.

So it wasn't too bad. I feel sorry for all the fans that went over.

They'll have to go over again. I'm not sure how that'll work.

It'll be interesting to see how they fit it in.

Hull KR went to Wakefield on Sunday, a first win for Craig Sandercock.

Important for the new coach, Pat, to get that first win.

Yeah, it was. We played them in a trial match a couple of weeks ago

and I think he's done a great job with the team.

I was speaking to Benny Galea.

He's happy with how things are going there.

They're looking forward to it

and this will give them confidence going into the season now,

so hopefully they'll kick on and start the season well.

Looking at the pictures, they did a great job to get the game on,

but it's like winding back the clock to winter rugby in all its glory.

Yeah, it is. I think everyone would prefer to see

the game played in great conditions, but this time of the year

it's very rare that you get to play on a good surface.

I think both sides did well in the conditions.

Crucially, more so for us, going in to this week's game,

is that Hull KR picked up another injury in the halfs with Dobson.

I think he's crucial for Hull KR.

His kicking game, his organisation, is second to none.

Without him and Green, that's the challenge for Hull KR,

coming up with players who can play in that position.

The other Sunday game was Castleford against Bradford

and a big win for Mick Potter and Bradford.

Yeah, massive. They're under a bit of pressure.

One game in, it seems strange to say that,

but I suppose they have produced a great performance to get the win.

I think they're going to be a side that's one to watch, for me.

They'll certainly have aspirations to make those play-offs.

Both these sides will. But it was a difficult day for Castleford

who'd have expected to win this game at home.

Castleford are a real flair side, they play some lovely stuff,

but how crucial Rangi Chase to them? It seems so much goes through him.

Rangi's the spark to their team and a lot of stuff happens off him.

They've got other quality players in their side as well.

Rangi sets up a great try here coming up.

We've got them in a couple of weeks...

This is beautiful. That try's fabulous, isn't it?

It's great to watch him and it'll bring the fans in to the game.

Especially this time of year, the skill factor,

it's hard to play with skill, with the ball being so wet and cold,

-but Rangi's doing a good job.

-So, that's Round Two, done and dusted.

Let's see where everyone stands in the Stobart Super League table.

Huddersfield and St Helens lead the way with their 100% records

after two fixtures.

Warrington, Catalan and Hull are the other unbeaten sides.

Leeds Rhinos take on Manly in the World Club Challenge on Friday.

Warrington against Huddersfield is the stand-out fixture of round 3.

Wigan go to Bradford

and St Helens travel to Hull KR.

Remember, you don't have to wait until the fixtures move in May

to get a Monday night fix of rugby league.

We'll be here, same time next week, with all the action from Round 3.

Pat, how do you see the World Club Challenge going?

Yeah, it's always a tough sort of game.

Last year was a tough game against St George.

Leeds have been involved in a few in the last couple of years.

You know, I'm not too sure how, er...you know,

cos the season starts a bit later in Australia,

but how the Australians adapt to the conditions over here as well.

So I think it'll be pretty tight.

It should be a good game I'm looking forward to it.

Jon, the new players' association.

A new union. What's the thinking behind it?

What do you hope to achieve?

We just wanted to start an organisation

that was for the players, run by the players,

to represent their welfare at all levels of the game.

And really give the players a voice and make them an integral part of the growth of the sport.

The players have great ideas on the game

and some of the senior boys certainly want to be involved in the growth of the game.

League 13, as it stands now, gives the players a chance to do that,

to voice their opinions and have them heard

by other key stakeholders in the game. And just encourage all the boys

to get on board and support it and get behind it and make it work.

Good luck with it. Thanks to Pat Richards and Jon Wilkin

for being with us tonight. Keep in touch throughout the week via Facebook and Twitter.

Join us next week for highlights from the Club World Challenge match at Headingley

and all the action from Round Three of Super League.

That's next Monday night, 11.35, on BBC1. Until then, good night.

Subtitles by Red Bee Media Ltd