Episode 7 Super League Show

The North West, what position are we in from your point of view, is

there something we can go away going, yeah, we should be positive,

no matter what? We have a great heritage. A will the of businesses

started in the north west. If you are pro-active and focused and you

can see opportunities, there are, there are success stories out there.

Businesses can grow. Businesses can develop. It -- it will have to be

exports. That is where we will end it. Brian, Luke, Coral, anybody in

our film, thank you very much. Thank you all for coming. Straw

poll at the end. How many of you feel more positive? Anybody more

optimistic now than they were at the beginning? You are waivering.

There are fewer of you optimistic now. Right, OK. Thank you so much

for all of you being here. The Budget is this week. We will be

waiting with bated breath to see what George Osborne has to deliver.

You can follow any of those developments across the BBC on

North West Tonight and your BBC radio stations and online. From all

of us here, at the Museum of Science and Industry, many, many

Apology for the loss of subtitles for 120 seconds

We had more than 750 points scored in Super League on Friday, Saturday

and Sunday but it was the news that broke this morning that will be the

big talking point of the next few days. Royce Simmons is no longer

the coach of St Helens. The Australian has left the club after

four straight Super League defeats. Joining me in studio are Richard

Mathers of Wakefield and the former Bradford and Wigan coach, Brian

Noble. A surprise? A bit of a shock

actually because once there was four defeats, they had been pretty

close and it is disappointing when somebody loses their job like that.

A great guy and unfortunately he has had to move on. It is a shock.

It is cut throat but I suppose at club of St Helens stature demands

results and they have that brand new stadium. They have lost some

key personnel and that is a big transition itself. It was a

surprise when the news came through that it is a bigger club. It is

just one point in the last five games they have had, was the

unlucky because some of those defeats were pretty close? When you

look at St Helens and the expectancies, is high to say the

least. They have been at the club over the last 15 years, they have

been to so many finals and won so many trophies. You know that the

pressure will be so high for obvious reasons, that they want to

win things. When you get on the back of a run, you've got to have

some answers and a way out of that trouble otherwise the consequences

are a lot higher. The chairman said that he looks ahead to the next

three fixtures and he felt the change had to be made before those

big games. They are massive gains in the context of any season but on

the back of this, is a big responsibility for Kieran

Cunningham. They will take that on board. They have been there a long

time and they know the fabric of the club and they would get the

players onside and there is no better way to turn it around

against Leeds on Sunday. So the final act of Royce Simmons'

reign was at Bradford on Saturday. The Bulls themselves were looking

for their first home win of the season but with Saints having lost

the last three, all eyes were on It is still alive, there still an

opportunity here. Oh my word! With the conversion attempt for

breathing space - can you believe And he scores! Saints are stunned.

St Helens looking for a return to form tonight but they will have to

do that without too influential players. Bradford is picking up

some good momentum after a series of good performances.

Tonight, some heavy weather, the Bradford Bulls. He might have got

in for the first score of the night. The referee wants a second look. He

is short, he is short and you can see a very obvious double movement

there are so there should be no trial and it is confirmed as such.

It is a penalty for St Helens. That look like a forward pass but the

referee was right there. Shooting of the first defender but not the

second and third. Bradford are at sixes and sevens. Since will score

the opening try of the night. Touchdown in the end by Andrew

Dixon. It could have been any one of four. Fans felt there was a

forward pass in the build-up. It certainly looked forward. A finish

here by Andrew Dickson but it has left a bad taste in the minds of

the supporters. Kicked on, it is why Ted! He has

got a bang to the head. The try is concerned. How many times have we

seen this? Then Jeffrey's kick setting up a try. There was a kick

in the head of from Foster. That has attracted the attention of the

referee. That looked at reckless, more than intentional, but a

penalty try has been given. The referee has decided that that was

reckless and the pair of the given. Another two from under the post.

Bradford lead 8-4 in a very stodgy He scores! Foster will hang his

head here. He thought he was going out of play. He lets it bounce.

Carol Price takes it up and scores. Foster is furious with himself. The

Bradford bench can see the funny side. It has been dropped. It is a

penalty. The referee is indicating a yellow card for faster. Offside,

the referee he says. A penalty maybe but sin binning him? That

seems a little harsh. It certainly has not been forced to's night. --

Foster's night. It has raised the ire of others on the pitch. He was

very laid bare. And very late. He seems puzzled by why he has been

penalised but that is why, he is lucky to stay on the field. Foster

is back on the from the bin. Tony has dropped its claim. Maybe the

last hope for since has disappeared. Only seconds remaining now. It may

only be a consolation try but a very good at touchdown. Too late to

count in terms of turning the game around, surely. St Helens, at least,

can have an smile on their face at the last memory of this game, even

if the other 79 minutes have been grim. Despite that score, it is

An oddly disjointed performance? was probably a performance that

lacked a little bit of confidence. It is great when you have it. When

it is not quite there, there's an element of anxiety and it can

change the shape of what you look like and do. There were some

instances when people were running on the tackle when the normally

wouldn't and that is the element of pressure that comes from a high

performance standards. It was littered with mistakes? Things that

were uncharacteristic and things that nine times out of 10, the

players are coming out with but when things aren't going away,

things creep in. It could be a confidence thing, unfamiliar

territory, losing four games and they are not comfortable with them.

Some of them were very basic and it cost them. We should take nothing

away from Bradford because they played well. Absolutely, they

carried on from the second have and that has given them a shot in the

arm and you can see that, they're really confident now. They were

tough on Saturday evening and they needed to be because since played

pretty well. There were errors but they were in the game all the time.

You have to say that Ben Jefferies is pretty incremental to Bradford

scoring points at the moment. He has kicked the ball plenty for

tries. The have won a tone which will be a big thing for them?

they have had great tendencies as well. -- attendances. Good solid

defence and their playing a simplistic game-plan. Then

Do you think that they can go on and do something? They had a great

start, I think it is consistency. They had some injuries as well.

There is now no reason they cannot go to the top this year. Do you

think we had written them off a little bit early? They did not

start brilliantly. I think you cannot write off a team at the

start of the season. There are still new teams out there, if you

look at Wakefield. Their finding that fluidity. They are looking

more solid than they did at the start of the season. So what next

for Saints? They're looking for a new coach. There will be a huge

list of applicants, I am certain of that. It is a fabulous club. You

need to go there knowing that a lot of people will throw their hat into

the ring. The Giants are retaining their coach until the end of the

season, which is good for them. is a great coach. Nathan Browne

announced that it would be his last year in charge and it is a strong

statement to come out now and say that. He would have to be a

favourite for the job, I am certain. He did a fantastic job at

Huddersfield. They could perhaps go for an interim? Perhaps. I'll keep

faith with a couple of experienced players who know the club Inside

Out. Warrington and Wakefield met at the

Halliwell Jones on Sunday. The Wolves slipped to their first

defeat of the season at Leeds last weekend, and you managed to give

them an almighty fright here, Richard. We played some great stuff

and defended really well against an fantastic Warrington team. We were

leading at half-time and felt like we were really in the game. But

Warrington are a great side and they came back strongly in the

second half. You seemed to be second half. You seemed to be

playing with confidence as well. The coach has given us that

confidence and backed as. And that is great for the players. We are

just concentrating on that defence, trying to tighten up in that area.

It was quite a big win for Warrington. Those close ones are

the ones that you want to get away with, especially at home. There are

still a few too many individual errors. The real test for them will

come this weekend against Wigan. They just have enough quality to

get over the line. Wakefield had some missed opportunities.

And important to build on that, Richard? We were gutted after the

game, to get so close. It is a bitter pill to swallow when you

have put so much effort into getting the result. Do you feel

that there will be a huge changes? We have improved week on week. Each

week we are working on different areas and improving as aside.

People do not give us much of a chance on the outside but we are

confident about what we are doing. Champions Leeds have been in red

hot form so far, they travelled to Salford on Friday, and despite an

early scare, it was another sensational display by the Rhinos.

They are on fire. We discussed their back line before the show and

it is the most exciting one for quite a long time. They got that

hat-trick. I think the whole back line is on

fire. Kevin Sinfield as well, the footwork from this kid. He just

moved on a sixpence, that is awesome. Then it John Bishop on the

outside, they have got speed to burn.

Kevin Sinfield has been some players for leaves. -- for Leeds.

Danny Maguire, all the players are in form at the moment which is

wonderful to see. You would pay the entrance fee just for that. It is

fabulous footwork from Danny Maguire.

They have a mixture of youth and experience. These youngsters are

coming through a mixed the more experienced players. I just cannot

say enough about them. Showing plenty of speed. And support play

and all the things that you go through in practice. To see that

wrote the performance. It is thrilling.

Kevin Sinfield is an incredible player week-in, week-out.

He puts in so many hours of practice on the training field. His

all-round playing, he thoroughly deserved to break the record. He

has been a fantastic player full -. You can be the best defensive coach

in the world, but went Leeds are hot, they are hot. But they will

need to improve defensively. They need to go back to some of the

basic things. And the attacking basic things. And the attacking

play has been impressive so far. Now it's rare these days for an

overseas player to hang around for too long at one English club, but

Ryan McGoldrick is an exception to that rule. The Australian has been

with Castleford for six years now, his staying power with the Tigers

has made him a popular figure around Wheldon Road.

I am part of the furniture. I came year into a dozen than six. I

thought I was only going to be here -- 2006. I have enjoyed my time

here. It is a rugby league town and if you're going to come all the way

from Australia you might as well be in a town like that. Where I was

before they are mad about rugby league. But we also had the beach,

so it is different playing over here! But this is one of the best

places as a rugby league community. McGoldrick's first season ended in

relegation from the Super League. But he was persuaded to stick

around. There is not much royalty left now

in rugby league. People do what they think is best. But it is

something I have always found them rather important. To see how much

people are affected, that is a big factor. 12 months later McGoldrick

and Castleford won promotion back to the elite. Castleford were the

last team to experienced the agony of traditional promotion and

relegation. If there was relegation, some of

those players would have been snapped up. So without the

relegation, you definitely can promote young people within your

squad and that is what it is all about. We have got a couple of

young hookers with a good future ahead of them. And hopefully it

will be with Castleford for a long time. That will give us a little

bit of spark. And hopefully that will continue. McGoldrick is the

great painted manner of the Superleague. His collection of

tattoos revealing his philosophy on life. I have got a few. It started

when I was 16 with a tiny tattoo on my chest. Then I convinced my

parents to get two or three, but that would be it. Then they

gradually started to sneak out from under that shirt. Then there was no

stopping it. Now I'm starting to run out of the space. There's

nothing to do with rugby league or my career, it is more stuff that I

have been through. Across my neck I have, at loyalty costs nothing.

Life is a gamble is another one. Then my to a bull mastiff dogs back

home. The names of my brother and sister and that kind of stuff.

Nothing about rugby league. But it fired a Papcastle Bridge for 10

years spent maybe I would have to! -- if I end up at Castleford.

McGoldrick is the type of character that every team needs, always

positive and looking on the bright side. He is a fabulous player. On

his day he is as good as any player in the competition. I have long

been an admirer of him. He is one of those people that can change

again. You played alongside him, any stories that you can

broadcast?! He is a great fellow. He is a bit niggly on the field.

But he is really a good fellow. He has been loyal to Castle food for

six years and gone through the good times and the bad. When the chips

are down heat always comes out as a good player. Under current

character that you want around a club like that? Yes he is not yours

terror to the core sports man. He has all those tattoos and has got a

Harley Davidson. And a nightclub in the back garden! But what we get to

see is his dedication. Ian Millward was back on the

sidelines for Castleford on Friday night. They travelled to

Huddersfield to face the Super League leaders. Dave Woods was

League leaders. Dave Woods was watching.

Robinson has a look around. George comes after it and he will

Apology for the loss of subtitles for 120 seconds

defending it. The Huddersfield backwards. Confirmed! Again, the

defence will question itself. They could do with a response. Oh, he

has had himself been the act of scoring. But it is for desperately

needed points. He is going to be OK, they make them tough, don't they?

Jason is in trouble here, I think. Have a look at this. Add chicken

when a tackle. The referee has seen it and he is of the 10 minutes. He

has support but he doesn't need it. What a splendid individual try that

is. Off he goes. A burst of pace. A good try. George will score! Two

tries in the blink of a night just before the break. Huddersfield are

absolutely in the ascendancy now. George. It will be a hat-trick if

confirmed. The question is, how did this all get this? He has rattled

the ball free. Absolutely nothing wrong with the touchdown. It is a

hat-trick for George. Another try for Huddersfield. Nobody left to

stop the inevitable expert this time, George involved in the build

up and Brown is the finisher. Huddersfield are at a canter at the

moment. Simply no stopping them. Here is Lawrence. I think he has

got that down! He has. Though marks here for Michael Lawrence. The

strength and desire with two or three defenders on him. He just

touches it down. Huddersfield's impressive start to the season

continues. They do look impressive? continues. They do look impressive?

They are playing great rugby. One thing I really liked as well, a lot

of the starting line-up were English. Luke George's third hat-

trick. Is he a little bit unfortunate that there are so many

other good wingers out there at the moment? I don't think he will score

an easier one! When you confident, you confident. The ball bounced

perfectly for him. In the next one, this is a set play. In this one,

even you could score this one, Richard! Don't take anything away

from the Garrick, you've got to be in the frame to get those current

scores. He will be thrilled and so he should be. Is the key for

Huddersfield to sustain this. They look a bit stronger this year,

don't they? They have some superstar forwards to come back as

well. Nathan Brown is not scared to rotate them and keep them fresh.

And give some of the fringe players ago. Everybody slots into the roles

and they don't get too much disharmony in there so it is a big

focus that they have fought on, staying consistent. They have not

been afraid to bring youngsters in? Yes and you are getting the fruits

of that Labour. That policy is really in place and you think

O'Donnell not being in the team and some of the others, it looks well

for them but the challenge is peaking at the right time because

the first question you asked is a permanent one, they have to be

fresh and healthy. Castleford last seen to be lacking in convents?

They are having it tough at the moment. It has been a disruptive

few weeks for the club as a whole. A little bit similar to last week,

they just need to consolidate and improve and try to get that went in

and I am sure they will cope. that Becky, somehow get a win and

move forward? They will have to then their backs better than they

did they were about passive at the weekend. Huddersfield executed

really well and when you set your stall out to do certain things and

it doesn't come off, it ricochets downwards.

Wigan suffered a shock defeat against the bottom club Widnes last

weekend. On Sunday they faced another struggling club and it

looked for a while as though it would be another surprise for the

Warriors. They started like a house on fire and cost Wigan quite a bit

of trouble. Definitely a fright to start the game. London did look

impressive. That is under which before or, at the scored 45 pounds

the before and that has carried on. There was a little bit of quality

in this week in the team. Shaun Wane wasn't happy but there is

Gareth getting them back in again. Is he one of the best signings you

ever made? He certainly has to be up there. These guys are at the

ones that people want to pay to come and watch. Look at that, it is

terrific to see. As good as London where with their attack, they got

really close and again, they might have to talk about the defensive

side of the game. Wigan are on a role here. Once we can got in front,

they are pretty good at keeping a team at arm's length? They are

really methodical in their attacking plans. They really know

where they are going. London finished strong as well so some

great passages of play from them as well. Wigan haven't been quite

there in the first halves of games, interestingly, but to us through

this one? That was too soft. That is a sop to try. Sam Tomkins is

smart enough and thinks, I will go! He is good at that kind of think

but London will be hugely disappointed with that. I mentioned

it earlier that they have a chance to be more ruthless on Friday.

This week, it is the turn of Hull FC to try their luck with our giant

egg and spoon race. The Airlie Birds, as they like to be known,

are chasing the time set by Castleford Tigers all the way back

This week, we have a threesome hoping to fight against evil and

claimed world domination or stop only joking, they're here for a

giant egg and spoon race but there is something missing from this

picture. That's better, a giant egg and spoon. They will need to use

their psychological powers to complete the course in the quickest

time a possible. Mistakes will be punished with five second penalties.

Can Hull FC a bright those wrongs today. First of, it is Jordan

Turner. That is not a bad start, to be fair. Here comes well sharp. He

is doing pretty good here. Jimmy Ellis will be the man he is handing

on to. Surely he will be hoping to make his mark. They might have been

one or two handling errors. They dream of world domination is

shutters with at time of 42.92 seconds or stopped that leaves them

third on the leaderboard. Join us next time for another feast of

fancy footwork. And some frightening faces.

You are chomping at the bit to have a go? Just waiting for the phone

call. Our obstacle course was obviously ideal preparation for

Hull. They welcomed Widnes to the KC on Sunday and it was a bit of a

rout. Hull FC were fantastic and attacked

really importantly and they are flooded through. The first of four

tries. 34 pounds in total. Also creating opportunities. Danny

Houghton was highlighted by both coaches as being key player in this

game. He has been given Ali's to play the football they get you for

it. Knowing where to go, they look more fluid than I have done for a

while. This is good, strong running. Do you think they have gone under

the radar a bit because they missed that game at Catalan? No, coaches

and fans are smart. Some teams have played a few more games and you get

a few hiccups but they have recorded it fairly well. Andy Lynch

is a fantastic player. He has been a huge acquisition for the club.

Here we see great ship in a passing movement for. Aha aha ha ha ha go

Denis Betts didn't pull his punches afterwards saying, to have 58

points scored against you, this is unacceptable. After winning well,

chipping that amount of points, it is a shame. It will be

disappointing for Dennis. He even said that the last two tries got

flatter them will stop there are still learning. There will be

better for that experience. Catalans against Hull K hour, this

was a close game? Yes. Michael Dobson against his own club

squeezed over and they think they were winning at half-time. It was a