Episode 1 Super League Show

Hello. It's little more than ten weeks

since the heartbreaking end to England's World Cup campaign.

If you're not over it yet, you should be,

because the race for the League Leader's Shield

and Grand Final trophy is under way.

Super League is back.

MUSIC: "It's Time" by Imagine Dragons

# So this is what you meant

# When you said that you were spent

# And now it's time to build from the bottom of the pit

# Right to the top

# Don't hold back

# Packing my bags and giving the academy a rain-check

# I don't ever want to let you down

# I don't ever want to leave this town

# Cos after all

# The city never sleeps tonight

# It's time to begin, isn't it?

# I get a little bit bigger

# But then I'll admit

# I'm just the same as I was

# Now don't you understand

# That I'm never changing who I am... #

Joining us for week one,

we have the Huddersfield Giants prop Eorl Crabtree

and the Salford Red Devils coach Brian Noble.

Eorl, how big a year is it for the sport to build on the World Cup?

I think it's absolutely massive.

I firmly believe, after the World Cup

and the spectacular viewing figures that we had,

we need to create this legacy.

It's something that the Olympics talked about,

and it wasn't possible because there was nothing after it,

but we've got Super League XIX.

What would you like to see from the sport this season?

A bit of the fun from the World Cup.

People really got stuck into each other on the field.

Off the field, everybody enjoys each other's company

and enjoyed the affair that was on show.

I think we need to replicate that.

We need to be less animalistic off the field

and leave it to the players on the field and have some fun.

-That's what we should celebrate.

-Let's hope we do.

Super League has new sponsors, a number of new players,

and one team even has a new identity.

Dave Woods has been to the home of the freshened-up Salford Red Devils

to mark everyone's card for 2014.

Welcome to hell, and things might be getting very uncomfortable for some.

Relegation is back on the agenda,

which means things at the bottom could be getting very tense.

Across the board, the whole competition this year

is going to be exciting.

There's not going to be any falloff towards the back end,

because everybody's fighting for success

or to avoid the dreaded R.

Two teams going down at the end of the year,

which adds some spice to the comp, which is great.

Everybody will be playing for something.

With relegation, every game is important.

It will be going right up to the last second of the last game.

There'll be two teams that are there at the end of the season.

That's the fact of it. Whether or not we'll be one of those,

we're happy for people to be tipping us.

We're confident in our own ability

and what we can do this season.

If you're in that situation, you're almost playing for your livelihood.

So from a player's point of view, it is pretty daunting.

The great unknowns at the start of this season

are the newly-branded Salford Red Devils.

A host of new players have walked through the door here.

It's only half a dozen miles between this spot

and the grand final venue,

but are Salford good enough to make Old Trafford?

I think with the players they've bought,

Rangi Chase, Gareth Hock, and Adrian Morley,

they'll be a team that are tough to beat from the start.

If you've got those quality players,

and not just the players, but the individuals that are there as well,

I think it's a recipe for success.

We realise we'll be under a lot of scrutiny

and we'll be a handy scalp

for a lot of the teams, but that's something we'll deal with.

They've definitely got fantastic players.

I'm sure they'll be a threat to everyone.

On and off the field,

Wigan and maybe the rest of Rugby League

will miss the mercurial talents of the game's marquee star.

Sam Tomkins has gone to the NRL.

So who will be the new shining star of Super League?

I hope whoever does step up plays for Wigan! That'd be great for us.

I'm excited to play with Rangi Chase.

Hopefully with a new club, it'll invigorate him slightly.

So I'm expecting big things from Rangi.

If you speak to Ben Westwood, it's him.

He's just been telling me he's a captain and an extraordinary player.

There's a lot of great players.

Whilst James Roby's not really a new star,

for the last four or five years that I've been here,

he's consistently been the best player in the competition.

I think the youth of our competition at the moment,

they're really exciting.

If you look across the whole teams,

we've got some really exciting youngsters,

and that's where the future's been in Super League for a number of years.

In France, Morgan Escare, for me, has got that speed

and that unpredictability about him, so it's Morgan Escare for me.

So who are the favourites for 2014?

Well, Warrington have lost the last two grand finals

and a clutch of senior players ahead of this year,

but they are still a threat.

St Helens have regrouped behind a very large pack.

Huddersfield are hoping to go one step further than last year.

Leeds want their title back. It's Wigan's to lose. Salford, Hull?

In truth, it could be wide open.

Very exciting times.

There seems to be a bit of a buzz around the place.

We've got some new signings and a lot of young players

that have got another year of experience under their belt,

so everything seems to be going in the right direction.

We're excited about the new season.

We've done plenty of training, and it's now time to get out there

and see where we're at.

'The mood and the camaraderie off the field is definitely

'as good as it's ever been. Really looking forward to'

the new Super League season.

In years that have gone by,

consistency has been the main thing that has let us down.

We've shown that we can beat the top teams when we're at our best.

I think if we are consistent, we should have a decent year.

We've got to put ourselves in the same position as we did previously,

and we've got to be better. It's as simple as that.

We have to get ourselves in positions to play in big games and win them.

We know how hard it was to achieve what we did last year.

We know it's probably going to be harder this year.

But having won them trophies, it does give yourselves

and the other lads that hunger to do well.

Having got your hands on trophies and silverware,

I think it really pushes you to do it again the following year.

We'll get to London in a little while,

but what do you think having relegation back

will do to the competition?

It definitely makes it more exciting.

It's not just for the top of the league to worry about,

it's the bottom as well.

It's a bit scary for the guys who will be in that position,

because getting to the end of the season,

knowing that you have got to fight for everything

and fight for your job, it's a very scary time for players.

But also, for rugby league as a whole, I think it's a good idea.

At the other end of the table, a huge amount of expectation on you.

What's it like at Salford? What's the pressure like on your shoulders?

We love the pressure, that extra scrutiny.

We'd rather be under scrutiny than not.

Coping with pressure is what every club has to do.

Eorl has just mentioned about the relegation situation.

Nobody will be away from pressure this year. It's how you respond.

You've got to learn to enjoy it, in a sick way,

and that's what will happen for most clubs.

But the pressure at Salford is no greater than it's ever been,

other than that we want to do well as well.

Our expectations are high as well.

Looking at Leeds, Tom Briscoe has come in.

Where do you think he'll fit in?

He's a tough one.

He's a great player, someone you need to have on your team,

because you go forward,

and he's the most difficult person to put down in the world.

Honestly, he's unbelievable at times.

It's like trying to tackle tree trunks.

He just marches forward,

and that sort of player in your team can only do good things for you.

He's a fantastic player,

but it's the consistency and unity that they've already got

which is so special.

Warrington lost a huge amount of experience,

but Tony Smith is excited about the young players

-he's got coming through.

-And so he should. Briers has gone,

and he seems to have been a fixture in Super League forever.

What will we do without Lee Briers? I mean that in the nicest way.

But Roy Asotasi's come in,

an experienced front row with a lot of NRL experience.

They've still got a heck of a lot of talent, when you look at that squad.

When you look at their DNA, and you asked Eorl the question earlier

about who'll be at the top and who won't be, and Woodsy alluded to it.

Only four teams have ever won this competition,

so you've got to have been there and done that,

now is it time for somebody else to break in?

St Helens have recruited well. They've recruited big as well.

Are you looking forward to coming up against their pack?

I wouldn't say I'm looking forward to coming up against their pack.

You against Mose Masoe is going to be one of the classics!

Yeah, I think I'll be using a bit of footwork on him.

He's an absolute monster.

I saw him at the Rugby League launch as well.

You get a gauge of how big they are on the St Helens side,

and I know they'll be very tough to play against.

But you've got to counteract that, but we're up for the challenge.

We can't wait. It just makes it even more exciting,

some big teams going toe to toe.

Well, it looks like a wide-open competition this year,

and we got our first idea

of the form of two title contenders on Friday night.

The defending champions Wigan

were up against last year's league leaders, Huddersfield.

# Party people say

# Party people say, hey

# It's a new day

# It's a new day

# The world is getting ready Everybody ready, yeah

# For a new day, for a new day

# Celebrate and say, hey, hey, hey

# Hey, hey, hey, for a new day

# For a new day

# Celebrate and say... #

New season, new challenges

for a Wigan side that won the double last year.

An early start for them,

ahead of their trip down under to try to win the World Cup challenge.

Huddersfield, happy to provide the opposition tonight.

They silenced the doubters last year,

winning the League Leader's Shield,

and they have a happy recent record here.

Debuts in the Wigan line-up include Matt Bowen at full-back,

Dan Sarginson and Tony Clubb,

and O'Loughlin a late withdrawal with a hamstring injury.

Two new boys for Huddersfield, too,

two men who've also come north from the Broncos,

Antonio Kaufusi and Chris Bailey.

Hold!

Here's Lunt.

Brough looking on the inside to try and find a bit of an opening there.

Grix is here in support.

Last tackle coming up. Lunt.

This is Ferres. Good support there.

Murphy is on the outside, a clever little kick, and Ferres...

..will follow it up and score.

We're going to get our first video referee decision of the season.

Onside is very much the issue, and it looks there,

when Murphy kicks the ball, that Ferres was onside.

And a try has been given.

Excellent all-round play here by Huddersfield,

from Ferres through to Murphy,

and a very clever kick, which Ferris did well to touch down.

Terrific start by Huddersfield.

They certainly look the more assured team so far tonight.

Patrick with the thrust.

Here's Lunt, from dummy half. He's going down that blind side.

Keeps it alive. Lunt again. It's another kick to the corner,

and this time, McGillvary gets there first!

Inevitably, the question. It was very close to going dead onside.

From the kick, it looks onside. And the touchdown looks good as well.

Have a look from a better angle, just to make absolutely sure.

Athleticism from McGillvary.

The try, I'm sure, is going to be given here.

It is confirmed.

A second on the night for Huddersfield. They lead 8-0.

Lunt.

Crabtree running there, but it's back to Brough.

Brough with a short pass and hard in by Larne Patrick.

Brough picks up a dummy half.

They look to get the numbers, and they have.

The Wigan winger was sucked on the inside,

which made it an easy score for Jermaine McGillvary.

By the time the ball gets to him, he has all the time in the world.

He's happy.

Blasting down the middle again here.

Wigan have had their hands full

to try and contain these Huddersfield forwards,

off the back of whom the halves have been doing so well.

Here comes Wardle! Wardle has loads in support,

but Danny Brough has knocked it on.

What a chance that would have been to possibly put Huddersfield

out of sight.

Great line from Wardle. We saw that so often last year.

Had Brough held on, he was a very possible scorer.

Quick hands again here, Matty Smith goes out wide.

Three tackles to have a go at this Huddersfield line for Wigan.

Matty Bowen.

Green.

Sarginson with a pass. Thornley!

Well, if this is a try, it is spectacular.

It looks as though it was, as well.

We've seen some really good efforts tonight.

This is right up there with them.

Iain Thornley is going to be given a try for this, surely.

He grounds it.

Not out of play. Decision time.

Only one decision, try given.

Wigan finally have their first score of the season.

Sarginson making the space, and Thornley making the most of it.

Suddenly, Wigan are sensing the possibility of getting back

into this game here.

Second best for such a long time.

Here they come again. Oh...

The tackle on Sarginson very important from McGillvary.

The winger came in, he had to make that tackle.

Green.

A big, bludgeoning effort again from Tony Clubb.

That's how close Wigan are, but they've only got one tackle left.

Huddersfield hanging on gamely at the moment.

Wigan looking wide, Bowen now, all the way to Burgess!

There were two defenders on him, but he has found a way through.

He's only a young lad, Joe Burgess,

but he's a natural-born finisher.

Watch out for plenty from him this season.

Two back-to-back tries, and Wigan back in the game.

It's Huddersfield who get it back.

A terrific kick from Danny Brough.

Well taken by Lawrence.

Just when the Wigan flow

seemed all the other way,

Huddersfield have a chance to reassert their authority on the game.

South stand in great voice, urging the Wigan defence on here,

but Huddersfield with an opportunity.

Lunt.

Brough.

Again, the dummy runners come. Again, it goes wide. And wider still.

It's a hat-trick for Jermaine McGillvary.

Great response from Huddersfield. Back in control.

Or are they?

-REFEREE:

-Just want to check the grounding.

Richard Silverwood, as you can hear, wants to check the grounding.

A little bit of a bobble, but I'm sure that's OK.

The video referees give the try, confirm the hat-trick.

There'll be a bit of disappointment from Thornley

that he didn't make the tackle.

It's a cute little chip.

I was going to say it was well taken by Thornley, but it was knocked on.

It's picked up by Grix. It's the advantage play here, of course.

Grix kicks it downfield.

Well, he's been taken high here.

Matty Bowen is the culprit.

-Yes, he WAS taken high. REFEREE:

-OK, it's a high tackle.

I don't know whether it's direct contact to the chin,

or off the chest into chin, it's definitely a high tackle.

You're going on report.

Matty Bowen has had an eye-catching debut,

but that's one moment he hopes

he hasn't caught the eye of the disciplinary panel.

Brough again. He's found a space,

he's got the legs on Jack Hughes.

Looks on the inside. Here comes Grix.

Grix to finish it.

Grix has finished it!

Not just the move, but probably the match.

The try that surely, surely confirms victory for Huddersfield tonight.

As so often, Danny Brough at the heart of the good things.

Grix, the full-back, with a finish to win it for the Giants.

Your season is up and running. I'm not sure we can pick it up,

but you got a shiner for your troubles in that match.

How was it for you?

There were fireworks on the night, and I think one went off in my eye.

It was a painful one. The way the game went, it was very physical.

We've only had one friendly going into the game, it almost felt like

going into another friendly because we'd only had one,

then two weeks off. It makes no sense.

I was a bit unhappy about that at first.

But after the game at the weekend, I could do with this weekend off.

Danny Brough, the reigning Man of Steel,

he picked up where he left off. Fantastic for you guys again.

Yeah, he was disappointed with himself as well, a couple of times.

He did some unbelievable stuff, as always,

but also, a couple of opportunities didn't go his way.

He started off with a ridiculous offload. That's the way he plays.

He just loves it.

He's the difference at times. Five or six contributions

we've highlighted here that we are going to see, they change games.

That is what he does, the tough stuff and the black eyes are worthwhile

when you have Danny Brough behind you.

Short kick to get the ball back,

pinpoint stuff. Talk about great halves,

they do the simple things really well

and they make the right decisions.

This is what else he offers, he's a threat with the ball.

Great support play from Grixy, but Danny Brough is a world-class player.

Paul Anderson said that one of the pluses last season

was that there were no big injuries.

The downside to that game, poor Larne Patrick,

a dislocated kneecap, out for 12 weeks. Quite a blow for you guys?

We talk about teams staying fit, and the first game of the season,

we have a player out for 12 weeks.

Larne has been exceptional pre-season,

he's had his opportunity, with Jason Chan not getting a shot early doors

because of his own injury

and now out for 12 weeks, I feel so sorry for him.

But he'll bounce back.

Possibly the turning point, as Wigan were surging back,

a clever kick-off from Danny Brough, and a great try for Huddersfield.

I'm not so sure it's clever,

I think it's just short and they get the ball back.

I'm not being disrespectful, but does the team know he's going to do that?

He plays off the cuff.

It's great that they chase the ball and get it back

and get field position here.

McGillvary, with his hat-tricks, he's finished some plays really well.

What did you make of Wigan?

A little bit indifferent, they were a bit slow coming out of the blocks.

They started very hard, but they didn't seem to have

that final quality for me.

I'm sure they'll get better and I think this physical game,

for them, is perfect preparation for Australia.

Matty Bowen, an interesting challenge, but he's all right

and he's going to be playing in the World Cup Challenge.

-What did you make of his debut?

-He looked very exciting.

If you're going to lose a player of Sam Tomkins's quality,

you've got to bring some quality in, and they've done that.

I've seen him play over years in the NRL and he's been the difference.

When the ground's hard, particularly, wow, watch out.

His tackle technique needs to improve a little bit,

as he's playing next week!

-Can they win the World Club Challenge?

-Of course.

-Jolly good.

There was only one new coaching appointment over the winter months.

Hull FC have been making changes, Lee Radford replacing Peter Gentle.

The Black and Whites have high hopes,

after a nightmare end to 2013.

Quick thinking by Hull, Briscoe is in! What a spectacular finish!

COMMENTATOR: Lineham is away. 50 yards to go. Look at the chase.

He's going to go the distance, with a sensational try!

The Challenge Cup slithers from their fingers.

It's surely going to be Wigan's day!

This is annihilation here, Grix getting his second try.

As a supporter, you'd have to be embarrassed now.

It's the second time we've saved our worst performance for the big stage.

It's not good enough. They were hot and we weren't at the races,

and the scoreline reflected that.

I can't defend that.

'Breaking news on BBC Radio Humberside,

'and Hull FC have sacked coach Peter Gentle.'

Everybody thought he was the answer to all the questions,

but he's never done it, so he had to go.

Get somebody there who can put a good side together.

They've got the ground, they've got the support, they must have the money, surely?

Hull FC have confirmed Lee Radford

as their new head coach this afternoon.

I'm just a little bit cautious,

from the point of view of his history as a coach.

He has only coached East Hull Rugby.

'At the end of the day,'

you've got to have the experience.

I wanted somebody who understood the importance of the game

in this city and Lee does that, he commands respect.

I didn't think there was enough discipline in the squad

last year, with regard to training and particular standards.

Lee brings that, he's a very organised individual,

commands respect from everybody,

gets involved from the grassroots to the very top.

I've been very impressed with what he has done over the close season.

I couldn't have asked him to settle in better.

I'm enjoying it,

the boys have been really receptive,

the staff have been really good pre-season.

In a fortnight, the roller-coaster of Super League begins,

so at the moment, I've been enjoying it.

The World Cup has given the game a great boost.

The squad has a real chance, we've put a bit of pace and youth into it.

We are trying to keep under the radar,

but we expect to be challenging at the right end of the table.

I think we've got a great squad for 2014.

A lot of the players we have brought in are high-quality

and I think they can only benefit the team.

I'm sure we're going to have a good season.

I'm really looking forward to this year, it's a new year,

new faces in the coaching staff, new faces on the field.

Obviously, for myself as well,

I joined about Christmas time last year,

then obviously getting injured in the first game,

it feels like a new season for myself as well.

It's one for everybody to look forward to and be excited about.

This is a new beginning. A different team and coaching staff,

so I'm really looking forward to it.

We can ruffle a few feathers this season.

You know Lee Radford well,

he is the youngest coach in Super League, it's a big job, isn't it?

It hasn't gone great yet! Yeah, of course it's a big job.

They're a big club. Their expectations are very high,

even though they want to go under the radar.

There is 15/20,000 people

saying, you're coming up on the radar.

So, yeah, it's tough for him, but I think he will handle it.

Your chairman is an interesting one,

also talking about the discipline of players at training

-and things like that.

-We don't know

what goes on at individual clubs.

We know what goes on at our clubs.

Lee does bring that element of discipline,

he's played at the highest level.

And he has coached with some great coaches.

So I am sure he will stamp his own mark

and make sure the players are where they have got to be.

Looking across at Hull KR, a lot of changes,

but the big miss will be Michael Dobson.

Kris Keating is coming in, it's a big job, isn't it?

Yeah, it's a massive position for him to fill in.

But the team is pretty good,

we played against them in the first friendly.

It was very tough, very physical.

They have a big forward pack and they're very mobile.

They could cause a lot of upset throughout the season.

They will definitely pick up some wins against the bigger teams.

But it depends on how consistent they are. It will be interesting.

Do they have the depth of squad?

Because they were broken by the time they got to the play-offs.

We said that before. Staying healthy is very important,

so your medical staff and the physiotherapist play a huge part.

But every team - and I can't reinforce this enough -

if you underestimate any teams in this competition, you will get beaten.

High hopes in Hull, but in the capital,

they're just happy to be around.

The London Broncos had no home

and only ten players on the books in the middle of December.

They were saved when a deal was agreed for them to play in Barnet this year.

It has been an eventful few months.

We were probably dead five times. With no pulse there. Then...

We've got tough owners and we're a tough place,

and people believe rugby league in London

is more important than that, and they found a way to go again.

I thought it was gone quite a few times.

You don't believe it until it is signed and you are doing things.

It was as harsh as that. We're still coming through that.

It's been tough off-season,

but the lads have come out the other side a lot stronger.

We have a tight-knit group of boys now.

Before Christmas, it was touch and go.

The whole world knew about it, and the rugby league world,

but the lads that were there, there was a good group of solid lads,

training hard, week in, week out, in the build-up to Christmas.

Once we got the good news as well,

a bit more determination then to train even harder

and get ready for the start of Super League.

It must be so hard, you didn't even know whether you would have a club!

Yes, that's probably the hardest part about it,

not knowing what was going on. Sitting around and

not being able to hear anything, or get told anything for a while.

Then all of a sudden, to say we have been saved.

It felt nice to have a club.

We are really resilient.

Tough times, tough people, but you lift your standards.

It puts down in front of you how much you want something as a group.

So we will be fighting hard for everything.

We will be ready, each game we go into.

We have got some real talent.

We are shy on experience.

So we will be careful on how we go about playing games

and preparing our games. We will think our way through it.

We'll think about what we have and how we get these guys into games,

and get them ahead in contests.

It has been a tough winter for him, hasn't it?

I'm thrilled that London are up and running. I think we all are.

Then the big question.

They have had a short pre-season, what are they going to do?

Then you throw in the relegation - it could be a tough year for them.

But we are all thrilled that they are up and running.

And they can create siege mentality.

They will knock some teams off as well.

It is the start of a new era - new home, new owners,

does everybody hope it is a new start

and not just a stay of execution?

Yeah. If we look back at the years

that London have been involved in this competition,

we hope it won't be thrown out of the window.

They have some great players that have come from London.

We need to keep pushing.

It is an opportunity now

and I think the opportunity that these players have got

as individuals to put themselves in the shop window...

So you have to wish them all the best

and hope they go on and have a good season.

They are not the only ones who have had troubles.

Talk that Bradford might have a new owner.

It has been a choppy time at Bradford, hasn't it?

Yes, I think I read somewhere

they were taking a psychiatrist to help them -

that is not disrespectful - to help them off the field,

the uncertainty off the field,

it does affect players.

But you have to buckle down and get stuck into the season.

If they get a bad start, Bradford,

we bring this word 'relegation' back in.

Normally, we're talking about the top, who's going to win this...

We don't normally worry about what's at the bottom.

The words we've been using on the show tonight are

scrutiny, pressure, and consequences,

and that's right throughout the league now because of that situation.

And the other ones who've had a difficult time, Wakefield,

had to sell players to balance the book.

Lee Smith going today off to Rugby Union.

Interestingly, Richard, he did this two years ago.

He got a whole new squad together and built it,

but he said he doesn't know how they're going to start.

I don't envy teams that have to do this.

We were very fortunate that we've only had a couple of players

coming in. It doesn't really make too much difference

to the whole of the side really.

But the fact that you're bringing so many players makes it really

difficult, and you never know about the combinations.

It can take you a while to get up and running.

If you have a few injuries, then your team is not

quite as in-depth and it can be very hard work,

but they'll be wanting to do as best as they can straightaway.

And the other two teams that missed out on the eight,

but were disappointed to miss out, Castleford and Widnes.

-Do you think they can get themselves into that eight?

-Most definitely.

Nobody's spoken about them,

so they've done it without that element of scrutiny.

I think Castleford are a really good squad, with a lot of depth.

I think Widnes have done the same, so they'll be looking to be a lot better off

in the league ladder than they were last year.

Well, as well as their Super League title,

Wigan are defending the Tetley's Challenge Cup this season,

and the leading amateur sides kicked off the tournament last week.

The teams come from across the United Kingdom

and no-one travelled further on the road to Wembley

than the Scottish Champions, the Aberdeen Warriors.

It means everything, the guys taking time off work to travel down here.

Hopefully, we can do the job today. The boys seem quite well prepared,

so we'll go out today and we'll do our best.

It's a round trip of 700 miles from Aberdeen to St Helens,

but for the Challenge Cup, it's worth it.

The Warriors have come a long way in a short space of time,

in more ways than one.

Guys, let's start getting ready. We'll need to start going next door.

'I started playing rugby league when I was in the British Army.'

I came back out of the Army,

moved back to Aberdeen, where there was no rugby league in place,

and got involved with the Scotland students.

From that, we've set up a pilot scheme, and from there,

we built the team, we built the Warriors,

and 2011 was when we first took it onto the field.

Guys, we're not even three years old yet

and we're in a Challenge Cup game.

That's absolutely fantastic, boys.

Think about what we're doing.

So let's go out there today and enjoy it. You all ready?

CHEERING

Rugby league in Scotland is on a real high at the moment.

Reaching the quarter-finals of the World Cup has really raised

the sport's profile north of the border.

At the time,

we was on the back pages of national newspapers,

and that's never happened from a rugby league point of view.

We had some fantastic coverage. And little things like this as well,

the team coming down here and playing in the Challenge Cup,

and hopefully, the game will start to grow in Scotland.

That's a line! That's a line!

'I'd like to see a pro side in the championship before the next

'World Cup, so I think that's a goal for Scotland rugby league.

'It's certainly something that we're looking towards

'and building towards that is definitely having

'a championship side before the next World Cup in 2017.'

The Warriors have ambitious plans, but their immediate task was to face

one of amateur rugby league's most distinguished clubs,

Pilkington Recs. The St Helens based side

are coached by ex-Widnes player Kurt Haggerty.

'It's a massive day. The clubs have never met before. I think Aberdeen'

have only been going three years and we have a longstanding history,

so we'll enjoy it and get stuck into each other.

Think about what we need to do today.

Target the right areas.

Make sure passes are safe and they go into our teammates' hands.

I think they're massive underdogs.

Pilks, renowned rugby league, St Helens, some great players,

some ex-pros playing,

but just cos they're the favourites doesn't mean they're going to win.

It would be nice to get some of that Braveheart spirit

and Aberdeen get a good win today.

Aberdeen certainly made their presence felt, but Pilkington's

experience and quality proved to be too much for the Warriors.

The hosts dominated from the start, running in six first-half tries

that knocked the stuffing out of their visitors.

-WHISTLE BLOWS

-For both teams,

it was their first competitive game of the season

and the pace of the match eventually told on the Scots.

Three minutes. Take a look around, look into each other's eyes.

If you're not up for it, get off the field.