Episode 17 Super League Show

Hello there.

They say it is tough at the top, but tonight we'll find out how tough it

is at the bottom of Super League.

Relegation is back and tonight we've got the first big match up

in the battle to beat the drop.

One coach who has been the thick of it all left

his position today and across the competition we have had red cards

and a few red faces in round 15.

Don't look down, the Bulls are looking to get up.

The Wolves are on the rise.

The League leaders are next in line for Warrington.

And top of the props, we meet the front row force at

Hull Kingston Rovers.

Bradford's Brett Kearney is alongside Brian Noble to pass

judgement on Round 15 with movement this week

at the top and bottom of the table.

We'll start with the news that Richard Agar has today left his

position as Head Coach at Wakefield.

It follows a dramatic afternoon at Bradford where

the Wildcats were beaten by the Bulls, a result which left Wakefield

just six points ahead of Bradford in the battle to avoid relegation.

He is trying to get the ball away.

A superb tackle there.

Out it goes to Gale.

Patel.

It is a corner.

It is the opening score of the day.

Somehow Bradford kept that alive.

Luke Gale running at the line.

A chance here.

A beautifully tight pass.

And that was a lovely move by Bradford.

And that was a lovely move by Bradford.

It is a short ball again from Gale.

Can he get the ball away?

It is a beautiful pass.

Patel gets it.

It is a superb off load.

It is a superb off load.

The referee produce add yellow card, but Kerr went unpunished leaving

the Bulls with the advantage.

Two penalties from Gale saw Bradford extend their lead.

The second try of the afternoon was a mere consolation.

A chance here for Ryan.

A chance here for Ryan.

Has he got the ball down there?

comes even if he discussed the fact that he was leaving, you would want

to see him in place until the end.

He has done a great job in trying circumstances in

the time he has been at Wakefield?

We forget that.

Now we've got the new regime and the relegation,

it does add to the scrutiny and it does add to the pressure.

It is important that clubs know their direction and their coaches

explain as to where they are at.

It is a surprise.

James Webster takes over.

Is that a tough time for him to take over?

Or a succession?

There is that element of succession.

The players will be familiar.

The staff stays the same.

They will try and get troops back.

They had a few injuries yesterday Wakefield to key players.

If your key players are out, certainly, it is difficult to get

wins in Super League these days.

A great win for Bradford.

A much needed one.

I guess?

It was a massive win for us.

Waky are the team we're trying to run-down, I guess.

They are in front of us.

For us to get another win in the Super League was big for us.

We have got 12 games to go and we need to start our run home.

How were the nerves beforehand?

I was nervous!

LAUGHTER I imagine the boys would have been very nervous.

This week at training you can see the intensity going into it.

You can see the match was very important to us.

We have got to keep it up for the rest of the year.

We've shown we prepared well and what happens if you prepare well.

So we've got big matches coming up and hopefully we will get

a few points out of them.

You are still out.

You had a few troops back.

How important was that?

It was massive.

I'm the only injured player at the moment which is something we

haven't had for a while.

It is a big thing having those guys back.

Getting key players back is a big thing for us.

There is a hearing on Wednesday about whether you can get any

of the points back.

You don't know, you're not going to be in the hearing,

what's the feeling around the club?

Are you optimistic that you might?

Well, I think there's a feeling of optimism.

As a player, all we can do is do what's in front of us.

At the moment we're on two points and we've got to make

up another possibly 12 points.

If we get six wins coming into the end of the season,

we'll avoid relegation.

If we get points, we'll take them with both hands.

We're not going to be in the hearing.

The ins and outs of it, would you like to see them get some

points back?

None of us know what they're appealing on.

Bradford knows and everybody at the tribunal will know.

There is an element confidence coming out of the Bradford camp.

There is a sense they're going to get two or

four points back which will really, really help their cause.

They may not get any back.

The players and the coach will focus on what they're doing in

the next round in the Super League.

You are playing Salford.

It is a massive game, but quarterfinals of the Challenge Cup?

It is a chance to, if we get knocked out of this match, it is

one more match and at Wembley.

It is good for us to have this match this weekend.

Off the back of a win, we put in a good performance this week

and hopefully get another win and we're into two important matches.

Bradford closing the gap at the bottom.

But at the other end of the table, the Leeds Rhinos were looking to

stay ahead head of the pack.

The League leaders were at Warrington.

Dave Woods saw this one.

Dave Woods saw this one.

They are the League leaders, but St Helen's are breathing ing

They are the League leaders, but St Helen's are breathing ing

over their shoulders.

It is a different Warrington they face tonight.

They come here on the back of three confidence boosting wins.

They come here on the back of three confidence boosting wins.

They are finding form.

They are finding form.

It is a good effort by Hill.

It is a good effort by Hill.

There is Michael Monaghan.

Hill with great support.

It is the prop that finishes it!

It was a break Myler that did all the damage here.

Showing terrific pace.

Myler.

And Bridge is sent through the gap for his second try of the night.

And Bridge is sent through the gap for his second try of the night.

Warrington are loving every minute of this in the first-half.

Warrington are loving every minute of this in the first-half.

Three tries without any Leeds response.

Three tries without any Leeds response.

Leeds are keeping it alive.

Ormsby is away and Monaghan is there in support.

And now for the corner.

It is a fabulous, fabulous try saving tackle by Ablett.

He refused to give up.

It looked every inch a score when the hands were in the hands

of Monaghan, but Ablett wouldn't be shaken off.

They will go back and Warrington will get the turn over

from where this knock-on happened.

They start from deep.

There is space here for Rhys Evans.

Briscoe is after him.

Briscoe can't get there.

Evans for the corner!

Rhys Evans.

Oh, the effort from Hardacre this time.

Did Evans get there?

Oh, the foot is just on the line and Hardacre has pulled

off another astonishing try-saving tackle for Leeds.

Confirmation of no try.

Well, it was very nearly an old-fashioned winger's try here.

Support on the outside, but he backed himself.

But so too did Hardacre.

Sinfield.

It is not the cleanest of handling here.

It is typical of Leeds' night.

They've given a penalty away.

Off side.

So many mistakes.

They are suggesting their team-mates should carry on, but Chris Bridge is

going to take the two points.

Peacock.

No way through.

Warrington are standing and waiting here.

Yes, he has got it down!

It was a strange turn of events, but once Peacock got the ball away,

it was always a try.

Here is Ormsby.

Just about held up.

Higham.

Monaghan.

Monaghan scores the try.

What's the difference between this Warrington side

and the ones you beat?

Not sure really.

I mean, they have got really fast in the last few weeks.

They look like a different team.

They are a team improving.

You have got Bridge playing on the back of that

and he is playing really well.

Do they look like the Warrington of old?

The confidence seems to be coming back?

Yes, they look really quick and they win the ruck and when they have got

that, it enables them to throw wide passes to Myler or Bridge on the fly

which creates damage or they run out with dummy half with Monaghan or

their quicker blokes and they were just a bit too quick

for a jaded Leeds team.

We saw the brilliant defence we see sometimes from Leeds.

The two efforts from Hardacre and Ablett.

Let's look.

Jaded rather than tired.

They looked very, very dangerous.

Leeds still showed that element of doubt and resistance.

And they still were in the game.

This is the type of team they are.

They'll be pleased to get lots of players back in their team.

We go back to the situation where you need your

best players on decks, certainly against the better players.

Chris Bridge has stepped up, so he has been fantastic, there are

lots of players coming in.

What have you made of Chris Bridge?

I didn't see him as a stand-off before he started playing, but

he has been playing brilliantly.

It is going to cause any team a lot of trouble.

What has he brought to the role?

He was a stand-off half, he can play, he can run,

he can pass, he has played with the team for six years in the centre.

He is a dangerous player.

He can beat you on the one-on-one.

The RFL have referred Zak Hardaker to the commission

for making a homophobic comment.

Saint Helens go back to the top to the table if they can beat Salford.

The Saints have been great through the start.

after they lost to Warrington.

They've taken it on board and they've come back strong.

He is back-up fullback, he's played fabulously, hasn't he?

He has been fabulous for most of his career.

He shows up in the right place at the right time with

an element of experience.

He's handful.

Nathan Brown, it is a head scratch of him.

They are moving around, Saints, they had to dip,

but it has done some good.

Sometimes it takes a bit of a dip to take the next step.

This game could have been one that got away from them.

Salford, they've got players that can score points.

They showed what a good team they are.

Salford are changing, are they taking too many things?

Today they look like they are confused?

I certainly feel that the change of direction means they have to learn

things, which takes time, no doubt.

But if Bradford get their points back,

Salford might find themselves in the situation they don't want to be in.

There's a lot of quality in that team,

a lot of players that can play.

I am confident in them.

Do you think that players like Rangi Chase can fit into this structure?

Yes, you can do whatever he wants, practically.

But there are some other players who play in a certain way,

but they have to learn a structure and become intimately

knowledgeable about this structure.

Next, another big game for you.

It will be a big match for us.

They have the quality.

And it will let us find out what happened to everyone in between

in round 15.

The Giants hoped for a good night.

Hull FC were looking to shine in London, did the Black and Whites

leave the Broncos in the shade?

And we catch up with Cas, the Tigers were hoping to rock

the Robins at The Jungle.

You have to go back to August last year to find the last time Hull FC

won away from home.

They were in London on Saturday and coach Lee Radford was desperate

home and they didn't start well.

They charged down, and, very unfortunately,

it was one-way traffic.

When a team lacks confidence, any error seems to be magnified tenfold.

And a good team like Hull will exploit that.

If you are having a dip, like Hull, is this the kind of game you want

to have where you get some fluency?

You just want to get some points, really.

Getting two points makes you feel better.

Doesn't matter who you are playing, and if they put 50 points

on London, like they did...

When you are up against it, you don't need a man sending off.

He has been stepped to late, and I've seen far worse

in the competition this year given lesser punishment.

To lose a player when you are under the cosh, they were 20 points down

there, I'm not sure it made that much difference, but London started

well, and then Hull took over.

Plenty of space for them to run through.

I didn't think it looked that vicious.

Are you surprised the talent hasn't clicked it this year?

They have had their fair share of injuries.

Confidence is a wonderful thing, and when you haven't got it,

you don't know how to get it, and when you've got it,

you don't know where it came from.

The new coach's vision and regime, they do have the players.

There are a lot of teams that have the players,

but they need that teamwork.

The halfback combination, that has been chopped and change,

can they build on something?

That is always a big one.

Having some halfbacks working well together is

a key element to any team.

As long as they can stay with the same

pairing they can stay with the same pairing over the next few weeks.

In the hearts, that will be big.

Hull back to winning ways, but on the other side of the city Hull

Kingston Rovers have been travelling nicely in the play-off places.

One of their star performers has been Australian prop Michael Weyman

who joined the club over the winter.

He's won the NRL with St George, made international and State

of Origin appearances, but playing in Super League

fulfilled a long standing ambition.

I was lucky enough to be over in 2002 with Australian schoolboys.

And we were here for seven weeks with that team.

I always wanted to come across and experience an English winter.

And, you know, it's a different culture, a

different country and something that was always in the back of my mind.

And when the opportunity arose to come over here, it was something

that we really jumped at.

My wife was really keen to come over as well.

You know, it was just one of those things that just happened.

It's just such a great historical city.

We've really enjoyed it.

He looks for an opportunity.

Straight down the middle.

He's got the big man on his inside.

It is going to be a great try.

What a ball that from the big front row, Michael Weyman.

The games that I've played in, I've enjoyed every minute.

The atmosphere the crowd creates, it just has been something special

that I'll never forget.

And the atmosphere of the derbies is unbelievable as well.

So, you know, each team has their own tradition.

And something that I've really cherished.

I was talking to people over the Easter weekend

when we played at Cracknell Park.

A lot of people thought there was 50,000 here, but it was only 11,000.

So, the atmosphere, it was electric.

And people back home didn't realise there wasn't as many people there.

So that's just unbelievable.

It is going to be a sidestep.

They are in!

Michael Weyman has forced his way over.

The try in the Hull derby was one of four in four matches for Weyman,

but he doesn't expect to be scoring points too often.

I was in the right place at the right time.

I wasn't too much involved with it.

It was just a fall over the line.

I was lucky enough to get one on the board.

I was getting across a few times, I don't get lots of tries,

I just get one or two.

But I got a double against Warrington, which was,

obviously, that's not something I'm used to, but it's been really good.

Weyman is going to score!

He gets another one.

The lad is a try scoring machine!

Making hard yards in the front row is more what Weyman is all about.

And the giant prop forward has more hard graft lined up in Australia

when his career is over, in a very different type of field.

I've got a farm back there.

My dad and brother look after that for me.

I am lucky.

To have my dad and brother to keep an eye on that for me.

Just ticking away, looking after itself until I can come home.

You know, I am very lucky to have that.

I've got all that ready to go when I retire.

Building roads and bridges and stuff like that,

getting into earth moving machinery, it's always been, I guess, a passion

for me, something I've enjoyed, and something I look forward to

being a part of when I finish.

I've driven across it once because I wanted to have a look at it,

but they charged me on the toll on the way in,

and they charge me on the way back, so I don't do that any more!

But it is a freestanding bridge, the largest freestanding bridge

for a long time until they built another one in Dubai.

So, it's always good to tell the boys what a freestanding bridge is.

Things are starting to iron out for us.

There was a lot of new players in at the start of the year.

You know, things obviously take time.

And I always we were taking those steps every week.

We've still got a lot of work to focus on.

But I think we are going in the right direction,

the competition is so tight right throughout, it's as many wins as you

can get makes it a lot easier towards the end of the season.

And trying to stay in touch with those top four teams is important

What surprised you more? civil engineering or wanting to experience

the English winter? And Australian

wanting that! I would have said stay in Australia and come over in

They were at Castleford on Sunday, and this was not a day

for either of them to remember.

Or you are impressed by Castleford?

I like watching them, they've got a great team.

The way their forwards interchange is fantastic.

This man, he got a hat-trick, ten this year.

What has been the key for them?

They are scoring for fun!

I think their defence is very good.

They've always been able to score tries, they'd get 20 points a game,

but the other teams would get more points,

but now they are defending well.

And they are winning matches.

And they are really good to watch.

Brian, you are nodding away.

People are not finding them out, it's just that they are playing

better.

This boy, he's a revelation.

I think they have set the platform for what they want to

do, they can pass.

You have to be good on them if you stand any chance

of beating Castleford.

It was a tough one.

The team couldn't match them, Hull Kingston Rovers.

Well, that is pace to burn, as we can see.

That is a new lace of life, and he loves it.

Justin Carney, missing, suspended, but they keep scoring without him.

You might have thought that would have been a hick up,

but he wasn't missed at all.

He is a great player.

I think they have the team to keep going.

They take on Wigan in the quarterfinals on Saturday.

Can they do it to?

Yes, and they think they can do it so it will be tough for Wigan.

Let's not underestimate the task at hand.

Castleford will have to be at their best.

Has Luke Dorn surprise to you?

Not in the slightest.

Everyone is playing very well.

A lot of the team are playing very well that can back up the team.

Michael Weyman, he got himself red carded.

They don't need it.

I think he was talking about the freestanding bridge.

A bit of civil engineering went over the head of the referee.

For Castleford, they are not surprising anybody any more.

Is it now about belief as to how far they can get?

I think they have enough belief and confidence to keep going.

This bloke, wow, don't leave him alone!

You'll be in trouble!

That is confidence, that is people expecting things to happen.

They going to have to be good at Wigan, and they are not going to

be fearful.

And what about the strength in depth?

They have a few new players that haven't featured every week.

That is the big thing, the depth they have.

I think it was on the sidelines, he has been very good.

When you have those kinds of blokes that can come in and play well,

it's a good situation to be in.

Come the play-offs, they will be in the play-offs, what can they do?

It'll be fairly new for them.

You wouldn't want to go down The Jungle, you wouldn't want to go

there because you know that they play that field very well.

They never seem to struggle.

But, absolutely, they are a threat.

Huddersfield kicked off the

season with a win at Wigan. David

Woods was watching. Wigan's youngsters have been doing well in

the absence of one or two of their

senior players. Huddersfield hoping that last week's defeat was just a

blip. It was five wins out of five before that.

It is good to see O'Loughlin back and starting.

Away goes Williams.

Burn is involved as well and O'Loughlin and now there is room

on the right-hand side.

O'Loughlin is back in support.

A wonderfully executed try for Wigan.

A good moment on his return for Sean O'Loughlin as well.

Just the start that Wiggin were hoping for.

Came here with the numbers.

O'Loughlin to finish.

Hughes.

Smith.

Back to Mattie Burn.

He has room on the outside.

He has gone back on the in.

He scored the try.

There were two or three screaming for it on the outside,

but he saw a path down the middle.

A full-back who is finding his form in recent weeks.

Scoring a memorable try.

A good run.

Robinson.

Good hard work by Bailey.

A little closer to that Wigan line.

Robinson.

Here is Brough with a pass.

Flighted to perfection!

Murphy with a catch and a touchdown, but the long pass from Danny Brough.

It was a thing of beauty.

A roll over for the big fella.

The referee is not sure here.

REFEREE:

I just want to make sure he hasn't used his own man as an obstruction?

Is he obstructing anybody there?

He doesn't appear to be.

As a result, Huddersfield are right back in it now!

You know what he is going to do.

It is a case of how do you stop him?

Wardle.

He has seen a gap there.

Here comes Brough and they came from both sides.

They're still going here Huddersfield.

Ferris is held up.

Wigan are running out of numbers and Wardle is in.

From 12-0 down Huddersfield have the lead.

A super response from last year's League leaders.

Wardle starting it.

From that position, they have the momentum and the numbers.

Here is Ferris.

Here is Wardle who is going to run to the line.

He is going to get there.

Bowen went was the closest, but never close enough.

But what about the play from Brett Ferris?

Immense.

He has taken three defenders out.

Got the arm free and it is a walk away for Wardle to score thereafter.

Brough.

Huddersfield are in their pomp again.

It is Brough with a dropped goal. in their pomp again.

It has gone over and that means Huddersfield are now

three scores ahead.

He had his moments and his misses on this ground,

but this time it is accurate.

A good effort by Jack Hughes.

Wigan in touching distance of their try line now,

but here comes the sixth tackle.

Mattie Smith looking to measure the kick.

All intact and the try is given.

Well, there is life in Wigan left yet.

Smith's kick here.

Well, if they can get another back quickly who knows here from Wigan.

And Huddersfield now surely confirm their victory.

Well, the ref is asking a question, did he put a foot in touch there?

Not there.

Still inside the line so far.

Still inside the line.

REFEREE:

And the decision is try.

Those first few steps were vital.

It was head back and off he goes!

And Huddersfield are on their way now to a win without any doubt.

And it will be a try and a corner for Burgess.

It ain't going to make too much of a difference.

Huddersfield registering a terrific win here tonight

and Wigan missing the chance to go second in the table.

How much did Huddersfield need that after the performance they put

in against St Helens?

Well, let's not forget they went 12-0 down at the start

of the game and Wigan generally kick on, but they were tough enough

mentally to Huddersfield because the scoreline suggested it was close.

Having a couple of balls recognise ricocheting.

Let's see that from Brett Ferris.

He makes this look easy, but how difficult is it?

It is incredibly difficult.

It is not something you can really coach and especially if you

have got small hands like myself.

He is one of those players who can change hands.

He is a player who really seems to have come into his own?

Well, he has been around for a while.

But he has come into his own.

Those little pieces of skill are often the difference

teen winning and losing and to have a player like Brett

Ferris and he has developed and he has honed his skills to perfection.

Wigan have used the young kids.

They have had to.

They have had so many injuries.

Do you think this was a game too far for them?

The last few weeks they've probably got a couple of wins that

they maybe weren't expecting.

Leeds and the magic weekend...

How much would that take out a side?

Especially a young side to get up emotionally and back it up the next

week and three weeks in a row, it will drain you a little bit.

I guess as you get on, you get more experienced and it becomes natural.

I mean, they've got a great team there and I wouldn't expect

them to stay down for too long.

Let's see how Catalan got on at Widnes.

Catalan haven't been great on the road, but this was really

tight, wasn't it, Brian?

It was tight, wasn't it, Brian?

It was tight.

Catalan got off to a ten tight, wasn't it, Brian?

They have not been great away from home, have they, Catalan?

Very strong at home.

They get themselves a dream start.

You would be frustrated if you are both coaches.

Widnes are very strong here.

Widnes called themselves back into the game.

A very, very good team and execute really well here.

Both coaches really frustrated because they've won their game

and they got back in the game and should have won the game.

One of those nights you think, "Where we really happy with a draw?"

You see your side twice get a ten point lead and that must be

hugely frustrating?

A 10 point lead, I guess, the game plan changes a little bit.

You start thinking about how to preserve a little bit.

That's what it seemed that Catalan did a couple of times.

They have got a great attacking team.

If they keep playing their natural game I am sure they

would go along with it.

Ascari is just scoring for fun.

If you can get a ball, it is generally a clear run-in.

What are the things he need to work on in his game?

I haven't seen enough to comment too much.

He picks his players to hang around.

Last week, two weeks ago sorry, you know your off-loaders,

you know the blokes who can help you and he is doing that really well.

It is game management. and he is doing that really well.

The disappointing aspect is not many people go to Widnes

and have the opportunity to win.

They like what they do at the stadium there.

To be in that position and to relinquish it and let Widnes

in, there will be an element of frustration, but they are closer

to the away win.

Both coaches frustrated.

Let's see how all the weekend's results affected the

First Utilities Super League table.

There is live coverage of the Super League matches,

Wigan V Castleford starts at 2pm on Saturday.

We're at Bradford from 3pm on Sunday.

We talked about the Super League ties, Widnes and Leeds.

Can you see any of the championship sides springing a surprise?

Maybe Leeds will turn up and put in a good effort.

They have got a good structure and know what they are doing

and know when to do it and they have got good football.

Leeds need to start well.

We shall see if you are right.

Don't forget to join us for live coverage of the Challenge Cup

quarterfinals, the Super League Show will be back in a fortnight's time.