Episode 2 Super League Show

more. It's been seven years since her husband went missing. Now I

more. It's been seven years since Hello! It's been a record`breaking

start to the new Super League season. There were big crowds and

some big scores, as a dozen teams set out on the road to Old Trafford

over the last few days. Warrington's Richie Myler and Robbie Hunter`Paul

have joined us to review the best of Round One. Here's what's coming up.

Start Your engines ` Warrington and Saints get into gear for 2014.

It's opening night in Hull. The Black and Whites must pass an early

French test. And beware of the beast `

Castleford's top try`scorer on the Tigers targets.

Warrington celebrated ten years at the Halliwell Jones Stadium on

Thursday night. Nathan Brown's new`look St Helens were their

opponents. Both teams are looking to go one step further than they have

done in recent years. Between them, they've lost the last seven Grand

Finals. They cannot believe what has just

happened... It is Wigan! It is a look of bitter disappointment.

Battered and bruised. And with the short pass. Here comes

Michael Monaghan. Are going wide! Finishes in the corner! Two minutes

played and Warrington already have an opening score. Conceding very

early in the opening game of the season. Good effort. Lomax, the

fullback, is in the line. Oh! What a pass! Still had to dive to finish.

But the flick from Jordan Turner was sensational! A suggestion it might

have been forward. Take nothing away from the quality! Terrific.

He is going to have a go. He has flipped it away and Walsh has picked

it up. Stepping off that left foot and testing that Warrington defence.

They are not to be found wanting. Nobody saw him coming! Leapt to pick

his own line and has started in for Saint Helens' second try of the

night. Into double figures with 60 minutes played. He is going to go

for the kick... He is behind the 40 metre mark when he lets fly with

that! It is tantalisingly good! It just bounces on the line! It is a

spectacular 40`20 from Luke Walsh. Who announces his arrival with a

moment of absolute kicking perfection.

A little bit of a stumble but has picked himself a decent position.

He will try the muscular route but there were plenty of defenders. Oh!

Has he got it down! It looked very innocuous! Asking for the replay.

Lots of defenders there and it was almost too easy in the end! Try

confirmed! Three tries in seven minutes for Saint Helens, and he

might well be! Here is Walsh, who is having a splendid evening tonight.

Close enough. Two runners down! The referee is not

sure. No, he has had a look and it will be another video decision

required. Is there enough there to suggest the ball has hit the

ground? Yes, there was! Saint Helens underlining their dominance.

It is Gareth O'Brien who hoisted that one high and it has hit the

post! He is quick to it and when he gets there, it is a try. He has

finished some classics in his time but all he had to do here was

captured touchdown because O'Brien's boot had finally unpicked

things but not without an awful moth of good fortune! Well, if you plan

to that, it was spectacularly good. `` an awful lot. Looking as though

they are very much still in control of their emotions, and Tony,

likewise. Saint Helens still in the box seat. He has the pace! Enough

defenders back there to make sure it is a cul`de`sac into which he runs.

He held it back into the middle and here comes Lomax, looking to the

bridges. A pick`up and a turn! And in at the corner! Saint Helens with

another! As long as the grounding is OK. A touch in goal is what they are

looking for. This will certainly be their night and there is nothing

wrong with that. Absolutely spot`on! There can only be one decision and

it is a tri`! Saint Helens are running riot at times! `` it is a

try! First much experience for Warrington. And Walsh is a way! To

cap a wonderful debut. His kicking game has been outstanding. And just

to make it even more memorable, he will pick up the easiest of

interceptions and, unopposed, run for a debut try. He is a name we

will be talking about an awful lot, I am sure, in the weeks and months

ahead. I'm sorry to make you relive that. I

am sure that is a game you would like to forget. No, that will stay a

bit bitter in the tail for a long time. A quality side.

They played really well and knew how to beat us in that game and,

unfortunately, we weren't good enough. What is being focused on

after the game? I didn't play too great! It is never a good thing. You

have got to say some credit to Saint Helens. They came over with a game

plan and their way of playing. Nigh on perfect, so they did really,

really well. A tough time at the start of last season. How was it for

you? It was perfect. Great to see what Brown brought to Saint Helens.

A very dynamic type of offence, and especially attacks, and he has a lot

of players moving in numbers and it makes it even doubly so when the

forwards get good purchase. They were just punching holes into

Warrington's line, giving their harvest time and space to move. What

did you make of Luke Walsh because he was a big and important signing?

You can see here is a smart player. He enjoyed having that space and

time on the ball. You can see that. He came into the game at the right

times. In this game, you know, he didn't need to because the players

around him were doing their jobs properly. He was able to find a

couple of good kicks in the game. This, you probably put down to a bit

of miscommunication from Warrington's point of view. `` he

probably put. But I would like to see when the game becomes a bit more

physical to see exactly what he can bring to the table when he is taking

the line on. Warrington didn't have any time and space on the ball, so

that makes a big difference when you are a halfback. Saint Helen Scott

purges, Warrington didn't. That was the difference. A great debut for

him. He has come into a side and they are reaping the rewards from it

and they turned on us in our own park, which is never a nice thing!

There was one high tackle in the match. No charge. Has there been a

shift or are we just picking up on something? We were talking about it

downstairs. You see these flows of referees and it is like they get a

mandate at the beginning of the season. This is 1... You can see

that is the referee's camera as well. Not saying anything against

him but he has a perfect view, he is right behind the tackling, and for

me to hear another referee say on television it was a sending off, it

has been missed by a couple of people and he could have got it from

elsewhere. And I think the point that we can make here is, sometimes

referees are given a mandate at the beginning of the season. If there is

any high shoulder, I am ready going to knuckle down, send them down

straightaway, make it clear straightaway. In other years, they

are focusing on other areas of the game. That's make sure the plays on

the ball are clean. So maybe we will see them get a bit tightened up on

that. We shall see. It was time for the talking and the

spending to stop in Salford on Sunday, as the expensively assembled

Red Devils and owner Marwan Koukash had their first game of the new

season. Their opponents were Wakefield, who've seen plenty of

changes of their own during the winter months.

A record crowd of just over 7000 on hand to get a first look at the

brand`new red Bulls. Expectation amongst the locals was sky`high,

though Wakefield, with their own winter overhaul, were not simply

there to make up the numbers. The two teams coming onto the pitch at

the moment and it is a slow walk up! Just how super will the Super League

turn out to be for the Salford Reds have all is?

The chase is on and that will be a drive. Third! The Red Devils with

the lead! `` a drive forward. A Salford try! A little step by

Smith... Turned it inside. Another Salford try!

The second half was a complete contrast to the first, as the

Wildcats got back into the game. However, that first missed of two

conversion attempts would ultimately prove costly.

COMMENTATOR: He is in right behind the sticks! Salford are in trouble!

Lauer tiki driving from the corner! Big defensive effort! The referee

has given it. But Salford held on, bringing a huge sigh of relief for

all of their supporters. Their future feels a whole lot

brighter. Mixed emotions because I've felt we had more than enough

opportunities to win the game. And that second half performance was

outstanding. But I felt we could get this together. We were very, rated

in the first half and we just went away from what we were doing so

well. We didn't have any ball away as a result of that.

Important for Salford to win? I think it really was. With all the

noise, the highest profile and driven Super League club pre`season,

we know the reasons why for the colourful chairman and the owner

that they have and it was just said, that man there, there was a lot of

expectation on Brian Noble's shoulders. He had to come out and

prove the squad they had put together could compete and we saw in

the first 40 minutes that, yeah, they have got real talent within the

squad. You have got Rangi Chase putting in the kick and Tim Smith

coming into his own once Rangi Chase came off. They needed to show they

are for the full 80 minutes and Noble will be dus appointed ``

disappointed they allowed Wakefield back into the game. Wakefield lost a

huge amount of players. Tim Smith there on the opposition. A lot of

people were surprised how well they went? Is It is very inspiring forhe

Wakefield fans. They dug deep and to lose a player like Tim Smith, a lot

of the play went through him and to be on the opposite side, it is a

tough one. They came back well in the second half and that will be

encouraging and stuff for them to work the week after. They have

Jarrod Sammut to come in having left the Bradford Bulls? Wakefield were

professional. They contacted the club and everyone came to an

agreement where all parties were left happy to a certain extent. I

don't think it is a nice time for players to walk`out this close to

the start of the season, but the way that Wakefield took to it as a

professional outfit, I think, you have got to pay homage to them as a

club. You both played at Salford. 7,000 fans they had through there.

That bodes well? That's great. That's what the chairman has been

shouting about and that's what the club needs and the supporters want

and the big fanbase is what they need and if they can tap into that

and tap into that area, it would be great for the club. They have signed

some quality players. They have got big international players. So

hopefully they can keep doing the business on the field and the fans

will keep coming. We have seen wins for the Saints and

the Devils, let's see how everyone else got on.

Catalan calling, the Dragons are in town to turn up the heat. Will there

be glory for Castleford's Carney? Who else enjoyed a smiling start to

the rest of the action from Super League, round one?

It's been another turbulent week in the life of the Bradford Bulls who

lost another player on Friday as Jarrod Sammut left to join

Wakefield, following on from Gareth Carvell's move to Hull FC.

Robbie is Chief Executive of the club. To the outside world it has to

be said two players leaving in the one, it doesn't look good, does it?

It has been a tough week as well. That's not the type of adversary you

want. It creates confusion within the ranks of the players and creates

confusion on the terraces as well. I will say this, it was a tough week

because as I found out last week, sleep is over rated!

Is th it? Are any more going? No, I'm confident that everyone is set

in their ways. They have really bought into, I have got to take my

head off to Francis Cummins he has worked through this pre`season and

he knuckled in with the team. The players as well, they have had to

really bed down and you know what, they are all in it together and the

reality, the ethos they have now, if you don't want to be with the team,

they don't want you there. Where are we with the ownership? The current

team which I am a part of are running the club and running it to

the best of our abilities. There was the club, the club was put into a

period of time, we are on show. And effectively, it rests with the

governing body and the administrator. If another party is

interested, they have got to come and prove to the administrator that

they are better for the business than we are and better for the

creditors. Effectively, it is all over to them, but we're confident in

what we're doing. We are starting to bed down into the business and we

have got a number of really nice income generators lined up. Do you

think you will have a points deduction? I can't answer that.

That's down to the governing body, but we have publicly stated that we

are looking to work with all the creditors and whether or not that

bodes well for us from a points deduction point of view, we will see

how that pans out. I should imagine it was a relief to get down to

playing against Castleford? It was. It was a great game as well. The

scoreline really bodes well and in Castleford's way, but the game was

on the edge of a knife for 60 minutes. Both teams had their say.

Both teams were putting pressure on each other. Both teams came up with

fantastic play. At the end of the day, it is the team that gets the

most points on the board and Bradford were the dominant team for

about 60 minute,s, but it is an 80 minute game. What did you think of

Castleford minus Rangi Chase? They did play each other in a friendly a

couple of weeks early. They had more time on the ball. Bradford were off

the pace a bit. I think Finn had more time on his hands so that will

get harder as they go through the season. They looked very good. It is

call Cas in the last 20 minutes? Yes. Carney was a handful for the

players. They had some nice things, lucky things or when you have got

enough numbers, you make your own luck and Cas turned it on at the

right time. They got a grip of the game and they started dominating and

getting field position and they opened it up. They poured everything

on to Bradford. A couple of times Bradford could have got a grip of

the game, but he he with just `` but we just let the ball go. A few silly

mistakes allowed Castleford get a stranglehold on the game. Nice to

get back playing. Lovely. Justin Carney was the top try scorer for

Castleford last season. He known as the beast. I am not a fancied

player. I am too much straight down the line. Doing me best every time,

I get the ball I just go 100mph and hope for the best. You get in the

space and put him in one on one situations and you know he will be a

threat. We have got good quality and positions all over the field and you

want to get the ball to your better players and he is one of the better

players in the league. You will be a big part of our success this year.

We are hopeful that he will carry on where he left last season.

It is a great club and everyone is down to earth and that makes this

place home for me. I grew up in my country and I probably miss that

more than anything especially living over here and the weather. I grew up

in a country riding horses and I did a bit of rodeo riding, it is not a

big career that! You are only as good as the next. You can get very

hurt in those eight seconds. I wouldn't take that childhood away

from me again if I had my time over. When you watch him play, it is not

what you expect. You don't expect this real nice, mild, top quality

bloke. You expect this snarling, charging, individual that he is on

the field, but no, he is a great bloke. He is a pleasure to have

around the place. He gets cranky now and again, but no, he has been

fantastic for the club. I didn't know Darrel when I first came over.

I sat done and had a chat and he picked me straightaway. He knew how

I worked and I knew how he worked. We love playing for him. He played

the game before. He played it at a real high level. We respect that. He

knows what he is on about. He is smart. He is an exceptional player

and the fans love him. I went to a fans forum last night and somebody

asked me a question about him and the whole room lit up and that's

what he has done to the club. He is one of those players that you get a

sense from the crowd, as soon as he p gets the ball, there is a bit of a

raise, yeah, he is a special player. They came up with all sorts of

nicknames and songs. It is great support here. Castleford is a big

town. Especially for rugby, it is a real pleasure to play in front of

those guys. We have got a lot to prove with relegation. I don't know

the ins and outs of that, but it is a big year for Cas. We are hoping

for a top four spot. If we play how we're playing, we'll get there,

there is no doubt about it. Ritchie, have you tried to stop him?

You have got to lie down in front of him. He is so big and powerful and

he is out wide and out wide and defending on the wings. You have a

lot more space around players. He is getting that space and the size of

him and the power and... It is not even a fair fight! There was a

record crowd on Sunday. The Robins opened a new stand. For the

first`half this was tough, wasn't it? Yeah, the first`half, Hull

played Well Refreshed against them. It was really, really close. You see

the quality of Leeds. You don't know if he is going to run inside or

outside. Then he puts a kick in, unfortunately it was an error. This

is the replacement. That's a good signing. He has taken the line on

and it is a great try from him and the dominance from Leeds really

showed and they have got two flyers on this wing. And you will be out on

this side trying to stop Watkins? Those two guys can move at speed,

but they are dynamic as well. We were talking about Carney and when

he gets into space, that's what Leeds have got now on both their

edges and when they enjoy space around them, they creativity comes

alive. Leeds look like, Brian McDermott put together the finished

package. They know how to accentuate each others strengths and they seem

like on the right`hand side, they have got a strike force that can

score tries for fun. They look, they make it look so easy and scoring

Super League tries is not as easy as they are making it look. They are a

very, very good side. Now they have got that extra depth with Briscoe on

that wing and he can finish the try. The thing he brings to them is how

strong he is. He is very good carrying the ball and that's a big

plus for Leeds. It will be a big job for Hull, but he has got big shoes

to fill. Dobson used to direct everything. When Dobson was good,

Hull KR were good. During this game, obviously you can see, it is the

game has got away from them. The meeting of Hull and Catalan

brought together the youngest coaches in Super League.

Dave Woods was watching. Sanderson. They have got a few

numbers here, have they? Yes, the gap is created. Cordace is claiming

the try here. The referee wants a second opinion. It is all about the

grounding. It is a try. Confirmed. Catalan after 11 minutes.

A testing little chip. It is taken mid`air by Whitehead. They have

silenced the KC Stadium again. There are one or two roars of

approval. They get it away. Here is Hull and Whiting has picked the gap

and scored the try off the back of the run.

Henderson. It is Lyon Price. It is promising on this left`hand side and

an easier finish for Cardace. It is his second of the night.

Into the gap! Off`loads! And a try just before the break!

Just grabs him by the ankle. Ooh! Something untoward going on here.

The suggestion is that he twisted the ankle illegally after the tackle

was finished, and look at the pain. It is a penalty for the flop, as we

hear from the referee. And it is going on report, so he might have a

case to answer. A lovely pass from Rankin! Second

for the `` of the night for him! Rankin with a lovely ball! Want to

get on with it quickly. Here comes whiting. Lovely off`load from

Richard Whiting. And Rankin is turning it into something very good!

Never mind something very good! It is something very special! He's

going to go the distance! What a try that is from whole town FC! ``

Hull. It is one to live long in the memory! We're going to see a boot

here and it is Rankin who will set it higher. He gratefully accept the

gift! Jordan Rankin is having a golden few minutes, scoring tries

and making tries. Jordan Thomson has seen a bit of a

gap in which to run and has found it, and he will go all the way!

Wonderful! Great effort from Jordan Thomson! Appreciated by his

team`mates. Going wide where they've got the

numbers and they've got the pace as well! He has options right and left

and he is going to go inside! And they are on their way. Turning the

tide in their favour inexorably now, surely!

Catalan still hoping and still battling here. Taia will score and

there is a harm of discontent around the stadium now, though it still has

to be checked here. Obstruction is what they are looking for. You can

see Price gets the ball. They Catalan runner, so that should be

OK. And it is confirmed. There is still life in this game yet.

A cheeky little chip over the top! And he touches down! And if this is

given is surely confirms it will be Hull's night. Having a look at the

grounding. And that looks OK and the try confirmed. He has put it wide,

he has put it wide! That is six out of six conversions Hull have missed

in this half and that is a worry. Henderson has the ball, throws it

left. An air of desperation around Catalan now. A hat`trick for

Cardace! Early celebration! The question hanging heavy now is, is

there a possible comeback in the air? You bet there is! Back within

six points! 36`30 and still time on the clock! Henderson again. This

might be the last play. Chip by Bosc, collected by wood`mack... Wide

it goes. `` collected by Bosc. It has to be adjudicated. It is not a

knock`on, surely?! Looks good! It is a try! And the KC Stadium is

stunned. All eyes on Thomas Bosc. Can Catalan get away with a draw? He

misses it, it is a win for Hull. Bosc has put it wide! He can't

believe it! But Hull hang on for a tight victory.

And Lima has been charged for a grade D offence. Yes, a bit of a

goose step and around the fullback. Put one on the plate for his centre.

A great cutout ball from Rankin. Looks very dangerous. Goes right

through the middle, and then, had the speed and the foot speed to get

away because he had Price chasing him, so to do the fullback and then

outsprint one of the quickest blokes in the sport! A great ball on the

line. He sensed the centres and being able to put that right on the

money, as I say, that was great. They finally solve their problems,

do you think? Likewise say, `` like I say, he hopefully kicks on now and

gets that partnership going. But there have been halfbacks coming in

so hopefully he can cement his place. A helter`skelter game but

probably both coaches will be looking at the fence over the weeks.

Yes. Catalan really got into it. But then they died. Hull came into the

game, a bit like last year. There was relief for the London team they

had actually made it to the start line in the next. This was a big

score against them. Yeah, it has been tough for London and they only

put their team together in January. They have had to struggle to get

those numbers together. So it will be tough for them to work out their

combinations, get their systems in order defensively and

attacking`wise. So they are going to need some time before they get into

the flow of things but on the flip side, Widnes are good with that.

Really settling into this game. We talk about new halfbacks, how key

could their new addition be? They put a lot of tries on and scored

some themselves. That is a very big plus forward missed town. And that

continuity of having them play together. `` a very big plus for

Widnes. They looked ready good in this first game. It is also amazing

what a win like this... OK, we know that Harlequins haven't had the best

preparation but a confident win in a Super League match like this can

really kick`start your season. Your combinations come together really

well. It is in contact. Everybody knows this isn't the easiest stadium

in the world to go and play at the cost of the unique playing pitch.

And I think Widnes might be able to surprise a few people. We should say

Broncos, not Harlequins! What else to Widnes need to maybe move up,

make that top eight? I think Danny Tickle is a strong back row but,

like you say, it is getting the two halfbacks playing together. That is

the key to those two. Playing week in, week out. They are a berry

dangerous side and score some tough tries. A hard side to beat. London

going back to the drawing board and just get the players in? Vain to get

some time on the field, get their combinations worked out and come

together as a squad. So, round one of the first utility Super League is

complete, and before we leave you, let's check what is in store for the

teams in round two. Leeds against Warrington is the

standout fixture in League Two. The Super League show returns next

Monday night at 11:50pm in the North. It is repeated in the early

hours of Wednesday morning on BBC Two and will be available all week

on the eye player. Don't forget to follow the Thursday and Friday night

matches. Before we go, it has been confirmed Sam Burgess will move in

October to Bath. We don't know what Sam would have chosen to do but does

Rugby League need to look at hanging onto these key players? It is a

tough one. People are shouting about having that. Sam personally, he is

such an athlete and such a great sportsman that he should be taking

that challenge. It is a sad thing for Robbie league but for him

personally, it is a big challenge I hope he does well. But there is a

fear of losing players? There is but there is a couple of dynamics we can

look at and hopefully we can get it right. My thanks to you for your

contributions. That is it for this week. We will see you next Monday.

For now, goodbye.