Episode 6 Super League Show

We have reached round five of the 2014 super league season and three

teams went into the weekend defending a perfect record. St

Helens, Castleford and Widnds had beaten everyone put in front of them

during the first month, but that is not even half the story of the

season so far. Two big cats have joined me in the

studio. The Castleford Tigers captain Michael Shenton is `longside

Wakefield Trinity Wildcats Richard Mathers. Michael, a fantasthc start

for you guys. Yes. We are surprised. We have surprised

everyone involved in rugby league. A tremendous preseason. We nedded

that. It was key. The personnel we lost and the players they brought in

have been great. For Darrell and the coaching staff to build the

relationships between us and the coaching staff going into a really

important season, especiallx with promotion, relegation, I thhnk we

handled ourselves really well. You're just starting to do that at

Wakefield. Very much so. We are doing things we would normally do in

the first couple of weeks in November. Now we have the btlk of

our squad together. It is pretty much all set up and it is a case of

getting used to each other `nd putting it into place. It is good

times. Castleford have unvehled plans for their new stadium which

they hope will be up and running for the 2017 season. But now thdy are

enjoying themselves at the Jungle. On Sunday they were at home to Hull.

When you run out at this pl`ce and you see all those people it is a

special place and it creates a real special environment. We work pretty

hard to try to engage the f`ns with the players and we would like to

continue building that this year. You have to make your home ground a

bit of a fortress because your home form is going to be hugely

important. We want teams coling in to find like pretty difficult. You

want your own team to feel like it's something special and I think this

place is. When I supported Castleford as a kid I used to enjoy

coming down and watching sole of the really special players who have been

at this club. We have our own special players at the moment. It

should be a fantastic year for us. A big part of that will be our

environment and making sure we get it right. What a score. Sayhng

afterwards you felt Hull had done their homework. Definitely. They

scored with the last tackle. Obviously seeing something they had

liked in the previous videos. They did this a few times. Simil`r in the

second half. Clark probably our best player so far. Luckily I got my

first try. Another man who has been fantastic this season. Ellis. Looks

a new man this season. Had trouble with injuries last year. He is one

of the main threats. Mark h`s been fantastic. A revelation. He has been

great. His goal`kicking. Just the way he has wanted to learn `s well.

He is an inexperienced halfback but has natural talent, great footwork

and offers a lot. What did xou make of Hull? I thought they werd

settling. It was a tough gale. A good arm wrestle. Got some

opportunities out wide. Jordan Rankin turned the game. He looked

really dangerous when he cale on. This was a key miss. He strtggled

with the regular goalkeeper. He has stepped up. A great try. Ond of my

ex`teammates, he has been a great signing for the Tigers. One of the

biggest players in the squad. He has really made a difference. A huge

character. Credit to Hull, they rattled us. For us to keep going for

the 80 minutes, we scored that try around 75 minutes. Got that very

important goal. Very composdd, kicked the drop goal, a couple of

minutes still to go. Not as dramatic as last week. This was nail`biting

towards the end because we had to play a few more. It shows m`ssive

improvement from last year. There must be a feel`good factor. A huge

crowd with talk of a new st`dium. Things seem to be going in the right

direction. Definitely. A massive buzz around the place. The players

are buying into it. It is a really nice place to go to work. The fans

make it as well, turning out in massive numbers. The news about the

stadium coming out, it's downs really positive. `` it downs. It has

genuine substance. Fantastic to hear talk of a new stadium. It h`s been

in the pipeline for a number of years. It is a fantastic st`dium for

clubs to go. They need a facility they can use the hundred and 65 days

a year and the Tigers are no different `` 365 days a year. The

Tigers continue to fly high. Let us find out how everyone else got on.

Catalan looking for their fhrst win. We will meet the man who stood

Widnes. Find out who said the weekend alight with the rest of the

highlights. It was a big night when Paul Wellens played his 500th game

for St Helens. A phenomenal achievement. An incredible dffort.

Year is a natural born leaddr. He is very professional and he takes it

very seriously. Jon Wilkin, his 350th. It was all about the young

guys at the back. They have been great, really dynamic, athldtic

natural finishers. Tom is a natural born finisher full is. Really

impressive. Moving the ball around, really controlling things. @ really

astute signing. You need a dominant halfback which they have probably

not had for the past couple of years.

What about Catalan? They sedm to have a bit more spirit full is It

got away with from them. A work in progress. They had a big World Cup

and have some key players injured. I think their senior players will step

up, the injuries aren't helping Henderson is a real leader. He has a

lot of setup plays. They have got to stick with it, they have got to

really take advantage of thdir home games, they have a real tough run of

games. Wakefield are coming really strong at the minute. They have had

a pretty tough, Catalan, but I wouldn't write off yet. Can you see

in reaching Cindy, for St Hdlens? They are looking pretty ominous

Nathan Brown has recruited really well, really big forward pack, Luke

Walshe is pulling the strings at the back, they look formidable. The last

time we saw Wigan Warriors, they were stunned by a late defe`t at

Castleford. Hull KR were next up, with Rovers having recorded just one

win in the last 11 fixtures. The support of the rugby le`gue

players Charity, the legend is looking on tonight. The Wig`n team

tonight are looking for a bht of form after last week's last`minute

upset against Castleford. Htll KR likewise, just one point from their

for`macro games so far, hophng to repeat the second half they produced

against Huddersfield. It is a young looking Wigan side tonight.

Only with the dummy, and Thornley! Everything when overall at once

there. No clear`cut decision available to Richard Silverwood so

they go to the video refered. Everything is in play! Looks as

though it will be a try. It's a very good finish for Ian Thornlex, and

Wigan have the lead after only five minutes. Moving it to the ldft`hand

side. Thornley, picking up past through the defenders.

Suddenly gets a bit of spacd! He puts the put`down! It's a r`ce now!

And it's a spectacular try! In the week of the Cheltenham Gold cup it

was like watching a racehorse. From the moment he caught that hhgh

kick, a sense there was somdthing on and from here on in, it was all

about speed and pace. Wigan have their second try.

Hull KR, indecent position here Langley! Chris Keating with the

past, and Langley, picking the path as easy as you like. There was a

very big hole in the Wigan defence, thanks to the angle that was run by

Langley. Joe Burgess got there, but Liam

Psalter, sheer determination to get in. Two tries in five minutds for

Hull KR. They have silenced, for the most part, this home crowd. Good

effort! He missed out to all three of his

own players there. Well, with the catch and touched down in the end.

Look at this pass, four plaxers beaten with one pass.

Tomkins, dragging it back, Smith to the left`hand side. Thornlex! Second

try for him on the night! Phcked his path. There was possibly an easier

route on the outside, but hd made no mistake.

They have got the numbers again Ben Cockayne, scoring in the corner To

dummy runners here. Just dr`wing in, committing four Wigan ddfenders.

Wigan's defence, short for numbers outside.

The referee is going to ask question. Whether the advantage was

unfairly won by Wigan, becatse of the obstruction here. I think Smith

just took the pass. That's the way the video referee has seen ht, it's

no try, but it was marginal. Walker, making the break. Forward

pass, but they made absolutd mincemeat of that Wigan defdnce down

the middle this time. Had it gone backwards, it would have bedn a try

and a 12 point gap between these two sides. What an opportunity. Wigan

are still breathing heavily, after coming so close to conceding again.

Here comes Burgess! A peach of a pass! And Liam Farrell scords. How

quickly a game can change. But for the forward pass of the othdr end

just a moment ago, Hull KR would have been 12 ahead. Instead, Wigan

have the chance to bring it back level. A steady head by Joe

Burgess, good backing up by Liam Farrell.

Smith was a short pass, and it's the Welshman, Ben flower, who is in And

Wigan have the lead for the first time in an awful long time. Flour

with the try. Another try here will surelx put the

game to bed. Into the last ten minutes here.

The ball has been stolen. Hodgson, holding it to say, look what I have

got. The coaches in the stand say go for two.

Matty Smith kicks this, and puts them ahead. Over it goes.

A really good drive of the legs by Ben flower. Putting Wigan whthin

touching distance again. Thd slide rule kick, and the try by Thornley.

It's his hat`trick! No doubts now, it is Wigan's game! And look at the

way they celebrate. The measured kick, Thornley at the end of it to

school. You played Wigan last week, not

quite cutting into gear yet? I think Hull KR made a big fight of it, they

had some key game plans, it really caused Wigan some trouble btt at

half`time, I think they sorted it out and after that, Wigan looked

completely different, disciplined, act of their own ways of sthcking to

a game plan, structured, a real tough team to grind down. Do you

think Hull KR will be disappointed because of how well they pl`yed in

the first half? They played really well, got their foot in the door,

and had the better opportunhties, they were value for their money

they probably had their better opportunities down the left edge.

Then the Wigan came out in the second half and played really

direct, waiting for the opportunities to execute all the

preplanned place. Really probably the highlight. This is prob`bly what

they bought him for. Yes, hd has made a career doing this at North

Queensland for over ten years. It's always going to be difficult for an

Australian or overseas playdr coming in, particularly a fullback, wet

ball, different conditions, but when the field firms up a bit, the

excitement he is going to bring to the Super League, he is quick. He's

go to fit in really well. You are not Inc. I couldn't believe it last

week he did me on the outside. I think as it dries up, he will be a

real star for Wigan. Ian Thornley had a fantastic game, and hd's

coming into his own. Developing into a top`quality centre. He dods well

in defence. Scoring a hat`trick it was something special. He whll be

really proud of that. I think with Ian Thornley as well, it's having

the belief that the coach is giving him the opportunity, he has played

into the big major finals. He was there when I was a young lad at

Wigan, went off to play rugby union and came back, he is a left`centre

now, cemented that spot down and is playing fantastically. Fant`stic

match coming up with Wigan `nd Warrington. Two teams who h`ve had a

bit of a slow start of the season. But evolving, a lot of young

players. I think the intenshty will build up, it will be a fierx one. It

was July last year when Wakdfield last recorded back`to`back picture

is. Fair to say you enjoyed your trip to the big smoke? It's always

great to have the time away with the lads, it's a different routhne, have

the coach trip down, stay over, the ultimate thing is getting the job

done! I knew I was coming on tonight so I thought I would pull mx finger

out a bit and get on the highlights reel! It was great play frol some of

the boys. We went with a big pack, we were mindful of London's these

years. `` infuses. What was it like playing at the Hive? It was great,

the pitch was small, dimenshonal wise, it was short, but a great

facility, fantastic changing rooms and the pitch was fantastic. It s

always better when you get the win of course. How is Jared settling in?

He has got a couple like th`t, he has a different dimension from what

we have had in the past. Thdy have got a really good running and

passing game. Him and Dean Collis was fantastic, he has come back from

a suspension, really fresh. Caused London loads of trouble. London are

shipping so many tries, it's hard for them. They have to just catch a

lucky break, just do the hard work and try and get that team, get some

character about them. We should let you commentate on your own try!

Described as ludicrous! Ludhcrously good, I hope. You could havd gone

for a better finish! If you have young kids finding themselvds on the

wrong end of these big scord lines, how difficult is that? It is

difficult to get confidence. It is trying to build confidence back up.

Learning by their mistakes. Missing a few tackles, making things a bit

too easy for Wakefield. Harsh lessons but Tony will be thhnking

from these lessons we will be able to start learning something. You

have had two big wins. Is it nice to get the fluency? It really hs. The

win is the important thing for the confidence of the group. We are just

starting to get used to each other so it is reaffirming that the things

we want to put into place are working. It always helps.

Consecutive weeks getting 50 points shows we are a great attackhng side

and we are going to evolve. Never had a career hat`trick, let alone

four. It was great. Four trhes. We are going to have a call from the

coach saying, put him on TV. I hope so. I have had plenty of banter

about the celebration. I am glad you were enjoying it. There was some bad

news for Widnes when their halfback suffered a dislocated shoulder in

their match at Leeds. He has been one of their key players so far as

they enjoyed three straight wins at the start of their campaign. Mellor

on the inside. Needed a lot of sharpness to score. He has that in

bucketfuls. You could not mdet a more hard`working conscienthous lad.

He is fantastic. He works vdry hard. He is an outstanding individual a

good character and you see him every day, not just at the weekend.

Started at Wigan when I was 18, had an injury and I was out for nine

months and I came back from that and I went to London for two months I

played one game and then Wigan brought me back and then I came and

played 12 games at Widnes m`ybe so that gave me that experiencd and the

contract was up at Wigan. So I signed and have not looked back I

have really enjoyed it. He has built as the club has built. He h`s come

from the national leagues when he was on loan, worked his way up and

he is a great Super League half`back. He is a player who has

all the attributes, the spedd, awareness of the game. Playhng

alongside Kevin, his experidnce has helped massively and I am playing

outside Joe and we have a good partnership. Some of the trhes not

only has he scored but setthng up fantastic. His development hs

something a lot of kids get shoved out the door at other clubs, they

can look to him and take inspiration. Here is Mellor in

support. Owens will score. Sensational. What about that from

Joe Mellor? Last year we were just getting to know each other `nd I

think we have progressed and we are trying to take it into this year. In

training we are always talkhng and having a good chat and trying to get

them straight and I think it has gone well for us. The secret to

success is believing in each other, working hard, training hard during

the week and carrying that hnto the weekend. He is pretty quiet but he

can be a bit of a joke when he wants to. His name is patella Mellor. That

is his darts competition. Hd is a massive Liverpool fan and hd gets a

lot of stick. He can be a bht quiet and shy but he does what yot want

from a halfback. Dennis has built a good team. The first couple of years

when a bit disappointing, btt now in the third year now think evdrybody

has come together and everybody knows we are not going to ghve up

and we work hard for each other I want to play for my country. This

year I want to concentrate on getting better each week and playing

well for Widnes. It is lovely to see a player like that evolve and grow.

It is nice to see his relathonship with Kevin in particular, working

off the back of those two, creating tries for each other. They `re

definitely reaping the rewards from training. Someone who is quhte a

quiet guy in the middle, how does that work, does someone elsd both it

or is he different on the phtch If you look at John Clark, I think he

slots in nicely. Years allowed to play his own game. He is expected to

be out for eight weeks. We wish him well. He was itching for thd

opportunity. He is a fantastic player. He showed on Friday the

first of his two tries, fantastic finish. An embarrassment of riches

in the wing department to bd able to leave good players out. How do you

fit three into two? It is a long season. Players get rested `nd

injured and I think they can play a number of positions. It was a tough

scoreline on Widnes, but in the first half defended pretty well

Widnes came against a good team until a fix for. So dangerots. `` on

to effect form. Leeds' defends, at Huddersfield last week, and into

this game, that is what thex have been most impressed with. A solid

defensive team. They have a mix of experience. There is you around the

edge. Danny and Rob guiding the players around the park. Thd most

exciting young backline in the Super League. Feeding them and letting

them showcase their talents. Are the players hungrier after no shlverware

last year? Yes. They are usdd to playing in big games. They certainly

worked hard on the off season to get the silverware again. There should

be definitive news on the ownership of the Bradford Bulls by thd end of

the week. Those interested hnclude the wife of the current owndr.

Marwan Koukash bought the S`lford Red Devils at the start of last year

and his wife Mandy is rumoured to be one of four parties interested in

taking over the Bulls. I know it has got a lot of history. I havd seen an

amazing picture in the foyer. 120,000 people. We will nevdr get as

good as that but I would like to see the fan base build back up. More

than 6500 were at the ground on Sunday to see Bradford take on

Huddersfield. Scott Grix with the touchdown inside the opening minute

of this game. Adam Henry stretches over. @ comedy

of errors, but the Bulls hit back. On the charge. They have got it

down. That is the second trx for the Huddersfield Giants.

Lawrence is going to go over for another try. Michael Lawrence gets

another try. They are starthng to take a grip on this game. Two tries

in two minutes putting the Giants ahead and three more in the first

half effectively sealed the game as the Bulls struggled to handle the

speed of Huddersfield's plax. Jason Chan goes in for the try. They

are running riot. Leading 30`6. Bradford did score the first try of

the second half, much to thd delight of Mandy Koukash watching on, but

that is as good as it got for her and the supporters as Huddersfield

ran in another six tries ovdr the next half an hour.

They are in again. Jermaine McGillvary this time touches down in

the right hand corner. Easy as you like for Huddersfield Giants.

Adam O'Brien, quick thinking from the substitute. Ta'ai soon restored

order, clashing over for his second try and Huddersfield's 10th of the

afternoon. If she didn't know already, Mandy Koukash is aware

there is a big job to be done. McGillvary goes over on the right

hand corner. Another try for the Huddersfield Giants. A tough

afternoon for Bradford, but they had two props. Huddersfield are going to

come up the middle, working the middle. The early edge, the early

ball, it is an eerie task. Ht was good to see some of their players

with smiles on their faces. What did you make of Huddersfield? I thought

they were really good value. I was impressed not worth the try scoring,

it was the small things, thd kicking game, that is a good indicator of a

team that is hungry. The prdssure was phenomenal. They really put them

under pressure. It sort of rolled on. Really good, really aggressive.

Bradford, talk about Wakefidld playing catch up, if they are going

to stay up they are going to need some players coming in. Wakdfield

have done a good job of man`ging to court where they have got. Bradford

have lost a couple to Wakefheld It would be nice to get these problems

sorted. You feel for the pl`yers and the supporters who are sticking by

the players. It must be such a hard time for those guys. Credit to them

for sticking with it. They will be working hard. It is tough. Ht is a

tough job. It is a thankless task. He is a really good person. He will

galvanise the squad and get them playing to the best of their ability

and hopefully they will get some troops in in the not too distant

future. They already own thd Salford red Devils who were hoping to avoid

a third straight defeat on Friday. It is going to be an interesting

game. I think Warrington slowly getting their structures in place.

Just starting to hit their stride. We know the talent at Salford but it

was always going to be tough. I cannot believe the pressure on those

guys. It is a brand`new teal. It is incredibly tough to get that in one

pre`season. They need him b`ck. Apparently he is going to bd back.

He is going to be massive for them. They are going to be a result

against and it is going to take time. Give them time to takd the

pressure off and let these guys play. Julie Smith praising his

side's patients. They like to throw the ball around and that has been a

big focus. When to play and when to rein it in. It is not relatd only's

philosophy `` not really Tony's philosophy. He has to play ` certain

style. I think he was alludhng to that full is indicative of

rebuilding our say that you do not want to do too much too soon. A new

combination and with the loss of summits beings for, keep it simple.

`` some experience for. The opportunity to showcase thehr

talents. Brian saying, the honeymoon is over. I am pretty sure those

guys, they have got some good experience and I am sure thdy will

sort this out. We have had ` tough run of fixtures. An easy ond against

you guys next week. Warrington starting to put some runs together.

Five out of five, but I am guessing it is a game at a time. We were far

from great at the weekend. The first four games were particularlx good.

We were pretty much at our peak Last week took a lot out of us. It

is feet on the floor and back to hard work and realising what is good

for us. We will be expecting another format tries this week. That is

standard. Thank you for joining us. Goodbye.