:00:37. > :00:43.2016 - Wigan are the Super League champions.
:00:44. > :00:47.They say the best things in life come to those who wait,
:00:48. > :00:54.and Rugby League was just like life in 2016.
:00:55. > :00:56.An absolute screamer! Would you believe that?
:00:57. > :01:04.Wigan found their form at just the right time.
:01:05. > :01:05.It was peak practice from Wayne's Warriors.
:01:06. > :01:10.Wigan have snatched glory from under the noses of the Warrington Wolves.
:01:11. > :01:13.A golden goal after 18 minutes and 48 seconds saved
:01:14. > :01:21.He's going for the drop goal right from the start.
:01:22. > :01:23.Has he got it? He has got it!
:01:24. > :01:32.But that million-pound drop sunk Hull KR.
:01:33. > :01:39.James Webster wonders what has just happened.
:01:40. > :01:45.Leeds Centurions are back in the big time.
:01:46. > :01:48.It is a win that gets them promoted in one of the most memorable
:01:49. > :01:52.And Hull FC are Wembley winners at long, long last.
:01:53. > :02:04.It was Wayne's world too for England, but the wait there goes on.
:02:05. > :02:07.The green and gold is right back on the top of Test
:02:08. > :02:16.We will hear from the winners and losers after an eventful 12
:02:17. > :02:20.From West to East and all points in between.
:02:21. > :02:23.Hello, we are high in the hills above Wigan,
:02:24. > :02:26.where they are still celebrating the fourth Grand Final win.
:02:27. > :02:28.The Warriors are once again the Super League champions.
:02:29. > :02:37.This walk out of the tunnel into the intense noise, the intense heat.
:02:38. > :02:43.It is another wow moment at Old Trafford.
:02:44. > :02:54.All the coaches can do now is watch and hope.
:02:55. > :03:18.He is the local lad who has become a local hero.
:03:19. > :03:41.Sarginson puts the kick into the corner.
:03:42. > :03:45.Warrington have been bettered and bettered by the team
:03:46. > :03:58.And 2016, Wigan are the Super League champions.
:03:59. > :04:03.When you look back, Sean, on last season, it was such
:04:04. > :04:06.a roller-coaster for you, and that final -
:04:07. > :04:08.how'd you reflect on the Grand Final?
:04:09. > :04:12.It was exciting, it was a big day for us, we were under a lot
:04:13. > :04:22.of pressure last year with various things, and the most pleasing
:04:23. > :04:25.thing for me was the way that we worked from one to 35.
:04:26. > :04:28.All of the players who played, the young kids who came in,
:04:29. > :04:31.To win certain games throughout the season was great,
:04:32. > :04:35.but to do it in a Grand Final against Warrington, who are the best
:04:36. > :04:37.team, the league leaders, they were without a doubt
:04:38. > :04:43.To beat them in such a tight game, being under so much pressure
:04:44. > :04:45.at the end, was a great finish for us.
:04:46. > :04:49.Doing that with the young squad, how much better can they be
:04:50. > :04:52.from having gone through and got through last season
:04:53. > :05:01.All the players that played, some only played one or two games,
:05:02. > :05:03.but it will stand us in good stead, massively,
:05:04. > :05:06.throughout the next few years, and take us forward.
:05:07. > :05:08.We want to do what Warrington have done.
:05:09. > :05:19.They have been in every final, they are one of the league leaders.
:05:20. > :05:21.The fact is we only won one, and we got one
:05:22. > :05:28.Warrington was a club what did everything,
:05:29. > :05:34.We have a chance of four things this year and I want is to be
:05:35. > :05:39.Even if you went on to win all four, would it be as sweet, do you think,
:05:40. > :05:41.as that Grand Final win, given what you had gone
:05:42. > :05:42.through last season? Never.
:05:43. > :05:46.People do not know the detail of what went on, because I do not
:05:47. > :05:50.I know what went on every single day, with me having
:05:51. > :05:51.conversations with my physios, assistant coaches.
:05:52. > :05:54.It was a tough slog, as winning in that Grand Final,
:05:55. > :05:57.it was the biggest feat I have ever had, I have won some
:05:58. > :05:59.things in juniors and had some great victories,
:06:00. > :06:02.but that without a doubt was the best I have ever had.
:06:03. > :06:05.When you look back at the season, it did appear looking in at times
:06:06. > :06:07.that you were under a fair bit of pressure.
:06:08. > :06:11.How did you deal with it and what was it like for you?
:06:12. > :06:13.To be honest, it does not bother me what people say,
:06:14. > :06:17.as long as I work as hard as I can and all of the players are onside,
:06:18. > :06:20.the only people that I have conversations with is Chris and Ian.
:06:21. > :06:24.People do not understand what goes on day by day in our club.
:06:25. > :06:28.The external pressure did not bother me in the slightest.
:06:29. > :06:31.As long as it is just me and not the players,
:06:32. > :06:36.Over the year, we had some real honest chats,
:06:37. > :06:44.I spoke my piece to the players and they spoke their piece to me.
:06:45. > :06:48.At the end of the day, we wanted one thing, to win something.
:06:49. > :06:50.No matter who doubted us throughout the year,
:06:51. > :06:52.and there were many people, the majority of the Wigan
:06:53. > :06:55.They understood what we were going through,
:06:56. > :06:58.and was just pleased for them, they stood behind us and cheered us,
:06:59. > :07:02.Not too far away from here, Centurions are preparing
:07:03. > :07:07.They beat three top-flight sides in the qualifiers
:07:08. > :07:13.and are getting used to life as Super League's new boys.
:07:14. > :07:21.This is real now, we are Super League club.
:07:22. > :07:23.I am proud as, being the hometown lad.
:07:24. > :07:26.It is a cliche, local lad for his local team,
:07:27. > :07:29.and now to captain them in Super League, it is an honour
:07:30. > :07:31.for me, one of my biggest honours to date.
:07:32. > :07:36.When the fixtures came it was when it finally dropped in for me.
:07:37. > :07:40.And to see the lads out the back in all of the new Super League gear,
:07:41. > :07:45.the new logo, Super League club, it has some weekend now.
:07:46. > :07:55.When the new training kit comes, we still are like kids at Christmas.
:07:56. > :07:58.My missus at home was like, where are we going to
:07:59. > :08:05.We never throw anything away, I am like a hoarder.
:08:06. > :08:09.I find myself a few weeks ago picking the newspapers up, May one
:08:10. > :08:13.team was all was in the championship part, I found myself doing that,
:08:14. > :08:18.Need to go two pages in front to see what Super League are doing.
:08:19. > :08:20.Little things like that, that hit home now.
:08:21. > :08:29.Especially with quality players coming in.
:08:30. > :08:32.I am just going to hopefully help the club keep on improving.
:08:33. > :08:33.The coaching staff have made that clear.
:08:34. > :08:36.Leigh steam-rollered their way through the qualifiers.
:08:37. > :08:39.They won their first five matches to clinch promotion
:08:40. > :08:42.What a try. The whole place is going nuts again.
:08:43. > :08:45.I thought we played really well that day.
:08:46. > :08:49.Couple of late tries at the last two or three minutes put
:08:50. > :08:54.it on us bit but by far the best team in that.
:08:55. > :08:56.I think from there it really kicked on and stuck together.
:08:57. > :08:59.Obviously learned some lessons from last year but we just had
:09:00. > :09:04.We had experienced players who had played in those kind
:09:05. > :09:08.of games and I think it did help when your back is against the wall,
:09:09. > :09:12.it we could kind of settle it down and get back on the front foot.
:09:13. > :09:14.It is only worth one point but it is a
:09:15. > :09:17.and might propel them towards promotion.
:09:18. > :09:20.I think after that game, as much as I held it back, I thought
:09:21. > :09:24.we are not far off and it is important to get the lads grounded.
:09:25. > :09:26.They are keeping it going. A try after 50 seconds.
:09:27. > :09:28.Huddersfield, it was all or nothing for us.
:09:29. > :09:30.40 points at half-time was incredible.
:09:31. > :09:35.It was magical, unbelievable, I couldn't
:09:36. > :09:43.80 minutes, we had as many points on the board.
:09:44. > :09:45.Unbelievable, whichever side of the fence sitting on.
:09:46. > :09:50.At half-time, 42-10, kind of knew they would have
:09:51. > :09:53.something to say about that in the second half, but when we scored
:09:54. > :09:59.It is a win that gets them promoted in one of
:10:00. > :10:01.the most memorable games of the season.
:10:02. > :10:04.We're not under any illusions. It's going to be tough.
:10:05. > :10:06.You look at our first six, seven fixtures, everyone
:10:07. > :10:09.is like, "It's a tough start," but for me, I'm excited by that.
:10:10. > :10:11.We can't be rabbits in the headlight from the start.
:10:12. > :10:14.We got to be ready, enjoy it, no regrets, really.
:10:15. > :10:16.We've got to stay together as one, through the
:10:17. > :10:18.good times and, in particular, through the bad times.
:10:19. > :10:20.Quite simply, the club's expectations and
:10:21. > :10:23.the goal for the players in the club is to just be
:10:24. > :10:26.If we got to do it through the middle
:10:27. > :10:32.If we have to do it another way then from my point
:10:33. > :10:36.We've got to continue to build and build.
:10:37. > :10:38.Wherever you go now, people are, "Can't wait.
:10:39. > :10:42.I think have of Leigh are going to Catalans
:10:43. > :10:47.It's good to be absolutely booming so, no, there was a buzz
:10:48. > :10:51.last year but I think it is just again so early in the year it has
:10:52. > :10:55.gone up a step again and let's get on this wave and ride it and enjoy
:10:56. > :10:58.it and let's hopefully stay for a long time.
:10:59. > :11:04.of yours, so what is it going to be like
:11:05. > :11:07.playing them and what do you think the chances are this year?
:11:08. > :11:11.They have got a good coach in Neil, good
:11:12. > :11:13.order in Derek, a good roster, some players are fantastic.
:11:14. > :11:17.They will be a real threat and they will be tough
:11:18. > :11:22.to beat, especially at home, and I'm sure they will do well this year.
:11:23. > :11:25.What would your advice to Neil B as he steps up?
:11:26. > :11:28.Just be straight and honest with the players and I'm sure
:11:29. > :11:32.a few conversations with him.
:11:33. > :11:35.That work ethic, that honesty and that drive, let the players see
:11:36. > :11:38.you are working really hard to get them better and they will respond.
:11:39. > :11:40.I know a lot of the players at Leigh,
:11:41. > :11:42.a lot of them, and they will respond,
:11:43. > :11:44.they will have a dig this year.
:11:45. > :11:48.Lots to look forward to in this part of the world, and Wigan are
:11:49. > :11:50.the team they all need to beat next year.
:11:51. > :11:52.Warrington nearly had it all in 2016.
:11:53. > :11:59.The Wolves finished in first place after 30 rounds to claim
:12:00. > :12:01.the league leaders' shield with Kirk Gidley
:12:02. > :12:04.and Chris Sandow guiding them to the top spot in Super League.
:12:05. > :12:07.The Wolves made it to the Challenge Cup final
:12:08. > :12:13.They lead in both, but it was runners-up medals at Wembley
:12:14. > :12:17.and Old Trafford for Tony Smith's team.
:12:18. > :12:23.We gave ourselves a chance for all three trophies so we've probably
:12:24. > :12:25.got the lesser of the three, but we'll be in there fighting again
:12:26. > :12:28.next year and we'll bring one of these home sooner
:12:29. > :12:36.Chris Sandow won't be returning to the club for 2017, but
:12:37. > :12:47.Johnny Lomax returned after 13 months out for Saint Helens
:12:48. > :12:48.and made an immediate impact.
:12:49. > :12:50.Here comes Lomax. What a sidestep.
:12:51. > :13:01.Late-season surge of 11 wins from 12 matches make Saints the
:13:02. > :13:03.in-form team heading into the play-offs.
:13:04. > :13:06.in the semifinals at Warrington.
:13:07. > :13:10.cost them a place in the final.
:13:11. > :13:14.I'm going to develop every season and move forward and learn
:13:15. > :13:17.new things, and you only learn from experiences.
:13:18. > :13:22.You can get told lots of things from other coaches and other
:13:23. > :13:24.people who were involved in those situations.
:13:25. > :13:27.I believe you actually only develop and learn when you have
:13:28. > :13:29.experienced them yourself and sometimes tough is what they are,
:13:30. > :13:32.and sobering is what they are, and you've got to face up to the
:13:33. > :13:34.realities of certain things to make you stronger.
:13:35. > :13:40.And bring you through the other side.
:13:41. > :13:42.No-one has scored more Super League tries in a single
:13:43. > :13:48.season than the departing Denny Solomona did in 2016.
:13:49. > :13:50.He crossed 40 times in a record-breaking year on
:13:51. > :14:02.The Tigers were dogged by injuries all summer long.
:14:03. > :14:05.They eventually finished fifth after the
:14:06. > :14:11.super eights, but nine points behind the play-off places.
:14:12. > :14:14.To finish fifth with the adversity we had, when you
:14:15. > :14:17.get injuries, you get people stepping in who might not normally
:14:18. > :14:20.have a game, so the young lads in our team have done really well
:14:21. > :14:23.this year and that can only stand us in
:14:24. > :14:31.to the next few years at Castleford.
:14:32. > :14:34.One man we will not be seeing next year is
:14:35. > :14:37.The Castleford full-back called time on his career at the end
:14:38. > :14:41.He returned home to Australia after 12 years in Super
:14:42. > :14:54.I first got the call from Tony when he was
:14:55. > :14:57.coaching the London Broncos and the opportunity came up.
:14:58. > :15:00.I was playing reserve grade at the Roosters at the time.
:15:01. > :15:03.The call came up and I had some friends living in London
:15:04. > :15:06.and I thought what a fantastic opportunity to come over and see
:15:07. > :15:15.this side of the world and play some rugby.
:15:16. > :15:17.It's going to be a hat-trick for Luke Dorn.
:15:18. > :15:22.I thought two years would be great, 23, 24,
:15:23. > :15:26.I have spent so much time here and I have loved every minute,
:15:27. > :15:29.I love London, fell in love with that place.
:15:30. > :15:32.People of the UK, and I really have just enjoyed every moment of it.
:15:33. > :15:35.Two years has turned into 12 and it has been great.
:15:36. > :15:40.You can come here and really find who you are as a player.
:15:41. > :15:42.So many guys have come here and thrived.
:15:43. > :15:45.I think it is an experience living on the other side
:15:46. > :15:48.Having Europe on your doorstep is something
:15:49. > :15:51.I have had Christmas in Paris and Prague,
:15:52. > :15:55.a month in Egypt and South Africa, a bit of Scandinavia
:15:56. > :16:02.That opportunity, being able to live over here and do those things
:16:03. > :16:05.is something you just can't believe you're able to do.
:16:06. > :16:09.I don't think if I lived in Australia now I would never have
:16:10. > :16:12.I would not have been able to manage them all anyway.
:16:13. > :16:15.Any young kids that are going to come over,
:16:16. > :16:18.I would most certainly tell them to jump at it.
:16:19. > :16:21.Looking back 12 years, I am probably not the same player as I am now.
:16:22. > :16:24.As the game has evolved, it has been really good for my game.
:16:25. > :16:28.It is a little bit more open and attacking based and that suits me.
:16:29. > :16:33.I think we need to tighten up a few areas in terms
:16:34. > :16:38.of our defence over here but we are what we are and we play
:16:39. > :16:41.our style and that is the English game and it is something I find very
:16:42. > :16:43.attractive and that is very enjoyable to play.
:16:44. > :16:46.He pops it up into the arms of Luke Dorn.
:16:47. > :16:55.What a career he has had and what a night he having.
:16:56. > :16:58.My 100th try for a London was special for me,
:16:59. > :17:00.being the first player to score 100 from London was great.
:17:01. > :17:02.You don't play the game for accolades or records
:17:03. > :17:05.but when you have them it is such a proud moment to have
:17:06. > :17:10.and I thought along those lines when I finished my last game
:17:11. > :17:14.I thought I would be really sad but it is an overwhelming sense
:17:15. > :17:16.of pride about what you have been able to achieve.
:17:17. > :17:20.Looking back when I am back home sitting in the pub telling the boys
:17:21. > :17:22.or with my family and friends, brothers and sisters,
:17:23. > :17:25.I'll be able to show, and my girls later down the line,
:17:26. > :17:29.that I was all right at one point and I scored a lot of tries
:17:30. > :17:36.I would have loved a few more trophies in the cabinet,
:17:37. > :17:42.I would have liked to have done that side of things, and for my
:17:43. > :17:44.and for my team-mates, win some things.
:17:45. > :17:47.Not everybody can win everything, which is unfortunate,
:17:48. > :17:50.but I am sad that I am not playing, I want to keep playing,
:17:51. > :17:54.I would love to stay here and play for Castleford again if my family
:17:55. > :17:56.and whatnot were from here, I would keep playing.
:17:57. > :18:00.I love the game and I don't feel I am too old to keep playing
:18:01. > :18:02.but I think my decision is a good one for me.
:18:03. > :18:04.The positives outweigh the negatives for me
:18:05. > :18:07.and I are comfortable with it but, you know, I am so thankful I got
:18:08. > :18:10.the opportunity to do what I have done and,
:18:11. > :18:19.Another man we will not be seeing in Super League next season
:18:20. > :18:22.is Huddersfield Giants' Eorl Crabtree.
:18:23. > :18:25.A bit like Luke, you get the feeling you could easily have done
:18:26. > :18:33.I do feel like I could have extended my career a little bit
:18:34. > :18:37.longer and also played out the last year and unfortunately it is just
:18:38. > :18:41.For the Giants, they need to free up a bit of money,
:18:42. > :18:43.so a salary cap doesn't help the situation.
:18:44. > :18:47.That is kind of the main reason why I will not be playing any longer.
:18:48. > :18:50.We have to get some players into some of the positions we need
:18:51. > :18:52.to fill because we have let a lot of players go.
:18:53. > :18:56.I am the guy to step aside, but they have given me a great
:18:57. > :18:58.opportunity to keep working and that is what I
:18:59. > :19:02.What do you think you will miss the most about it?
:19:03. > :19:05.I have been asked this a few times and the games I will obviously mess,
:19:06. > :19:09.it is a great occasion coming out here in front of your own crowd
:19:10. > :19:11.and even the bigger games, as it were, against Leeds
:19:12. > :19:13.at Headingley, and against Wigan, and the crowds are fantastic,
:19:14. > :19:17.but it is being around 30 lads every day,
:19:18. > :19:20.the banter that we have and that loyalty we have with each other
:19:21. > :19:22.where you put your bodies on the line for each other.
:19:23. > :19:26.It will be hard to forget about that and that is what is
:19:27. > :19:29.How do you feel you leave the Giants?
:19:30. > :19:32.It is a strange one, really, because I am sort of leaving
:19:33. > :19:41.the Giants now in a position where they need to get better.
:19:42. > :19:44.Bottom of the Super League last season which was not good enough.
:19:45. > :19:47.I am having to step aside now to raise the profile off the field
:19:48. > :19:50.and hopefully the boys can do it back on the field.
:19:51. > :19:53.I will be playing every minute out there with them and I will be
:19:54. > :19:57.the biggest fan because I hate watching games but I have got a job
:19:58. > :20:00.to do now and it is about building our reputation and not just
:20:01. > :20:02.on the field but off the field as well.
:20:03. > :20:04.It was a tough old season for the Huddersfield Giants,
:20:05. > :20:07.who finished bottom of the pile after the regular season
:20:08. > :20:09.in Super League but it was awful for Leeds Rhinos, too.
:20:10. > :20:12.They went from winning everything in 2015 to finding themselves
:20:13. > :20:17.Jamie Jones Buchanan gives us his take on a season.
:20:18. > :20:29.Last year we had everything, the treble, and to reverse
:20:30. > :20:33.that into polarising depths, fighting relegation.
:20:34. > :20:35.It has been a season like no other for the Rhinos.
:20:36. > :20:38.But for reasons I am going to explain right now,
:20:39. > :20:48.one of the most refining experiences of my life.
:20:49. > :20:51.I had this idea for the fair few years that knowledge plus experience
:20:52. > :20:55.equals wisdom so if you want to be truly wise and experienced the world
:20:56. > :20:58.I have been fortunate throughout my career to spend
:20:59. > :21:00.the majority of my time at Leeds Rhinos, competing
:21:01. > :21:03.for trophies, playing in finals, at least being in play-offs
:21:04. > :21:07.This year is a complete contrast, almost a polarisation of that.
:21:08. > :21:09.Fighting for relegation, fighting for our lives,
:21:10. > :21:11.and it is an experience I never had before.
:21:12. > :21:14.What I learned from winning was that success is never final,
:21:15. > :21:16.defeat is never fatal, it is having the courage
:21:17. > :21:20.I started to realise that whether you win
:21:21. > :21:23.or lose on a Friday night, it isn't as important as how you get
:21:24. > :21:26.out of bed on a Saturday morning and use the experience.
:21:27. > :21:35.The majority of sports men and women, the successful ones,
:21:36. > :21:38.that have been at the top for many years, are the ones who are not
:21:39. > :21:41.scared of looking back at their mistakes, who don't run
:21:42. > :21:45.a mile when they get things wrong and can hold their hand up and say
:21:46. > :21:48.You have to look back and ask yourself why.
:21:49. > :21:51.We had three massive players, influential pieces of glue that held
:21:52. > :21:54.the team together and not just on the field but off it as well.
:21:55. > :21:57.When you don't have those characters in the team on a weekly basis,
:21:58. > :21:59.it makes a big difference to the way we performed.
:22:00. > :22:02.Two weeks into our pre-season training and the Boxing Day floods.
:22:03. > :22:04.The big deluge almost of biblical proportions.
:22:05. > :22:08.What we thought might be five or six weeks turned into five or six
:22:09. > :22:12.months before we got back into our home environment.
:22:13. > :22:14.I think I famously said we are not hydroponic,
:22:15. > :22:17.we cannot grow out of water, we need to be well grounded,
:22:18. > :22:20.well rooted in the environment that makes us champions and able
:22:21. > :22:28.A lot of Super League teams, if not all, go through a period
:22:29. > :22:31.of injury but we started with a lot of injuries in 2016.
:22:32. > :22:35.When you put that together with the floods, the fact
:22:36. > :22:38.that we lost three huge players, I think the confidence
:22:39. > :22:41.just wasn't good enough and the young guys that came in,
:22:42. > :22:44.just a poor environment for us to come in and be bloodied
:22:45. > :22:49.One of our old coaches, Brian McLennan, taught us a really
:22:50. > :22:54.He said whenever you point the finger of blame,
:22:55. > :22:56.there are always three fingers pointing right back at yourself.
:22:57. > :22:59.One of the things I learned this year is that every one
:23:00. > :23:04.of our players has that exact same philosophy.
:23:05. > :23:07.Unlike most humans that work in groups when things start to go
:23:08. > :23:09.wrong and they start getting challenged, the reputations
:23:10. > :23:14.Instead of pointing the finger of blame, they would inwardly
:23:15. > :23:16.and asked what they could do to make themselves better.
:23:17. > :23:20.Even though we were losing every week, it is still huge to walk out
:23:21. > :23:23.in that shirt onto this pitch and be argued player in the game
:23:24. > :23:26.I have loved since I was four or five years old.
:23:27. > :23:31.And so when I scored tries again, all I see,
:23:32. > :23:35.middle end of the season, jumping up in the air,
:23:36. > :23:38.launching the ball at the stand, getting ecstatic like
:23:39. > :23:42.For me, that is what it is all about.
:23:43. > :23:47.If the definition of success is going from
:23:48. > :23:51.failure to failure without ever losing enthusiasm, no matter whether
:23:52. > :23:54.we win or lose, that is always going to be me.
:23:55. > :23:58.The hearts of all the players have been tested this year,
:23:59. > :24:01.They have been refined for the experience.
:24:02. > :24:04.I think it is tough being inside a crucible, where gold
:24:05. > :24:05.melts down, gets refined and purified.
:24:06. > :24:08.And if you have got what it takes to persevere,
:24:09. > :24:12.right through to the end, you will come out that bit more
:24:13. > :24:14.purer, that bit more bolder, that bit more
:24:15. > :24:17.That bit more refined, with a stronger heart.
:24:18. > :24:24.That is us going into 2017, I cannot wait.
:24:25. > :24:27.From the outside looking in, were you surprised
:24:28. > :24:32.It is something you would not have expected, especially from the
:24:33. > :24:35.Rhinos, with the players that they have got and the younger players
:24:36. > :24:38.that they bring through, it is not something you expect at all.
:24:39. > :24:39.I think the fans are very disappointed.
:24:40. > :24:42.There are a lot of injuries, though, to be fair.
:24:43. > :24:44.They really struggled through that year and they got
:24:45. > :24:46.better at the end and it showed the sort of team
:24:47. > :24:49.they are and the sort of mentality that they have.
:24:50. > :24:51.They got themselves out of trouble towards the back end.
:24:52. > :24:56.You seemed to be spiralling down, and neither of you
:24:57. > :24:59.Can you put your finger on where it went
:25:00. > :25:04.I think it went wrong in a lot of departments.
:25:05. > :25:07.I do not think we were probably physically prepared for the season,
:25:08. > :25:09.I think we worked on quite a lot of things
:25:10. > :25:11.that did not put us in the
:25:12. > :25:14.Obviously injuries, including myself, I had an operation
:25:15. > :25:16.three games into the season, which is not ideal.
:25:17. > :25:19.You naturally put on weight and it is hard to get back to
:25:20. > :25:22.the level of fitness which is expected at Super League level,
:25:23. > :25:25.especially when you're playing in a team that is not doing too well.
:25:26. > :25:27.Leeds had that same issue, they will bounce back
:25:28. > :25:31.But it is going to be a tough year next year.
:25:32. > :25:34.A lot of teams have recruited well, see you cannot just
:25:35. > :25:37.rely on that, you have to put in the work before the season
:25:38. > :25:41.If both teams do the right things off the field,
:25:42. > :25:43.we will put ourselves into the position where
:25:44. > :25:49.What effect has Rick Stone been having on the club when he came into
:25:50. > :25:51.the season, but then having an off-season as well?
:25:52. > :25:54.Yes, you can put his mark on the team now.
:25:55. > :25:56.His way to train the team, the direction that
:25:57. > :25:58.we going in the way that the players adapt
:25:59. > :26:00.to that as well, that is the
:26:01. > :26:03.He had the discipline to the side as well, even little
:26:04. > :26:07.Something which the players are not used to.
:26:08. > :26:10.He has that discipline within the side.
:26:11. > :26:13.That is off the field, on the field the discipline will be there as
:26:14. > :26:18.Let's start in the south of France with the Catalan Dragons.
:26:19. > :26:21.Seven straight wins at the Dragons in contention for the Super League
:26:22. > :26:29.They were even winning regularly on the road.
:26:30. > :26:32.And Jodie Broughton has an empty field in which to run for his second
:26:33. > :26:38.But Catalan won just two of their last 12 matches.
:26:39. > :26:41.Once again ended outside the semifinal places.
:26:42. > :26:43.It was not the best year in total, but we started
:26:44. > :26:52.Just injuries and people playing different positions on
:26:53. > :26:54.things that, so I ended up playing halves in the end.
:26:55. > :26:57.Obviously the team is not ideal when I'm in the halves,
:26:58. > :27:06.but it is what it is and that is how we finished.
:27:07. > :27:09.Widnes got off to a flyer and went into Easter on top
:27:10. > :27:13.Hull FC and Wigan were amongst the teams they beat in early
:27:14. > :27:20.We knew we all had a team that could start the year
:27:21. > :27:22.this good, but I think we have really sent
:27:23. > :27:23.a message to the rest of
:27:24. > :27:26.the Super League this year that we're going to be competitive.
:27:27. > :27:30.We will keep playing simple and up-tempo.
:27:31. > :27:38.Widnes never quite reach those heights again.
:27:39. > :27:40.They avoided the qualifiers, but won just twice in
:27:41. > :27:51.Head coach Brian Smith walked out on Wakefield
:27:52. > :27:53.just six games into the season.
:27:54. > :27:55.Chris Chester's appointment started a revival at Bellevue.
:27:56. > :27:57.There was a 62-0 win against Wigan, a top
:27:58. > :28:00.eight finish, and in Tom Johnson, Wakefield had the young Player of
:28:01. > :28:06.Personal highlights of the season will probably be
:28:07. > :28:08.Huddersfield, that felt very good, scoring that try.
:28:09. > :28:24.They will not catch Tom Johnson as he dives in front of his
:28:25. > :28:27.Getting my first hat-trick against Salford, that was
:28:28. > :28:43.We have moved to Hull, where your view
:28:44. > :28:46.of 2016 probably depends which side of the city you watch rugby league.
:28:47. > :28:50.It was the worst of times for Hull KR,
:28:51. > :28:58.but for Hull FC there was glory the Challenge Cup.
:28:59. > :29:45.He settles in for the biggest kick of
:29:46. > :29:55.With only minutes to go in a winning position.
:29:56. > :30:32.Hull FC have made names for themselves today.
:30:33. > :30:37.With me is Hull FC's Danny Houghton. Going back to that Challenge Cup
:30:38. > :30:41.final, what you remember? Not much. Straight after the whistle it was a
:30:42. > :30:47.relief to get the monkey off our backs. This year that moment with
:30:48. > :30:52.all the players that we have grown up with his grip, it was a special
:30:53. > :31:01.occasion. To see all the family and fans in tears, it was special. Dear
:31:02. > :31:08.member making the tackle? People have asked me this a few times. It
:31:09. > :31:13.was a split second incident, right place, right time. We got the ball
:31:14. > :31:17.and went on to win it. It was not something really that I can reflect
:31:18. > :31:21.on and say, I knew it was coming and what I would do. It was a split
:31:22. > :31:27.instinct. I'm sure whoever was in that situation, we are a tight
:31:28. > :31:31.group, I'm sure they would have come up at the same result. You with a
:31:32. > :31:44.man of steel at the end of the season, what was it like to get
:31:45. > :31:50.that? You do not expect it, our captain was ridiculous for us. He
:31:51. > :31:59.gives the team so much confidence. To be tend to the line, I did not
:32:00. > :32:02.know what to say. What are your goals for the coming season now that
:32:03. > :32:06.you know that you can win those trophies? That of the goal, to keep
:32:07. > :32:13.winning trophies are not make it a one-off. It is a big club. We have
:32:14. > :32:20.big players. Big-game players as well. We want to be amongst the
:32:21. > :32:24.best. We will be talked about forever within the group and the
:32:25. > :32:31.city, so we want to make history again. What you think about the
:32:32. > :32:38.player who has crossed across the city? He is a fantastic player. His
:32:39. > :32:46.freakishly strong for what he looks like, he is fast, quick, he creates.
:32:47. > :32:49.Last season he was pretty decent with the ball, he offers us
:32:50. > :32:55.something different to what we have had in the past in terms of
:32:56. > :33:01.finishing tries off, his speed. He has that X Factor. Yes, of course.
:33:02. > :33:07.When a game is coming away from you, you can come up with that big thing
:33:08. > :33:12.and get you back in the game. A year to remember for Hull FC, but at Hull
:33:13. > :33:20.KR defaced a battle for survivor in the ?1 million game. There were
:33:21. > :33:24.salary cap breaches in previous seasons. It was quite some
:33:25. > :33:27.afternoon. I had some great times playing rugby
:33:28. > :33:33.league, but last season was turbulent. I do not think anybody
:33:34. > :33:39.thought points reductions was anything we would face. We were a
:33:40. > :33:44.bit rattled. We put ourselves in a bad position. We found herself in a
:33:45. > :33:48.?1 million game. There are so many nerves flying
:33:49. > :33:56.around today. Somehow, these players have to
:33:57. > :34:04.produce a season saving performance. He is claiming this. Things were
:34:05. > :34:11.going our way. Yours have to try to believe and forget all of the
:34:12. > :34:20.outside pressures and expectations. He gives the pass away. There is
:34:21. > :34:28.Salford's response. We played rugby for years, it is our job. It was
:34:29. > :34:37.just another game. A kick into the goal area. A try. They are moving
:34:38. > :34:41.away. 18-10. You still have time, you still have a few sets left with
:34:42. > :34:45.the ball. I said, you can still do this, keep leaving. I did not
:34:46. > :34:49.believe it. I did not think there is any chance of us coming back. You
:34:50. > :34:56.have to score twice, the likelihood is they are not going to score
:34:57. > :35:05.twice. It is a mystery how it unfolded in those last five minutes.
:35:06. > :35:15.This is no it for Salford. It is all or oblivion in the last play. There
:35:16. > :35:27.is time for a miracle. It was crazy for a few minutes.
:35:28. > :35:33.Four seconds to go. Last play. And he scores the most miraculous try
:35:34. > :35:38.you will ever see. It is all square. This is the ?1 million kick. I tried
:35:39. > :35:43.to compose myself, trust myself and get a good strike on the ball.
:35:44. > :35:52.Thousands of eyes focused on one man. Extra time. As soon as I got
:35:53. > :35:57.back in the huddle, it was, get your head up and we will get a try in
:35:58. > :36:08.extra time. Midfield position battle. I was screaming, have a go.
:36:09. > :36:18.He is going for the drop goal right from the start. I be together boys
:36:19. > :36:21.and I thought, he has got it. Not even in training, messing about,
:36:22. > :36:24.have I ever kicked one like that. I'm not sure that he will ever have
:36:25. > :36:32.a feeling like that again. It was unbelievable. It was a pretty
:36:33. > :36:38.special moment for me. My dad ran onto the pitch as well and grabbed
:36:39. > :36:48.me. He was in tears. It was all a bit emotional. I was relieved and
:36:49. > :36:52.happy, but having to book over at the Hull KR players and see their
:36:53. > :36:59.families and kids so upset, that was pretty tough to be honest.
:37:00. > :37:08.There is a lot at stake. Mortgages to pay and families to provide for.
:37:09. > :37:15.Father-mac sides to go at it for 80 minutes and put everything on the
:37:16. > :37:24.line is pretty brutal. I wish Hull KR the very best. Joining me now is
:37:25. > :37:29.Hull KR's head of rugby. If I could tell you back to that ?1 million
:37:30. > :37:35.game, what do you remember? I thought we had won the game. A
:37:36. > :37:44.couple of mistakes allowed them back in and I think it is an ending I
:37:45. > :37:49.have not seen anything like or been involved in. Especially with the
:37:50. > :37:57.magnitude of what happens if you do lose that game. The disbelief when
:37:58. > :38:03.Gareth kicked the drop goal. It was disbelief. Any regrets about coming
:38:04. > :38:09.out of retirement for that being your last game and not the Grand
:38:10. > :38:13.Final? My achievement became more than finishing in a Grand Final. I
:38:14. > :38:18.think they speak for themselves. I do everything I can to try to win in
:38:19. > :38:22.whatever I do. It was extreme circumstances to come out and play
:38:23. > :38:27.and I did the best I could but I fell short. If you speak to any good
:38:28. > :38:36.sportsperson they have failed at times in life and I did fail their
:38:37. > :38:42.but I am fine. Can you get straight back up? Why not? Of course we can't
:38:43. > :38:47.come straight back up. I have a world-class coach and we are getting
:38:48. > :38:53.value for money out of our squad, some great players, the spine of our
:38:54. > :38:59.squad is great. Some young players and experienced players who know
:39:00. > :39:05.what they were doing. Some room for getting some people in. It is this
:39:06. > :39:10.the best thing for the club as you would for to the future? Without a
:39:11. > :39:15.doubt. We will be laying great foundations if we come back up,
:39:16. > :39:21.clearing the decks, get a squad that we want, and a fantastic coach as
:39:22. > :39:25.well. I think between all of us, if we can come straight back up, which
:39:26. > :39:31.we are capable of doing then I think we will give ourselves the
:39:32. > :39:35.foundations to have long terms success and not just beat a team
:39:36. > :39:40.that takes part in Super League, but a team that wants to challenge. The
:39:41. > :39:42.key is to come back up. At the end of the year, the best players came
:39:43. > :39:51.together as international rugby league took centre stage at four
:39:52. > :40:01.nations. It is intercepted and this man will take some stopping year. If
:40:02. > :40:10.he scores this, wow. There goes Ferguson and the first trial the
:40:11. > :40:24.game. A good chance for homes. How about this was Mercury goes. Nailed
:40:25. > :40:30.it. Blake Ferguson... Australia. The rest of the Rugby league World Cup
:40:31. > :40:35.only work on and stare and wonder. Joining us is the former Australia
:40:36. > :40:43.coach, World Cup winner in 2013, now in charge at Hull KR. Can anybody
:40:44. > :40:52.beat Australia? We have lost enough series to know they can be beaten.
:40:53. > :40:56.It is not that Australia's unbeatable it is just beating them
:40:57. > :41:02.on the day. Australia made all the finals. It is just that on the day
:41:03. > :41:06.it can happen. You have to be good enough and have your best side
:41:07. > :41:14.available, Australia could be fair game or have injury. You worked with
:41:15. > :41:19.Cooper Cronk, Johnathan Thurston, Cameron Smith, how important is it
:41:20. > :41:26.for other teams to find the key group of players in the middle? That
:41:27. > :41:34.is the spine that won in 2013 and here. And he played a bit of
:41:35. > :41:39.fallback for the Aussie side and when I had him. They are
:41:40. > :41:47.interchangeable and it is a very good group but the young forward
:41:48. > :41:53.went well this year and I don't think, I expected more from England
:41:54. > :42:01.and New Zealand to stand up in that area, but those two lead the
:42:02. > :42:06.backbone for that spine. How much do you enjoy being back out there
:42:07. > :42:16.working with players? Yeah, good at blowing the whistle again. I forgot
:42:17. > :42:20.how tired it makes you! Although I was still up early. But you have to
:42:21. > :42:27.be up at five ready to train with the boys. It has been good and I
:42:28. > :42:32.have enjoyed it. Good luck. That is it for the 2016 season and 2017
:42:33. > :42:35.promises to be a fascinating one culminating of course with the World
:42:36. > :42:39.Cup which you can follow right here on the BBC. The Super League show
:42:40. > :42:41.will be back when the season starts again in February but from all of
:42:42. > :43:46.the team, for now, goodbye. I'm starting this new job, I'm
:43:47. > :43:49.taking over a really tough school. Where is it?
:43:50. > :43:53.You're not going down south...?