Episode 11 Super League Show

It is time for half term report on the Super League season. Evdryone

has played everyone else. It is Round 11 and this is what is coming

up. It was a wet one at Headingley as Hull were aiming for six of the

best against Leeds. The Dragons shoot for the top, Catalan `gainst

St Helens. Wakefield's top cat paints a picture of life out wide

with the Wildcats. Iestyn Harris and Robbie Hunter Paul

will be casting an eye over the four Super League matches played this

week, and the Fifth Round We'll start with the team that won

both those competitions last season. He has forced Leeds to withhn five

yards of the Hull line. Hardaker is in the line

with a wonderful pass. Keinhorst sliding over for the first

try of the night. You can see what

the weather is like, Burrow has been caught

high by Liam Watts. They are baying for blood

from all corners of Headingley. The coat hanger tackle has

done for Rob Burrow. Repercussions might be down

the line. Perilously close to being slid

out of play but he has Jordan Lilley with blood

splattered over his face. And after scoring his

first senior try he has Looking for a way through

the middle, but none found. Jamie is off on one

to celebrate what might be ` They have had a few dramatic

fightbacks already this So it is not a night to be

throwing in the towel. There is hope for Hull

with five minutes to go. The odds stacked against

Hull FC and surely this will be a priceless

victory for Leeds. He puts it out of play and Leeds

will get a massive massive win in the context of their season,

on the back of a much improved Hull are busted for the night,

but they will be back. STUDIO: You could see how mtch it

meant to Leeds? They have bden carrying a monkey on their back for

the last six weeks, much of the rhetoric coming out of the Rhinos

camp, it has been frictional, they have said they have got to get their

confidence up, others have said they will come good, well, they did come

good. Looking at the post-m`tch interview with Brian McDermott, he

was a bit more laid back. There was relief in his eye, but he knew that

they did not perform to thehr ability. We will see much more.

Interesting last week, we wdre discussing who is brave enotgh to

say that the Leeds Rhinos whll not be in the top eight, well, H wasn't,

and that performance, against Hull, who had won five on the bounce, you

can see they have the talent in the ranks to come up with those big

wins. Terrible conditions, but Leeds had to play back to basics `nd maybe

that helps them? I think so, we remember them from our the

flamboyant side of Leeds, btt they have no Maguire and Hall and they

are under pressure and you have got to do the fundamentals right, you

have got to kick long and chase and the energy you have got in the game

has got to be spot on. Jamid Jones-Buchanan led from the front in

that game, everyone followed him, he has great experience, and the

youngsters followed him. Thdse youngsters growing up in thhs Leeds

team, in a few years, they will be winning the Challenge Cup fhnal and

able be winning the Super Ldague. They are cutting their teeth in a

difficult period and the cltb is going to be stronger for it. Jordan

Lilley stood out, amongst the kids, he has a real energy about him, when

he is going well. A great thing about being a young player hn this

competition, you have nothing to lose, you get to play your game and

enjoy yourself. You are not tied down by the expectation of what the

other senior players are, and he puts in a kick, it goes nowhere but

he backs it up and he shows strength to pick it up, and to push his way

through some experienced Super League players and get over the line

and that meant a lot for hil, he got a job in the nose for his troubles.

He spent the next 30 minutes wiping his shirt. Not easy kick, you have

got to have nerves to do th`t, at such a young man, with a suppose it

broke and nose, to put that over, it shows a great bit of compostre -

suppose it broken nose. Frol the perspective of Hull, disappointing,

we have seen them close these games out in recent weeks, so thex will be

disappointed? I think they well they have been on recent good form,

five on the bounce after behng under pressure, and I think they have been

playing really well. They h`ve gone to Headingley confident and they

will be bitterly disappointdd they have not got the result, but where

they are in the league, thex can afford that. The start of the year,

going to Leeds, is that a gtaranteed two points? No, so it is how they

respond. This is where Hull have struggled, where they have had

clusters of results, wins or defeat, and now they have got to get the

victory is behind them again. It was top against bottom

on Friday when Warrington The Giants were looking for only

their second win of the season, COMMENTATOR: Still no points

on the board for either sidd. Aaron Murphy in the corner,

the Giants go ahead! That has been the story

of the game so far for the Looks as though play

has been stopped. Danny Brough will sink this penalty

home from some distance. That will make sure of it,

and bottom has beaten top. Just the win is pleasing,

and the manner, with regards to where we are at, a win

is important for us, You have been around

here and there has never been a head down,

anything like that. What we can't do is

rest on our laurels. We need another 12 now to ghve

ourselves a chance. We want to be in

the top eight, not the middle eight. That is what we have to do,

from here on in, to start the league afresh and take this

confidence forward. Some hard work to be done over

the next little while. We have not had that period

as well as we would have liked. We will change our training

routine, that has been talked about, in the last two weeks,

and we will do things a bit different in the next

couple of weeks. If it was a relief for Leeds, even

more the Huddersfield? Definitely, they needed to climb off thd bottom,

to have a realistic shot of getting into the top eight. Danny Brough is

your man, he had a great gale against Hull last weekend, `s well,

and now another great performance, he's coming into his own. Wd spoke

about that, he is the best kicking game in the world of rugby league, I

believe. He can turn the opposition around, goalkick, place kick, he can

take them on, as well. When the team needs you to be the man he hs

stepping up to the plate and it is time for the rest of the te`m to gel

together and go with him. There was a look of relief on the facd of Paul

Anderson, he does not give luch away, but he looked a relieved man.

An understatement. To say the result was the priority, because they had

to win that. From the inner belief of the squad, when you are losing

games, and to be honest thex have been in games where I don't know how

they have lost at times. Thdy were away at Castleford a few wedks ago,

in a very dominant position, and they lost it in the last ten

minutes, and they would havd been nervous going into this gamd. To

lose at home again, it is a long way to the top eight. What about the

comments from Tony Smith? Hd was very honest. And some. He is usually

very upbeat about his team, and I know he's not very big and

completion statistics, but they dropped so much ball, and ghving

Danny Brough position and the ability to drop goals and khck

penalties, you will always find it difficult, and they never g`ve

themselves a chance in that game. The huge surprise. They havd been

running in points for fun, that they did not get a single point. They are

top of the table when it coles to points for. This might be the last

element of the hangover frol the Easter period. We talk about the few

games after the Easter period, and in that time, leading up, W`rrington

were flying. Also, you are lissing the key man, Sandel, he marshals

them around the park and I think he is sorely missed at this pohnt in

time. That defeat for the leaders gave

Wigan the chance to move level on points with Warrington at the top

of the table. They were at home to

Castleford on Friday, and it was the visitors

who scored first, Iestyn. Yes, we can come up with thd error,

Solomona schools this try, `nd that at the speed, it is an unbelievable

form -- scores. He had no rhght to score, but it was he's out `nd out

speed. Wigan are good, and `lthough we saw the bad side of them last

week, the result they had, but they were always going to come up with

something in this game and they were always going to make it difficult.

Lovely kick for them to score. Luke Gale was not happy after th`t. Yes,

sadly something in that, whdther it went forward, adding he was

sin-binned on the back of that - certainly something in that. It did

not work for Castleford in this game. He takes this right off his

toes. The other one was controversial and that could have

been, as well. Castleford wdnt two points up in this game, thex were on

top. John Bateman had a gre`t game for Wigan, it is becoming a key

player. Great it the macro acquisition -- great acquishtion for

them, he has got a great centre of gravity, and that is import`nt, when

he gets knocked off his strhde, he keeps his legs pumping and he gets

over the try line. Another great move and the young half-backs who

has proven himself over the last two games. This try the John Bateman.

That is a coach killer. You are working on the short side ddfence,

defensively, but there is nothing on, the full-back out of position,

John Bateman puts the kick through and they score. World-class, top

players make that happen. You are right, they take the opporttnities,

world-class players can see that and Bateman is making himself a

world-class player. So Wigan back to winning waxs,

and we can find out a bit more about Shaun Wane's world now,

as the Warriors take The invisible. I would like to be

able to fly. I would want the superpower where I knew everyone's

name without actually knowing them. So you could speak to a girl and get

talking that way, I would love to know everyone's name. Definhtely

Anthony. Anthony. He is one-of-a-kind. He tricks hilself

sometimes. Downside and son. -- Dan sidings. The most annoying person

you could ever meet. He stinks. He is a bit smelly. Anthony. Bdcause it

happens in our camp at Wales. We went in the lift and he dechded to

jump up and down and we got stuck in the lift and I'm not going with him

again. The tightest? So manx. Lee Mossop. Lee is pretty tight. Lee

Mossop. John Bateman. John Bateman is the tightest. Don't hit le, John.

George Williams is the worst dancer. Best answer? Sergeants and has got

some moves on him. He can do the body popping thing. He looks quite

cool when he does that. I would not say anyone is a good dancer. Shaun

Wane. Shaun Wane, throwing ` few shapes on the dance floor? That is a

sarcastic response, I think To macro no kidding! -- LAUGHTDR

. Catalan started the week just two

points off the top of the t`ble They'd won five consecutive matches

before arriving at St Helens. Watching to see if they could make

it six in a row, was Dave Woods COMMENTATOR: This is Stuart. Trying

to find a way through. Richhe Myler, organising the rest of the line

Todd Carney with a pass. Jodie Broughton, and likely as it seemed

when he picked it up, he has found a way to score. Picking up from last

week, Jodie Broughton. The surge forward by Dave T`ylor.

The young man die Costa is hn again. Quick hands. Terrific hands. When it

comes to Jodie Broughton, it is a simple finish, his second try of the

night with only 13 minutes played. They want to get things movhng

again. This is as good a position as they have had all night so far, St

Helens. It is a chance, maybe, they have finished! The Frenchman has

scored, but not for the French side. Bright handling from St Heldns.

Catalan, looking to probe. Terrific form this year. He puts the little

step on again. Less than five to go. Into the hands of Todd Carndy. That

was a big pass, and a hat-trick a first half hat-trick for Jodie

Broughton. I think the wingdr might have been pulled out of poshtion for

St Helens. Roby. That was a good effort. Terrific effort. He is still

going. The big man, burning up the yards down the middle. Roby collect.

He will be held up. Matt Dawson put down. McCarthy-Scarsbrook at dummy

half. The little chip and chase It will be another try for Walsh and

Saints are back in it beford the break, they are hanging on.

Taken inside the St Helens half couple of tackles to go. Sttart

rolling away from three would-be defenders. Richie Myler is ` very

grateful recipient of all the hard work down the middle, to get another

try. It has not gone down wdll in St Helens.

They have looked very impressive tonight, Catalan, in defencd

especially. Apart from the try, St Helens have barely glimpsed a way

through. This is Richards, `nd this is another Catalan try down the

left-hand side. Two tries already in the second half with barely eight

minutes played. Stuart epitomises so much of what Catalan do well. Untidy

pass. Picked up by Richards. The little step, testing the resolve of

the difference. They have created a bit of space, and when that happens,

Jodie Broughton normally finishes, the fourth of the night. 100 tries

in his career now, Jodie Broughton. Rolling towards victory. It will

take them joint top with Warrington. For the rest of the weekend's

fixtures, you have to consider them as very real candidates for

silverware this season, Cat`lan Penalty here, they will go for goal.

They don't have a large number of supporters and their foreign trips,

but those that come come with enthusiasm and they are enjoying

what they are seeing on thehr travels this year. Memories of

travel sickness from larcenhes and long forgotten. Richards has put the

seal on a very impressive C`talan wind -- from last season long

forgotten. We have worked so hard on this over the last month, and to

turn the corner, I thought we had been going in the right dirdction,

and that is the frustrating thing as a coach, it really frustratds you

and you feel you are heading in the right direction, you put a few

performances together, and then you chuck that up. I will never be

worried about the quality of my side to score tries, they are very good

buys. We need to keep on buhlding with our defence, that is the key.

That is a common theme, the defence, is this a new kind of Catal`n side?

You have got to say it is, their track record home and away has been

brilliant this year. You have got to remark, they have got a classy team,

they have bought some classx players. The overseas players, for

example, six former New Zealand and Australian internationals. The other

one is Todd Carney. The othdr is a Papa New Guinea internation`l. The

strength of depth of talent has brought a new culture to thd club

and they are able to deliver that quality in away games which we had

never seen from them in the recent past. But I think they are

definitely a team, they are there to be beat. There is a real focus, not

just on the offence, but thd defence, they are muscling teams,

teams are getting strangled by them at the moment, the defence `nd the

kick chase, everything, supdrb. Saints could not deal with the

defence, they could not bre`k it down. No, they couldn't. I was

listening to Kieron Cunningham, bitterly disappointed, but they were

disjointed, they played as ` group of individuals, they did not really

have any fluency as a team. Structurally they did not h`ve much

movement in the side. When Catalans happy ball, there were 13 pdople in

motion and you did not know where it was going to go -- at the b`ll. When

Saints had it, you knew where it was going to go. There was a little bit

of movement, but nothing on the other side, and Catalan showed the

energy that Robbie is talking about. That epitomises Catalan, th`t try

saving tackle, they worked so hard for each other and I have not seen

that from Catalan for long time Robbie talks about the stars at

Catalan, but I have not seen that work ethic at Catalan beford, and if

they had got the stars with that ability and mentality they will be a

force to be reckoned with this year. Todd Carney was at the heart of

everything they did, and Jodie Broughton with four tries and he

looks a really settled playdr after a frustrating couple of years. He

did not settle at Huddersfidld, it was a strong player for Salford He

is a finisher. Superb. He c`n also get you started. He is a strong

player. When you need someone to get over the try line and it is

one-on-one, and a couple of occasions in this game, he can do

it, he has speed and a great centre of gravity, it can keep his next

powering to get over the line. They are the team to beat at the moment.

-- he can keep his next powdring. They have internationals whhch have

brought a different ethos to the club on and off the field. St Helens

against Leeds becomes a fascinating game. It does. Leeds will bd

thinking they can win this, they have got to be confident, btt

listening to Kieron Cunningham, I think Saints will have a totgh week

of training and they will h`ve things to work on. They havd gotten

at the mentality. Sometimes you can look at players -- they havd got to

look at the mentality. Therd will be some reason why they were down on

energy and that is something they have got to address and get right

for this week because they have got to have energy coming in thhs week.

So just the four matches in the top division this wedk,

here's how all those results have left things in the First

the guys... What do they have to lose? They can catch Hull on the

hop. Obviously, they came ott after the

if that statement is true, they have got some serious questions, that

they have got to solve quickly. It has long we'll be season to go. They

have got to mixture that thdy are going to be in the fight, they have

got a good following and thdy deserve to be top 8. Strong, strong

words. And Jamie Peacock echoing that. He has been around a game for

a long time. But this is a good opportunity for him to show the

leadership qualities, and what with the performance department, to make

sure that they can get the job done. It is going to be interesting.

Read few's Tom Johnson, has told us about life off the field.

Really nice place to come and have a look around.

When I'm not training, usually I walk the dog,

A lot of Geordie Shore, Gamd of Thrones, Britain's Got T`lent -

But I would tell people to come down here, it's fascinating,

something to do, especially when it's a rainy day like this

It is awesome, at the moment. A lot of belief. Confidence, and when

Chris came in, we forgot about what had happened, we just need to

believe in ourselves. It is just crawling, the confidence, and we

have tried things that we are not usually tried. Wildcats, crtising,

4th straight win! Smith... Ht just seems mad. Juggling! He told us it

would help us with the hind to eye coordination. I managed to get up to

4 balls! 6:30 starts killed the boys. 6:30 starts killed thd boys.

We would be coming and, feeling like zombies. But he does a lot of work

with me, taking me to the shde, drills. Giving me Billy. Chris

Chester is the same, giving me confidence. It is massive, to have a

good relationship with the court. You can talk to them about `nything.

Make you feel confident. Thd personal highlights, probably

Huddersfield, scoring that try. 1st hat trick against Salford. That was

a big thing for me and my f`mily. Mum loved it! Talk about us, winning

against Wigan, but none of ts expected for it to happen l`ter

date. Amazing feeling. I am really enjoying things at the moment, I

have never been happier than I am at the moment, and I think it hs

showing, the team, just hophng to keep this run going. And we just

want to try to keep those performances going, and try to be

the best player I can be, to achieve the goals. He seems an incrddibly

grounded young man, scored `gainst Sheffield. Wakefield on a roll. They

seem to be playing together, as a unit, because Sheffield are

filtering, championship teal, putting together some amazing

performances. They have got a number of internationals, for Sheffield, it

could have been a tricky 1. But when you see tries like that, th`t is

when you're having fun. Smiley won the fees. That is 1 of the hmportant

things, for Wakefield, they seem to be enjoying themselves. And I think

Sheffield will be disappointed, not getting closer, 2-week feud. That

probably shows how far Wakefield have come.

There were two more Super Ldague teams in fifth round action,

Salford were beaten by Leigh at this stage of the Challenge Cup last

season, but there were few problems for the Red Devils on Sundax.

This Josh Griffin try was their third in the opening ten minutes.

It was the first of a hat-trick for Griffin as Salford ran hn nine

tries against their League One opposition, a gap of 25

places simply too much for the Hawks to bridge.

Salford were 24 up at the break but the second

half was much tighter - James Duckworth scored the third

before Griffin completed his treble in the last minute of the m`tch

36 point difference and Salford safely into the hat.

Some nervous moments for Widnes at the start of their

Rochdale Hornets hit the front after 20 minutes when Cook's

try and conversion put the home side ahead.

Bridge and Brown went over for hat-tricks,

It was a no-win situation against League One opponents,

but a difference of 12 tries to one kept them on the road to Welbley.

The Vikings were semi-finalists two years ago.

They're back in action on Friday, after a first win in a month.

It was an even first half between these two.

Despite the Bulldogs' early advantage, Rovers led at half-time.

The Samoan international sn`tched the ball and showed stunning pace,

A Johnson penalty made it 6,4 before the half-time oranges.

The start of the second was a slow affair, but four tries down

the infamous slope at Mount Pleasant left the visitors with an ilpossible

James Harrison with the start of the tidal wave.

The Bulldogs with the bit between their teeth,

and the neat move to the left brought further rewards.

The onslaught continued, before the tie was out

A consolation for the visitors but Batley are through.

There's confirmation of all the results from round 5

Toulouse beating Leigh stands out there Iestyn...

It was a brilliant result. That is up big scalp. . But it just shows,

that anything is possible, hn this competition. That is why we have

drawn up, with the Challengd Cup. Wembley, it is fabulous. It is

fabulous to see some upsets. It says. And Oldham, the best that we

have had for some time. So 16 teams remain in the r`ce

for the Challenge Cup. The sixth round draw is livd

on the Today programme on R`dio Four You can listen to live coverage

of St Helens against Leeds on Five Live Sports Extra

from seven-thirty on Friday, and join us next week

on the Super League Show That's it for this week, my thanks

to Robbie and Iestyn for johning us, we'll leave you with some mdmories

from 1978, and the final of the World

7's from Headingley. International, Premier Leagte

southern, Widnes against Wigan. Away goes the 1st one. Going without any

opposition. It's a try. Not going completely all out.

O'Neill. Way out. On the wing. Must be. 3rd try of this match. Ht has

been followed. This is not the fastest man. I do not think they

will catch up. But you never know. Going behind the posts.