Episode 18 Super League Show

Hello. The battle lines are being drawn for the last five weeks

Around 18 have the potential to be pivotal.

Coming up, we will get the verdict on six matches and more

with John Kear and Iestyn Harris, but without further ado

it is Warrington against Hull, as the top two go head to head.

Great score from the black and whites.

I wonder whether this may be an Old Trafford dress rehearsal.

Even at this stage in the season, so much to play for.

Jockeying for position in that top four.

Kicked downfield and it should be OK for Shaul.

Chris Sandow wouldn't give it up, it looked a lost cause,

it looked an easy ball for Jamie Shaul.

Warrington dominating the early stages but a real chance here

Well, that was classic Hull this season.

The way they move the ball quickly to either left or right.

There are so many handling errors in this game.

Another Hull mistake, and Warrington cash in.

Minichiello, one of the great standout players in

I suppose it is all about who can complete their sets

That's another certain four points for the Warrington Wolves.

All they had to do was collect the ball.

Daryl Clark, how important could that prove to be?

Clark does well, really having a good season for Warrington.

They're going to try and level the scores here.

It is a level game at the Halliwell Jones.

An hour gone, 12 apiece, all to play for.

They love him, the black and whites.

Well, Gareth Ellis somehow finding a way through.

No, the referee says the ball went backwards.

It looks like it, it goes back to Sneyd.

For the moment it left the boot, Hull are on their way

He's kicked so many important drop goals, Mark Sneyd.

Hull stay top of the pile and they are now four points clear

In a six minute edit that doesn't look too bad the game, but

afterwards their coach said it was a horrible advert for the game.

Discourse. I agree, the errors in the game were huge for a top of the

table clash. You expect to see quality and high skill level. Yes,

the conditions weren't great but you still expect better skill than that.

Hull showed a little bit more, they are more structured side than

Warrington. If you do drop the ball and you have a strong structure, you

will still create opportunities in the game and Hull did that. If you

drop a lot of balls and you don't have a structure with that, it

becomes difficult to score points. As a coach, do you get a sense of a

game like that very early on, even from the off the errors were there?

Yes, there were plenty of errors but brutal defence as well. The fact is

the quality of the game wasn't the best. I still enjoyed the game

because I thought it was very competitive. You can see here, there

was some real tough defence. You can get that when conditions are like

that. It slows the game down so it becomes more defence orientated.

Players have got to adapt how they carry the ball into the collision

and slightly adapt the game. Perhaps they didn't do it as well as they

could have done but it was still an exciting game. In a funny way, is it

catching, it gets into your head when errors are made by others?

Absolutely, and there is nothing worse as a player. Getting that

message on the field to stop dropping the ball. It just gets in

your mind. It accumulates on top of that. Both teams will be very

frustrated with the way they have played but Hull will be extremely

happy. Playing like that and still coming away with two points away at

Warrington is always difficult to do. Hull have always struggled

Warrington and they will be happy. If anyone said to Lee Radford on the

whole team, you will win no matter how you play, they would have it in

your hand off. Gareth Ellis has been fantastic for them this season,

leading by example. Do you feel he has played differently as he got

older? He really carries the ball aggressively, he has always been

able to time a run and look at the angle of his run, and that's what

happens there. He times it superbly. He is big, strong and powerful. Yes,

he has adapted his play but what he brings to the Hull FC squad is his

leadership ability. He is a leader, from what I hear, off the field as

much as on the field. They are following his standards. He has

played that well in previous years, he has just picked up injuries at

the wrong time. If he can stay injury free, Hull will be a force.

Warrington without that structure have been attacking wise very good

most of the season. Will Tony be worried about how little they have

created? No, I don't think he will. Warrington rely on the off-load a

lot, rely on dummy runs. When you drop the ball and your energy levels

are down, you don't get the off-loads the same and hence your

attacking can be stuttered. That's exactly how Warrington played that

game. He will want to clean up two or three things. Old Trafford tends

to be a wet night and I'm sure Tony Smith will be looking at that and

thinking we perhaps need to adapt our game for such conditions. If I

was Lee Radford I would be licking my lips with the size of that

forward pack and how they play in the wet conditions. I will make sure

I pack my umbrella! All eyes were on the south of France

on Saturday night, of course. England were playing

Russia in Marseille, The real feast for Rugby League fans

was at five o'clock, We join it with the Dragons leading

2-0, and Matt Newsum was watching. Saints making a bright start here,

they may trail on the board but their forwards have

had some joy. But it is McDonnell

at the moment, tackled deep Now moving across to

this left-hand side. It is Louie McCarthy-Scarsbrook,

he has hit a great line, Dave Taylor comes off,

Julian Bousquet comes on, and it is Pelissier

who scampers into space. It is Fouad Yaha down

this left-hand side. He has gone past McDonnell,

and Fouad Yaha has scored Anthony Maria crashing

through the Saints line. Carney, through to the

left-hand side. And Catalan strike

minutes before the break. A couple of tackles

left in the bag here. And they are ten away

from the Saints line. They might well go for the drop goal

here, and it is Todd Carney. Saints gearing up for another

assault on the Catalan line. It is brought out to this left-hand

side and there is a huge gap for Adam Swift, and Saint

Helens strike back. The Dragons, just three points in it

at the moment. Beautiful tip on,

and Jodie Broughton! Well, Dave Taylor is causing Saints

all sorts of problems and he gets Now Fouad Yaha has space

on the left-hand side. Saints ripped apart down

the left-hand side. Almost up to halfway,

and it is Julian Bousquet And Saint Helens, having had some

purple patches in this game, find themselves on the back foot

at the moment. And Catalan continuing

to bang on the door. Lovely little wraparound

from Escare, and he feeds it out to Jodie Broughton,

who will come back around the posts and possibly put

this game out of sight. Stewart, another real

presence in this side. Bosc on the last here,

kicked to the corner. Broughton has knocked it back,

and it is touched down by Gigot, and that should be lights

out for Saint Helens. Well, a consolation score

would at least give something to cheer for the Saints

fans behind the sticks. Here comes McDonnell,

still going round Horo here, has gone past Albert,

and there is a consolation. It has been another ruthless

Catalan performance. A fourth defeat in a row now for

Saint Helens. I know they had injury problems, but it is not an easy time

for them. No, and they are losing pivotal players. Fages went off. If

you remember some years ago, they won the Grand Final basically

because Nathan Brown changed how they played and they played very

much forward orientated game. That may be the menu for success in the

weeks to come. Can you see them making the four now? It is going to

be difficult because they will have to strip a lot of games together.

When you are down on confidence, the last place you want to go is the

South of France. Catalan are formidable at home, they play

exceptionally well. It is never easy going there, let's not forgot that.

Saint Helens are down on confidence but a lot of teams go to Catalan and

lose. It is a transition for Saint Helens, they have a lot of

experienced players moving on, and trying to get the squad balance

right is perhaps not there at the moment but I'm sure they will.

Catalan have quite a few players, they have Albert, they scored some

good tries. Yes, they have grit and determination, and it is combining

so well. They are tough team to play against. They are taking a lot of

boxes at the minute, especially the fact they can come over to England

and went pretty consistently. Are you impressed with how David Taylor

has played for them throughout the year? He has certainly added

something. You only have to look at him, the sun goes in when you get

behind him. Stewart down the right-hand side, Horo down the

left-hand side and they have a lot of flair.

Wigan hit the road again on Friday for their fourth consecutive

This time they were at Hull KR, and Sharon Shortle has

Poor weather conditions meant this game wasn't going to pretty and it

was Wigan that opened the scoring, Tomkins touched down by the corner

flag. The second try was almost a carbon copy of the first for the

Warriors. Williams set up the position for Wigan within ten metres

of the line. Powell moved the ball out the right, Smith's pass to

Tomkins allowed Manfredi to cross for his second. Hull KR finally got

their first points of the game. This was allowed to bounce after being

missed in the air by defenders and attackers, Kelly took advantage. The

conversion put Rovers back to within two points at the break and they

went into the lead for the first time in the second half. Driving run

valuable territory. Men's went racing through to stretch the lead

to four points. Wigan had a spell of pressure but couldn't capitalise and

Rovers went on to score again, Kelly timing a pass perfectly only for the

centre to be brought down. Kelly was the provider as Allgood went through

with acres of space. Wigan were far from finished. This run 60 metres

upfield before he was caught. The pass went to Tomkins, who was the

provider for Anthony Gilling. Dixon went over and reduced the deficit to

four after a successful conversion. With just two minutes to go on the

clock, Wigan launched another attack. The Warriors came within a

couple of metres of the line. The gallant defence couldn't hold out

any longer as Powell sent the pass to Smith, who again found Tomkins

and the scores were level. It was down to the boot of Smith to clinch

the win for the Warriors. And he added the extras to keep them within

two points of the top of the table. This is a tough place to come, a

very tough place to come for everybody. They have got some really

good individuals and they do challenge you. To do that with the

disruption we had, the errors we made, there's a lot to work on but

we are still finding ways to come to a tough place like this and get the

victory. It was tough to keep repelling them away from our try

line the way we did. Toulouse in those circumstances was

gut-wrenching. Very different reactions from the

coaches, but for Sean Wayne the team hasn't been flying, Wigan, but do

they have a good side to build on? Yes, and when you come towards the

latter end of the year you need to know how to win, and how many times

have Wigan done that. They always seemed to win in the last seconds at

Hull KR, and Hull fans must be sick to death of it. They are gritty

side, not as fluent as in years gone by but they know how to win. Socket

-- Tomkins is starting to get better with more game time. And he has this

habit of chiming in with tries, we have seen it since he came back. How

key will he be if they are going to be successful? Here's an X factor

player. This try his God was crucial with a couple of minutes to go. He

is getting better, or he will get better as time progresses, he gets

more comfortable recovering from his injury. The Wigan team have had a

fair few injuries but they still keep posting those two points. I'm

sure they can play better but he will be happy with the league

position. Rovers had injury problems. It will

be tough for them to make the eight now? Extremely tough. You need on

your best players playing. If they are losing those key individuals

with only five games to go, they are owner have to put a string of

results together - extremely difficult. They did very, very well

in the game and lost. They will take something from it but to get to the

eight will be really difficult. Now time to meet the hooker,

who's rather useful with a hook. When he's not directing the Wigan

forwards around the park, Sam Powell is by the side of a lake

waiting to catch a bite, and that's where we

found him last week. Whenever I get some free time, this

is what I like to do, fishing. I get so much stick off the lads for

coming fishing. A lot of them don't understand, they think it is very

boring. I have to fight my own corner on that one! When the weather

is nice like this, I don't think there is anything better. I just

enjoy the relaxing part of it. Once I have been training and everything,

I like to get home and just do something different. I like being on

my own, and when you're here, you're just of set down waiting for a fish.

It is not really stress on the body, which is partly why I like to do it.

Rugby is a tough sport so this is a good way to wind down. When I'm out

fishing, I don't think about rugby. I just think about how I'm going to

catch that next fish! There's a few of the boys at rugby now have jumped

on board. They fished when they were younger and they are trying to get

back into it. Josh Charnley, he is into it. Ollie thinks he is good at

it but here's not quite. I think Wayne himself is trying to get into

it as well. Definitely a lot of banter flying around. Think it will

be very competitive. I want to catch a 20 old team finish this year, that

is one of my names. -- 20lb fish. -- one of my aims. The season is going

well so far. We are finding consistency as a team in attack. The

lads will tell you, we have not attacked at our best this year. But

I think with some coming back, that's coming now. We have got

George settling back in, and Matt and Sam as well. For myself, any

player, if they are playing a lot of rugby, they are enjoying it. It is

unlikely that Mickey got injured, but it is an opportunity for me so I

want to take it. That is my main goal. I think we are a young team,

we have been in two semifinals in the last should be years so we are

very hungry. We want to win, that is one of our strengths. The big goal

for this year is to win a trophy. I have been in two Grand Finals and

lost twice chief. That is pretty hard to take. I am a Wigan lad, so I

would like to be in the team as long as I can, winning games, but

definitely win as many trophies as possible at the club. There's three

on offer at minute, and we will be going for all three. Leeds did it

last year so we would like to do that. I don't know about you but I'm

struggling to see Shaun Wane out fishing, it has to be said. But Sam

has done really well, hasn't he? With Michael out for the season, how

impressed her view being with how he has taken his chance? I really rate

Sam Powell, I think he is a fantastic young player. He has had

some bad injuries as well. He is so mentally strong, so tough mentally.

That has allowed him to come through. Unfortunately for Mickey

McIlorum, but he has had that opportunity. He has really grasped

it. He was a halfback and he has transitioned to that hooker

position, but he's so good defensively as well. Everybody

thought Wigan would struggle when McIlorum got that injury but he has

really stepped in. Salford have won just once

at Headingley in the summer era, but with Leeds on the bottom

of the table they had a great chance to double that

total on Friday night. We've added a couple of near misses

to give you something to talk about! Yes, we have got robbed by Roeder,

attempting to go over. This was quite early in the game. Nice little

kick from McGuire. -- we have got Rob Burrow. That was the only try of

the night. But Leeds will be happy, because they defended really well.

Although that, in all honesty, as the Leeds defence came up, maybe he

should have done better. And having him on the bench, was not a strange?

It was but the most pleasing thing for Leeds will be the way they

defended. They have got a lot of work to do with the ball in hand,

because obviously only scoring eight points themselves. But they will

take the two points. Is it coincidence that the other game that

they have won in this horrendous run was against Hull, and it was raining

that might as well? Yes, obviously, it slows the game down slightly.

They have worked really hard defensively and Liam Sutcliffe has

found a way to do it with those two penalties. It is not the prettiest

to watch, but I'm sure the South stand at Leeds, they will just be

relieved to have got those two points. You say defensively, they

will build on it - tacking-wise, they seem to be pushing it a bit

still wanted yes, they do. We have got to remember that they have got a

lot of youngsters in that side. They are missing some experience with

injury, and the three legends of the club who have retired. They are in a

big transition year. But certainly they will be wanting people like

hall and Briscoe back as quickly as possible.

We can return to Headingley now, but go back a little further in time

This is the Premiership final of 1984, and keep an eye out

for the chap in the number five shirt for Castleford.

COMMENTATOR: What a game in prospect, this premiership trophy

final. Two of the most stylish sides in the game. Nice one, half a chance

here! Can he go all the way?! It is a beautiful ball for John Kear! That

is the kind of ball which Castleford are capable of. This is what we call

classic Cas. He's going for the line! Yes!

Well, well, well, you cannot believe it! Oh, good pass. Little bit of

aggravation between those two. No problem. The referee cards things

down. Come here, says Ronnie. David hall... Oh, once again, to Donaghy!

Is in! Yes! More joy for those Rovers supporters. Can he get there?

Yes, he is in! Magnificent try! There is the hooter. The Hull

Kingston Rovers crowd leaping and excited, and they have done it. Do

you watch that back and think, if only we had done this or done that?

Yes, John Donohue did that to us, to tell you the truth. He was a

fantastic stand-off half, the Australian, who came to Hull

Kingston Rovers. The Taurus apart as the game wore on, and they were

deserted winners, even though it still hurts. Cut a bit of a,! Does

not look much different, though! It's doesn't seem that long

since Huddersfield beat Wakefield That was in 2013, but on Sunday

the Giants needed to beat the Wildcats to boost their chances

of avoiding the qualifiers. And once again there weren't too

many points on the board, Iestyn. No, and it was another one of those

games with defences on top. Huddlesfield, struggling on

confidence that cherub moment. They really wanted to win this game if

they wanted to have any chance of getting into the top eight. So

close, but they just did not have that execution to get the points

they needed. Wakefield defended very, very well. I know they have

got some players missing, but they did have some creative players out

there? They have got people like Ellis, Brough, very creative. Then

you have got McGillvary and others, so it is a bit of a surprise. The

conditions obviously played their part, but the biggest thing for

Huddersfield is confidence. They are obviously well down on confidence.

Wakefield showed the will and the desire to close it out. This saying

after it that one more win, and they will be in the eight. Yes, I was

surprised with that comment. Wakefield are now level on points

with St Helens. They could really push the top four with a few more

wins. I would be saying, Lex look above us now. John, you know what is

going on in their yes, I think Chris Aston a marvellous job. Wakefield

were always confident staying in Super League which they may have

felt initially, it was the middle eight route, well now, it is going

to be straight through. He has done a very good job, and they will be

very happy down at Bellevue. Finally then to the Jungle,

where Castleford hadn't lost at home to Widnes since the Vikings' return

to Super League in 2012. Watching to see if that run

would come to an end Widnes could go seventh, and for

Cas, if they stop the Tigers, It looks like MacGraff Leuluai! And

what a good way to celebrate a new two-year contract! White, kicked

through. Fling with the error. Paddy Flynn, on loan from Widnes. Insisted

that it was written into the loan agreement that he could play against

his parent club. But that was a mistake. Here is Brown. Cahill.

Bright start from the Widnes Vikings. Good move again. Patrick Ah

Van, it is another try! He has been out through suspension, and he's

back with a try. And Widnes extend their lead! They have had a lot of

ball, the Tigers, not done too much with it. That will disappoint Daryl

Powell. Well held, Solomona, and Paddy Flynn gets his try against his

parent club! Widnes had to jettison fling for salary cap reasons. He

will be pleased with that. Here they come again. Little kick through.

Thomson on the chase, with Flynn. Bridge gets it down. She neither

referee is send this upstairs. -- now, the referee. Jack Smith, only

his second Super League game, for the referee. Wondering whether there

was a knock on from Thompson. I don't think there is, you know. All

very Messi. But that is a try. Chris Bridge. It is! It is a third witness

try! Does not matter how they come. -- Widnes. It has been encouraging

start to the second half for the Castleford Tigers. Milner, lovely

pass! Flynn is in for his second! Just what Daryl Powell had demanded

in the dressing room. Out of the gate, out of the traps, four points

for the Tigers. Here come Widnes again. They have played some good

stuff. Well, the referee saying, just get on with it, basically.

Widnes do that. Here is Patrick Ah Van. And Widnes think he has scored!

The referee, does he think so? He does! The video referee will call

this. Patrick Ah Van... Like an NFL running back scoring a touchdown...

But I am pretty sure he has scored a try. And Widnes extend their

advantage. Playing some good stuff. Can he get

through? Try saving tackle from McShane. Dummy from White. Try!

Perfect back's try, straight from acting halfback! Lloyd White gets

his reward. Not a happy man, the Cas coach. I think he actually hit him

in the face. Lloyd White, playing on. Play on, played to the whistle!

On the last... Good hands again. He is a manages to off-load. Lloyd

White picks it up. He has scored from absolutely nowhere! Lloyd

White, great vision! Look like a lost cause. Three quick Widnes

tries. Cas going for the short kick-off. The referee is saying that

it has gone ten metres. Everybody stopped, but Joe Mellor didn't! This

is going to be a try, a fourth one for Widnes in a little over 12

minutes! Let's have another look. The referee is saying he called it

that the ball travelled ten metres in the air. There is the

explanation. Everybody stopped. Every picture tells a story. It has

been a really disappointing Castleford performance, you have to

say. At home again, a wretched record at home this season, the

Tigers. Larne Patrick goes over, little more than consolation for the

Tigers. Larne Patrick, who has agreed a three year deal with the

Tigers this week. Excellent from Widnes all-night. Solomona is

through the! This is better from Castleford! This is the Cas that we

have come to know and love this season! He goes under the posts, and

he will race back to add the extras. Surely, though, it is a lost cause.

Let's see. Their best spell they have saved for last. Corey Thompson

does well there. What is he doing?! What on earth is he doing?! He was

down! Denis Betts, the water bottle has gone! That says it all! Dear,

oh, dear! Corey Thompson, young that is a brainstorm. Ouch! Here come

Castleford again. Flynn will get a hat-trick! It is three tries in five

minutes for Castleford and a hat-trick for Paddy Flynn against

the club that don't want him! They are giving it a real go, you have to

say. That is it. Widnes have just had too much. Big, big win for the

Vikings, big boost for their top eight hopes. For the Tigers, a

fourth consecutive home Super League defeat.

That was a big win for Widnes? Yes, massive. They went through a period

when they could not buy a win. I think it was seven on the bounce.

After such a great start for the season as well. It is getting that

confidence back. And they are doing it without a lot of their forwards?

Yes, but the spine, manner and Brown, Lloyd White... And Chris

Bridge is well. Yes, you have got some real quality there. If you get

Sinfield is issued, they will score points. Denis will be happy,

although he got a bit frustrated there! They have thrown in these

performances a few times this season, Widnes? Yes, I think Darryl

thinks they are putting in however now and then. And he does not want

that. I think they are better than what they showed. After the previous

week, when they gave a stellar performance, going down to The

Jungle against Widnes, needing to win to go for the top six, you

thought they would turn up. Unfortunately, there were some good

performances, but some poor individual performances as well.

Quite some statement by Paddy Flynn against the club you are on loan

from? Yes, obviously, frustrated, looking for an opportunity, he has

gone out and grasp it with both hands. But you're right, he would

have wanted the win. I think Darryl will be very frustrated, because the

way they finished that game shows what they can do. Let's see where

they have all ended up in the First Utility sees Super League table.

That's it for this week. My thanks to Iestyn Harris and two John Kear

for joining us. We will see you next time. Goodbye.

I work for the Serious Fraud Office. Is that why you were there?

What do you think this is, some kind of conspiracy?

..or watch all of Case One on BBC iPlayer now.

We could talk about some of these sights I'd like to see.

I really want to see Buckingham Palace, Tower Bridge.