Episode 21 Super League Show

Hello, the Super League leadership contest has been going on for 21

rounds and as the season comes of age it might

be time for a change at

It is top against bottom as the Rhinos

look to turn the tables on the Super League leaders.

It was win or bust for Salford, but did their top eight

And we meet the man in the middle, Alex

Walmsley keeping The Saints alive in the race to the play-offs.

We have Warrington half backs past and

Kirk Gidley is alongside Iestyn Harris.

Huddersfield have a new coach and more on the appointment of rick

Stone shortly, but round 21 was potentially decisive for the Giants.

They met Hull KR on Friday knowing the winner would be

Murphy's popped up with the ball and Brierley is

No one will catch him and Ryan Brierley has gone

the length of field and Huddersfield hit the front.

Into contact, gets it away and its touch

down by Matte Marsh and Hull back on the board.

Reaches out an arm and it has come loose.

He gets the ball down, does he get the ball away.

We are going to see a

Said it was kicked out of his hand and that is a score for the Giants.

They're going to work it to the right side again.

Tried to turn and twist his way across.

They lead with eight nerve-jangling minutes

The hooter's going to go and that is it.

Hull Kingston Rovers fight back to win and

I thought after they got the drop goal, we decided to get going.

Our outside backs were good in getting

On the back of that Kelly was able to control things

But a performance worthy of a win, obviously so, but just proud of

We are sat in the dressing room and we feel like it

was an implosion in terms of second half.

We built ourselves a position to win a game and actually

You can't fault Hull Kingston Rovers, I

thought the work rate, they were under the cosh a bit

and I thought they came out fighting in the second

half and showed a lot of positive edges to their game and we just fell

I think they have been in a position to win games five or six

If they had won them games they possibly should have

19-6 up, in a dominant position and then to implode as the

coach says is the story of the season.

bottom four and are going to be in the middle eights.

So Rick Stone comes in, a man you know well, what

is he going to bring to Huddersfield?

I have had a great relationship with Rick, he was a

coach and head coach for a couple of years,

I think he has taken lots of good things from

He has a great relationship with all players.

He has a great relationship with all players

and all staff and as a player you want to play for him.

What do you think he will do in the short-term,

he goes into the qualifiers, what will be his line of attack?

I think it is a balance of stamping your

authority as a head coach, but also you want the players to play for

So you want to come in and make a good impression yourself.

I know Rick over the years has worked

closely with us defensively and that is probably an area

But I think he is a great appointment he will still want to be

He has had time to sit out with the way

things finished at Newcastle last year.

Hull KR, we had Jamie Peacock on who said whatever happens to

them, whether they're in that qualifiers, they are ready for it.

Did that look like a team that is a bit battle

hardened from what they went through last season?

I think so, I don't think they have got

Now is about getting your confidence up, getting the

quality of performance up and it is still

possible they can get into the

So for me Hull KR are looking strong.

I think there is some good teams that will be in the

middle eights, if you don't start well, you could be in trouble.

It seems if he ticks, the whole thing ticks.

You want that as your halves, talking-wise, you want

I played alongside him at Newcastle and when he is

controlling the game and taking the line on, I think

Earlier in the year he wasn't as fit as what he should have been.

We know that Leeds will no longer be the champions and Hull FC started

the round in pole position to succeed them.

It was top against bottom when the two met on Friday

Hull's defence having to be tight, being asked a few early

And here comes Sutcliffe who finds a way

Two minutes played and for the ninth successive game, Leeds

A dummy on the inside and Carlos Tuimavave has

Everyone was expecting the pass left.

Ball has been lost and it is picked up as

Leeds have put themselves back under pressure here.

They have got an overlap on the left.

And they establish a healthy lead now.

It is a good, strong carry by Bowden.

Here comes the drop attempt from Mark

Sneyd, who looks every inch a terrific kicker tonight.

Here on this right-hand side is Handley, who is

Watkins, Hall is up and bowls it back and a simple

Looking for distance as much as anything.

Hull have a chance to bring it back with plenty of

I think it is going to give Hull a very

A chance for Sneyd to re-establish the Leeds.

Leeds have to score twice now to win.

And it picked up by Watkins - the quickest to react

Leeds are right back in the game again.

Just under 10 minutes to

Out to Watkins who puts his head down and goes and Watkins' try

Is it that the pivotal moment of this game?

Great response from Leeds in this match and

Hull are going to be dislodged from the top of the

Leeds are going to stay bottom, but they have got a

But what a response they have had tonight, Leeds.

Was that a bit more of the Leeds we know from lasting

I think so and having Hall, Moon combination, we

Just because they haven't had the combinations

And yes it is not all about having your best players on,

but it does help and you know they will be wanting to hit some form,

because you know Leeds have been under par

season now and hence the reason they're at the bottom of the pile.

But Watkins, the ability he has to get and win games,

Hopefully for Leeds they will show this more.

Tell us about Segeyaro, you know him, what can he

He's dynamic runner of the game, playing against him, it

was always, don't take any shows off him, any time

there is markers down, he will take the space and he is

I think he is a pretty good pick up for Leeds.

And an area you think they have probably

Yes, they lost a player last year and

there is an argument to say they haven't replaced him

That is what they have been looking for is that type of

Burrow has been playing in the halves as well, so

they have missed him in that area as well.

Back-to-back defeats for Hull, should the coach be worried?

No, they're still in a pretty good position.

I know they're missing a

couple of key guys, but I think they will still be

I'm sure they will want to finish off the next couple of games

They have got a good way to try and come back from that.

It will be a juicy one, you can hear

Will is live commentary for the Hull Derby on Five Live.

Join us for highlights at 11.pm next Monday.

And this further debate on week's Rugby

Wakefield recorded a big win in April that was

the biggest Super League score of the season so far.

Wigan had lost just twice since and went into

Friday's rematch with a chance to move to the top of the table.

After the big win last time out, Wakefield again got off to the ideal

The first half went on to be a bad tempered encounter.

Wigan went down to 12 men after 18 minutes.

Dom Manfredi was shown a card for

But Wigan didn't let the one man deficit

affect them and went on to

Williams was the creator after taking a pass and a

dummy was enough to wrong foot the defence and create a gap.

His pace took him clear and he fed Gildart.

With Wigan back up to 13 on the field there was a foot chase.

Charnley and Hall raced for the loose ball and Charnley getting

But the referee had already blown for the shove on halve

and Charnley was the second of the Warriors to see yellow in ten

Back down to 12 man, but back with a try, Powell crossed for

home side to put them ahead for the first time.

The referee hadn't finished with the cards though as

Wakefield launched an attack, a high shot from Loughlin

Wigan were again down to 12 men and this time for the rest of

The second half started with Wakefield trying to make the

Just after the restart, Finn levelled things and

Wakefield were starting to build pressure, but

But he had the chance to to extend the lead.

This time Finn made no mistake to give

Wakefield an eight point cushion with just over 15 minutes to go.

But Wigan weren't done and they stepped

They shipped the ball to left, with Tompkins sent Tierney

Wigan were back to within two after the conversion.

With seconds left, Wigan kept pushing and when

Williams put a kick in, Tierney touched down.

Smith converted and Wakefield's chances of a famous

We had everything going against us, with the team we have got out and

the sin-binning and the sending off, to come up with that win was extra,

We had the game in control and it just shows that you

It is an 80 minute game and we only played

Me and Rads hugged like we have never hugged before.

It meant a lot to him, meant a lot to me.

It is a very proud victory, not for the club, but mainly for our

You know, I think it was the way they won the

They have dropped the ball and three tackles later Wigan scored.

When you're in a game and you know you

have lost it and suddenly you come back it is always emotional.

The fact they had so many kids out there.

They played with 12 Monday for 60 minutes.

There was all sorts of reasons why they should haven't

The reality is they have got two points on the board.

I don't think there is too much doubt about

He has got as though to the referee, really?

You know which ever way you look at it, whatever

way you look at it, it is a red card.

The decision, whatever you say

about Sean, he is not a dirty player.

I don't think he has been send off in his career, which is 15

Hopefully he won't get too many games.

He would have got the same result if he hit him chest high.

What does it say about the character of Wigan

to come back and to do that

Yeah they're up againest some adversity in that

An error with a minute to go is heart-breaking for Wakefield in

They're the one team that could be caught by Hull KR.

Yeah, I mean, momentum in sport and certainly in

But when you get a string of wins together that is great.

And the opposite side of things when you

Confidence, you question your confidence, attack-wise and it is

about going back to basics and doing a lot of homework on your opponents.

The club learned their six point deduction for salary cap offences

So in the evening head to avoid defeat at

Warrington to have any hopes of avoiding the qualifiers.

The last time these two met it went right to

He has landed an almost impossible drop

Tompkins out of dummy half and Salford looking to get a

Ratchford doing his best to prevent the try.

But Sa'u gets a hand on it and does he touch it down with a hand still

Well again he is going to the video ref.

Have a look at Ratchford who runs through

He is well ahead of the man and he doesn't obstruct him at all.

He should have done better with that

So Westerman should be celebrating and

is celebrating Warrington's first try of the night.

Rounded up and put down by those three Salford defenders.

Atkins putting the step on, putting the

He will have a potter himself to test the mettle of those Salford

He is leaving defenders on the ground here.

With a pass out wide and a slide to score from Tom Lineham.

Just went low and skidding in and enjoyed

A sweeping move left and here is Griffin and a fine finish.

On his way at the end of the year, but his heart and

They have still got three tackles to go Warrington.

Here is Ratchford dodging and weaving.

Westerman dumbied one way a huge gap the other.

The run back to the mid by Wester man who fancies a hat trick.

And the ref is having a look at this.

Looked as though Westerman had lost the

But Dobson quite clearly plays at it and flicks it free.

From here it becomes play on and there is

This is going to be a try for Pattern and

But finding only a bruising shoulder in the ribs.

Sandow keeping them guessing until the kick and Russell

They're are in good position heading into the splits, the Super Eights.

The defence maybe switching off a little.

But Salford getting the last word in

A bit of the good, the bad and the ugly!

According to Tony Smith. What did you pick out. There was a bit of

that in review. The second half our kicking game was better. Chrissie

had a couple of 40/20s. It is such a big part of game, kicking. If you

kick a decent approach. But I thought his kicking game was great.

Lot better second half. A couple of defensive errors that were not

great. But not too bad. After the Challenge Cup game, Tony Smith said

we won ugly. You seem to be lacking a bit of fluency. Some of our

attacking structures were better on the weekend. Joe Westerman had a

good game. He has great ball skills, but he had some strong carries. Wind

farm won ugly. That is kind of a good thing. You want to win those

games ugly. But you also like the ones where you play well

offensively. But I think some of the best wins at the start of year for

us, as a team were when we were defending well. Is a proud part of

game when you get a win when you have defended tough. It with was a

big game from Watkins. Yes, the combination between him and Ryan on

the weekend was strong all year. Ryan is such a well built guy, big,

strong, fast. And when he backs himself like that, he is hard to

defend and that is the way. Well we want Benny and Ryan working

together. A tough one for Salford. They started well, but Ian Watson

said the emotions had taken their poll. They have to regroup. 15, 20

minutes into the game there wasn't too much between the two. I thought

it was a good arm wrestle of a game and then Salford fell in a big hole.

Warrington got stronger. Whether that is emotional energy they wasted

pregame. But Warrington looked stronger than Salford after 20

minutes. Cue cash said he is considering his future. What do you

think he will do? I don't think anybody will know what he will do.

He will decide when he is ready. It is a difficult situation. Because

there is a lot of players that are under contract for for than this

year. And everybody's guessing at the moment. So you know when he is

ready I am sure he will make a decision. But I suppose everybody's

got to hold their breath. Crowd numbers haven't been great and

doesn't look as a business a good proposition if you wanted to sell?

No, I don't think it has. But what you have got do is breed

consistency. Then people come through the door. Warrington's a

perfect example, look how well they have been run and the crowds have

gone up. And had Salford been consistent, I don't think anybody

can say they have. So Salford are heading to qualifiers and will join

Leeds and the Leeds seen tur yons. They -- Centurions. They met in

1971. Leeds in possession. A drop and he has a drop. Fiddler who

dropped one in the semis. Murphy and he is in for the try. That was a

very good break by Murphy. Oh! Ferguson the kicker. Looks a

good shot. But a goal! Somebody's been sent off. Hinds has

been sent off. The first time ever the captain has been sent off. The

Leeds captain has been sent off. It is opening. He has ran in for the

try. What a finish. What a finish. He went over. Murphy showing the cup

as he did in 1966 for St Helens and this team no doubt welcoming this

every moment. A different age well done to Lee who

claimed first place in the Championship for the third season in

a row. Next to the Jungle where Castleford haven't won since the

start of March. They knew victory against Catalan would secure their

place in the top eight. How did this one go? It was an attacking game. I

don't think defences were on top. There was some good stuff. We see

them finishing. You see from a defensive point of view there were

things that Daryl Powell will be concerned about. But the way they

attack and Dawn was in hot form with the ball in hand and under pressure

over the top and again Hampshire, a terrific finish. Does that sum up

where Castleford have been, good attacking, defensively occasionally

not quite there? Yes... You could say that about Catalan with that

try. When we have come up against them, we have done homework on their

offence. The Some great structures and plays. They finish on the right

mark. Stewart is such a big part of the team and with the ball he had

scored numerous tries. Defensively he has a great work rate and I

imagine his talk is great. They say after there is a few things they

need to fix? Yes, the defence was not great, coming to the most

important part of year, most clubs will want to be defending well. They

got tore to pieces dephenomenonselfly. -- defensively.

But they will score points. It is just that when they were picking up

points in the league, it was because they were defending well. I think

with personnel missing, that is why. Time to hear from the St Helens

forward Alex Walmsley. He has again been putting in the hard yards. I'm

quite awkward for the opposition to tackle. I was told it is like

tackling ska fording. Scolding -- ska following. It is - scaffolding.

It has been a tough year. Whether that is age, I do not know. I would

be surprised if any season has seen so many injury crisis. Everybody

seems to be losing six or seven players. That is due to the volume

of tough games. I don't know. But it is a tough year and it is a tough

sport. I feel there is some correlation between the two. Our

main issue has been consistency, even if we have been performing well

we have struggled to notch up points. It is something if we want

to be realistic and go on to achieve some silverware, we need to get

right. And sometimes our efforts in games and performances in the games

haven't been justified in our results. We are still high in

spirits and at no point has it entered our minds the season is

over. No team wants to grab the league by the scruff of the night.

As long as there or thereabouts we will fancy our chances and I would

challenge anyone to write us off. Your first e peerps of a Super

League -- experience of Super League, has he point with the games

and the injuries. Yes the amount of games is more than back home. The

intensity of games back there is tough. But it is a long season. For

all players. And clubs especially. It is about getting the balance

right of getting enough training done without pushing guys too far

and trying to keep your best team on the park. He took time to get into

this season, with the injuries? Yes he had a bad injury at the end of

year and missed pre-season. That is always difficult for a player. You

want to be able to have that full pre-season to give you a chance to

start well. He never got that and it has taken him time to get through.

But he is a handful. He is a big lad. Look at the size of him. And he

is the reason why Saints have been pick up. St Helens continue to

pursue the top four against Widnes. Are we seeing more steel from St

Helens? I think so. They beat us early in the year. They have got a

lot of potential and some great attacking players. But even Widnes

have started the year well with some attacking. They give you a fair run

for your money in the Challenge Cup. Yes, that was one of the hardest

games I have played. Is is about being consistent through the games,

through each game. But week-to-week. A tough one for Widnes to lose, at

home, Wen you lose an arm wrestle like this? Yes, that is why St

Helens are starting to win games. They're learning how to win.

Historically we remember the super Saint there is a will score from

anywhere and take you apart. I don't think that is the case with this

team. They have got to grind victories out and getting close to

the game, trying to find a way to win a game. That is what they need

to learn to do and they get a penalty and Percival kicks the goal

and that is why they're picking up points. They're building towards the

top four, they learn you don't have to play fantastically well. Three

wins in a row for them. Here is where it has left them in the table.

The top four get four home gameles in the Super Eights.

Hull FC are going for a clean sweep of Derby victories.

That is it for now. Thank you to my guests. We will see you at 11.15

next week. For now, goodbye.