:00:34. > :00:38.The long wait is over and raced to the
:00:39. > :00:41.12 teams have their eyes on this prize.
:00:42. > :01:02.# And it's safe to say the storm's gone away
:01:03. > :01:04.# And I'm dancing on the morning after
:01:05. > :01:19.# Something like freedom, freedom
:01:20. > :01:27.# My God, I'm breathing underwater...#
:01:28. > :01:32.2016, Wigan are the Super League champions.
:01:33. > :01:35.And joining us, we have Hull FC's Gareth Ellis
:01:36. > :01:38.and Jamie Jones-Buchanan of the Leeds Rhinos.
:01:39. > :01:44.not just who maybe want to get into the England squad,
:01:45. > :01:47.but Scotland, Wales and some of the South Sea Islanders
:01:48. > :01:56.It's a massive achievement to play for your country
:01:57. > :02:00.and particularly in a World Cup, to go over there and do it is certainly
:02:01. > :02:03.something that resonates with me over the course of my career.
:02:04. > :02:06.I think, you know, particularly Scott Taylor coming
:02:07. > :02:09.back with his first England cap and I think it's sort of gives
:02:10. > :02:11.a few of the other boys that ambition to get
:02:12. > :02:15.out there and impress and hopefully get the nod at the end of the year.
:02:16. > :02:17.There have been calls in some circles for more entertainment.
:02:18. > :02:19.They want a more entertaining brand of rugby league.
:02:20. > :02:21.Is that something that you as players have been talking
:02:22. > :02:24.about or is that very much coming from the outside?
:02:25. > :02:27.That's a really interesting question actually.
:02:28. > :02:29.I read a really good article from Dave Woods talking
:02:30. > :02:32.about needing a bit more dazzle in Super League and I...
:02:33. > :02:34.I don't know, it's big to call, but I don't know
:02:35. > :02:37.I think we're playing with a generation at
:02:38. > :02:40.the minute who know how to play the game
:02:41. > :02:50.competitions in all kinds of sports where
:02:51. > :02:55.the taking part that counts so what you find
:02:56. > :02:57.is a lot of people who were
:02:58. > :02:59.really good at playing a game such as rugby league, outstanding
:03:00. > :03:03.players, but there's not that many competitors and I think when I look
:03:04. > :03:06.back over the years and watch some of the old games, particularly from
:03:07. > :03:08.the 90s, there are some real mavericks out there, some real
:03:09. > :03:11.You know, getting some penalties, playing the ball,
:03:12. > :03:13.looking, thinking about what can I do here?
:03:14. > :03:17.Just really competing and I think we probably need a few more
:03:18. > :03:20.So your call for 2017, more mavericks.
:03:21. > :03:23.Well, highlights from every game in Round 1
:03:24. > :03:26.coming up, but before we get going, here's a reminder of some of
:03:27. > :03:28.the wheeling and dealing in the transfer market.
:03:29. > :04:31.Obviously, you've acquired from the other side Albert Kelly.
:04:32. > :04:35.Was surprising to you guys that you were getting him?
:04:36. > :04:38.Obviously, you know, it's not the done thing,
:04:39. > :04:43.He's really added to us in training and he really could be
:04:44. > :04:46.the difference between us, you know, winning something again this year.
:04:47. > :04:49.He's got a really vital role to play in us going forward this year.
:04:50. > :05:00.When you look around at other teams, is
:05:01. > :05:06.there a transfer that particularly took you by surprise or
:05:07. > :05:08.stands out for you as a really good signing?
:05:09. > :05:11.I think the big one's probably Kev Brown, you know,
:05:12. > :05:13.Unfortunately, he doesn't play, obviously this week
:05:14. > :05:17.with his injury, but I think the big scale will be on Widnes and the fact
:05:18. > :05:20.It's been pivotal around him, their game
:05:21. > :05:23.plan for the last few years and he will be sorely missed there.
:05:24. > :05:25.But certainly exciting for Warrington to
:05:26. > :05:29.get a player of his calibre and that control around the six as well.
:05:30. > :05:31.Over 21 years of Super League, we've become quite
:05:32. > :05:33.accustomed to the season ending with St Helens playing Leeds.
:05:34. > :05:36.They've met four times in Grand Finals, but this year,
:05:37. > :05:38.the long-time rivals face off on the opening night.
:05:39. > :05:42.Well, things are starting to get a bit
:05:43. > :05:45.heated, as it often does between these two.
:05:46. > :06:01.What a finish to a game that never disappoints.
:06:02. > :06:04.What a great way to start the new season between Leeds and St
:06:05. > :06:08.Helens, two of the real big names in Super League, but on the back of
:06:09. > :06:09.relatively disappointing seasons last year.
:06:10. > :06:13.Rob Burrow makes his 500th career appearance tonight.
:06:14. > :06:22.Burrow, switching it away as Leeds try to
:06:23. > :06:25.find something amiss in that Saints defence,
:06:26. > :06:45.And a little push away from Moon and Moon might just
:06:46. > :06:53.Phil Bentham wants a second look here.
:06:54. > :07:04.And it's a Leeds who have first blood here tonight.
:07:05. > :07:12.Well, if he's had time to have a look around.
:07:13. > :07:22.Referee again is going to ask for another opinion here.
:07:23. > :07:24.Ashton Golding might have done a terrific
:07:25. > :07:41.Putting himself in a position to stop that
:07:42. > :07:45.And it is not a try, so full marks to the Leeds defence.
:07:46. > :07:48.St Helens fans beginning to get a little excited here.
:07:49. > :07:50.They sense that their side have an opportunity.
:07:51. > :07:52.Roby goes running away, spinning away and
:07:53. > :07:58.Golding again, just getting in there, but Walmsley...
:07:59. > :08:01.Well, from the naked eye, it looked as though it was short.
:08:02. > :08:06.And I think Golding was involved again there.
:08:07. > :08:14.There's a couple of team-mates in there as
:08:15. > :08:20.But it looks as though they've held that ball up.
:08:21. > :08:22.Can't see any way for that to be given and it isn't.
:08:23. > :08:32.And Walmsley hurt for his pains as well.
:08:33. > :08:47.Richardson with a step back on the inside.
:08:48. > :08:50.Eight strides away from where they want to be.
:08:51. > :08:59.And the little Frenchman is in to score.
:09:00. > :09:02.Six minutes of the second half played.
:09:03. > :09:04.Theo, Theo, is the chant from the stands.
:09:05. > :09:08.So, Percival with a chance to give his side the
:09:09. > :09:13.Under the cosh for most of the first half, but they now lead
:09:14. > :09:24.Here's Watkins looking on the outside.
:09:25. > :09:31.The athlete of old, the ball inside, a try is it?
:09:32. > :09:39.What a tackle that was from Tommy Makinson.
:09:40. > :09:44.If you watch every game between now and October,
:09:45. > :09:46.you might not see anything as good as this.
:09:47. > :09:53.Terrific effort and St Helens hang on for a narrow,
:09:54. > :10:00.Well, given where you were at this time last year, it's a similar sort
:10:01. > :10:03.of result to the beginning of last year, but did it feel very different
:10:04. > :10:08.I mean, first of all, for me, it was really exciting.
:10:09. > :10:11.My 18th year I think going out and playing and the novelty's never
:10:12. > :10:16.Where we'd been last year, I think that you can work really hard
:10:17. > :10:19.in preseason but you can't really get a measure until you've had that
:10:20. > :10:29.So playing away St Helens, a good St Helens side,
:10:30. > :10:31.is a great measure for us and whilst not happy with
:10:32. > :10:35.a 6-4 loss, I think it just shows we've come on leaps and bounds,
:10:36. > :10:36.particularly when it comes to defence.
:10:37. > :10:38.And watching that Tommy Makinson tackle again, are you
:10:39. > :10:40.still thinking Liam's going to go over?
:10:41. > :10:45.I remember being pretty tired and just
:10:46. > :10:48.giving the ball to Cal there and in a bit of space, Cal's magic.
:10:49. > :10:50.I'd have backed him all day through this,
:10:51. > :10:53.but the back three at Saint Helens I think are the biggest
:10:54. > :10:56.Swift, Makinson, Lomax, were outstanding.
:10:57. > :10:58.And the real difficulty when you're bringing the ball back, but coming
:10:59. > :11:01.up with try series like that is what wins you games,
:11:02. > :11:05.Obviously, presumably part of the game plan for you guys was to
:11:06. > :11:09.Obviously with Matty Smith out, he was the key man.
:11:10. > :11:15.Did you expect his energy levels to start to drop at some point?
:11:16. > :11:17.Yeah, I think he did about 40 tackles.
:11:18. > :11:18.Anyone would think we were spotting him
:11:19. > :11:21.and trying to get at him, but
:11:22. > :11:24.credit to him, I think he stood up to every one.
:11:25. > :11:27.We had a few good ones, like this one here, stopping the try
:11:28. > :11:30.With the ball in hand, very, very dangerous.
:11:31. > :11:32.Got over the line for them and he is a strong
:11:33. > :11:34.player and a good addition for Saints.
:11:35. > :11:37.How impressed were you with him, not just with his defence but
:11:38. > :11:40.also his attack, particularly given he had to be the main man?
:11:41. > :11:42.Yeah, obviously there were a lot of questions resting on him
:11:43. > :11:47.Defensively, he built his game around that, he came
:11:48. > :11:49.on to everything that Leeds threw at him.
:11:50. > :11:52.He managed to come up with a real pivotal moment in the try
:11:53. > :11:56.Another man who had a very good game for you guys, Ash Golding.
:11:57. > :12:01.You know, now he's taken over that number one shirt to have had as good
:12:02. > :12:03.a game as he had and be as defensively
:12:04. > :12:08.And, of course, he played for Stanningley as well.
:12:09. > :12:16.But a lot of people ask me, you know, I suspected
:12:17. > :12:18.that Leeds might have had a few more signings
:12:19. > :12:19.this year and you look at
:12:20. > :12:22.somebody like that, what we want to do is promote from within.
:12:23. > :12:24.And that talent is there for me, Ashton
:12:25. > :12:26.Golding, will be world-class in a few years.
:12:27. > :12:27.I'm sure he'll play international.
:12:28. > :12:30.And it's not till you actually watch the game back that
:12:31. > :12:34.He is massive for the forwards and the amount of tries...
:12:35. > :12:38.I think he had three try saves in that game which is just huge and
:12:39. > :12:41.You can sign somebody from overseas but when
:12:42. > :12:44.you've got it on your doorstep, you know, a kid who's saving tries,
:12:45. > :12:46.winning games and gets you to Grand Finals,
:12:47. > :12:49.How impressed were you with St Helens, particularly given they've
:12:50. > :12:51.obviously built their pre-season around around Theo Fages with
:12:52. > :12:55.Matty Smith, that they seem to cope very well without him but he will be
:12:56. > :12:57.massive for them, won't he, when he comes back?
:12:58. > :13:05.He's a massive addition for them this year.
:13:06. > :13:07.Really steers the team around the field and
:13:08. > :13:08.he'll be a big asset, but
:13:09. > :13:12.You plan all your pre-season around a certain combination and
:13:13. > :13:14.then for that to fall away, moments before
:13:15. > :13:16.the start of the year, it
:13:17. > :13:18.would have hit them hard, but I thought they adapted
:13:19. > :13:23.Safe to say that you guys are feeling in a better place than you
:13:24. > :13:25.Homeless, apart from anything last year,
:13:26. > :13:28.Yeah, we spent the pre-season in waders last year.
:13:29. > :13:34.And it's not an excuse, it's just a reality,
:13:35. > :13:38.We've got a great new training facility.
:13:39. > :13:40.We've had a really cohesive pre-season.
:13:41. > :13:42.Got the young lads coming in and adding some
:13:43. > :13:44.enthusiasm and I think it showed in that game that we're
:13:45. > :13:47.in a good place and ready to keep moving forward.
:13:48. > :13:48.Well, the defending champions of course
:13:49. > :13:50.are Wigan and they take on
:13:51. > :13:51.Cronulla on Sunday in the World Club Challenge.
:13:52. > :13:54.We'll bring you highlights of that next week, but
:13:55. > :13:56.their warm up was a Super League fixture at Salford.
:13:57. > :13:58.Your commentator for this one is Tim Steer.
:13:59. > :14:04.Brilliantly kept in play and Gelling will score.
:14:05. > :14:15.The referee, Ben Thaler, puts it on report.
:14:16. > :14:25.Burgess is after it and Burgess will score.
:14:26. > :14:36.Chance for the break here from Gildart.
:14:37. > :14:39.It's Gildart and it's a brilliant try for Wigan.
:14:40. > :14:41.It's been a dominant first half from Wigan.
:14:42. > :14:47.And George Williams dances his way through.
:14:48. > :14:51.How many more points can Wigan put on the board?
:14:52. > :14:57.Well, Joel Tomkins adds another four.
:14:58. > :14:59.Salford looking for their first points of the game.
:15:00. > :15:00.Chris Brining goes over and gets them.
:15:01. > :15:08.Oh, he's done well to get that one down.
:15:09. > :15:11.Well, it's been a better second half from Salford.
:15:12. > :15:16.There's plenty of red shirts after this one.
:15:17. > :15:19.Wigan have dropped it and it's Dobson who is going to
:15:20. > :15:23.But it will be no more than a consolation and Wigan
:15:24. > :15:28.We need to be a lot better and we will be a lot better.
:15:29. > :15:30.We just had to blow the cobwebs off today.
:15:31. > :15:32.That's the first time we've had that team together really.
:15:33. > :15:36.So happy with the win but we know there's a lot of work to do.
:15:37. > :15:39.I feel and the boys feel that an opportunity missed for us
:15:40. > :15:41.because of the way that we turned out in the first half.
:15:42. > :15:44.Like, we can put it down to different things saying that we
:15:45. > :15:47.lost Junior, we lost Robbie, but we feel we're a good
:15:48. > :15:52.We've had time together to be able to kick
:15:53. > :15:55.on and we have to do that straightaway from the off, not in a
:15:56. > :16:02.It's 30 years ago since I've played and it still gets mentioned
:16:03. > :16:06.to me once a week around Wigan, so it means a lot to our town
:16:07. > :16:08.and I'll be getting a few of the players in
:16:09. > :16:12.from 30 years ago to chat to the players this week and make them
:16:13. > :16:14.understand, if we need to, to understand how
:16:15. > :16:18.Cronulla are a very good team from a fantastic comp and it will be
:16:19. > :16:22.How much will the World Cup challenge
:16:23. > :16:24.have been on the minds of the Wigan players,
:16:25. > :16:26.however they try to talk it down beforehand?
:16:27. > :16:29.Yeah, I think you do, as a team, don't you, when
:16:30. > :16:32.You want to address the one that's right
:16:33. > :16:35.in front of you but I think at half-time, the job was pretty much
:16:36. > :16:37.done with the quality that they've got.
:16:38. > :16:40.You couldn't see Salford coming back from that.
:16:41. > :16:42.But they certainly would have had one eye on the game
:16:43. > :16:46.with a pretty much full strength team next week and a few of the old
:16:47. > :16:48.guys coming back to play in it as well.
:16:49. > :16:50.I tell you what, there's something about Wigan though.
:16:51. > :16:53.Tommy Leuluai, obviously was back and Joe Burgess
:16:54. > :16:56.for them, I mean, it's a nice fit for him, isn't it?
:16:57. > :17:03.Well, I think there was nobody else he could go play for.
:17:04. > :17:06.They've got a lot of loyalty at Wigan and they get a lot of their
:17:07. > :17:08.young guys really putting their heart and soul
:17:09. > :17:12.I think Tommy Leuluai will be massive for them this year.
:17:13. > :17:15.I think right back to 2010 when they had Leuluai, Finch and Tomkins
:17:16. > :17:22.Even though you knew what they were going to
:17:23. > :17:26.And, you know, there's a bit of their reunion there with Tomkins
:17:27. > :17:28.back now and I think they'll be really exciting.
:17:29. > :17:31.Like Gareth says, a winter win this week and all their
:17:32. > :17:33.focus will be on becoming world champions this weekend.
:17:34. > :17:35.It was very clear from Ian Watson how frustrated
:17:36. > :17:37.he was at how they performed first half.
:17:38. > :17:41.How influential do you think he could be for them?
:17:42. > :17:44.Yeah, he's going to be another big signing for them.
:17:45. > :17:45.The quality that he's got, he certainly
:17:46. > :17:48.But you could see disappointment in the
:17:49. > :17:50.Salford players and in the Salford coaching staff.
:17:51. > :17:54.You work all pre-season, you know, and it's a bit unknown.
:17:55. > :17:57.You want to go out there and prove that all that hard work
:17:58. > :18:00.And also particularly, they've talked so much,
:18:01. > :18:02.haven't they, about the culture at the club
:18:03. > :18:04.and not wanting to be in those million pound game?
:18:05. > :18:06.Would that have made it even more frustrating,
:18:07. > :18:11.I think, you know, everyone wants to get off to a good start.
:18:12. > :18:14.Like I say, you put all that hard work in.
:18:15. > :18:17.You want to feel as though it's for something and I think they were
:18:18. > :18:19.really disappointed with how they played
:18:20. > :18:23.Well, Warrington checked in and out of the south of France on Saturday
:18:24. > :18:25.without their new signing, Kevin Brown.
:18:26. > :18:28.The Wolves won twice in Perpignan in 2016
:18:29. > :18:29.and were looking to start the new season
:18:30. > :18:33.The commentator for Catalan against Warrington is Matt Newson.
:18:34. > :18:35.Warrington, Mike Cooper back at the Wires for 2017
:18:36. > :18:43.He'll come to the right of the ruck here.
:18:44. > :18:48.It's a lovely little pass and Andre Savelio on his debut for
:18:49. > :19:00.Catalan trying to get front ball through Bird that time.
:19:01. > :19:05.Rhys Evans, oh, he's allowed to bounce.
:19:06. > :19:08.He's flipped the ball to Richie Myler.
:19:09. > :19:20.Walsh, we've already seen one of these towering bombs.
:19:21. > :19:22.It's going to come down under Matty Russell.
:19:23. > :19:29.And Horo is going to try and get the line here.
:19:30. > :19:33.And eventually, the referee, James Child, has gone
:19:34. > :19:41.for the sin-bin and it's Tom Lineham who will have ten in the bin.
:19:42. > :19:47.Catalan forcing the issue around the ten metre line here.
:19:48. > :19:55.Takes it to the right of the ruck here.
:19:56. > :20:17.Warrington sniffing a come back here.
:20:18. > :20:19.And they'll come to this right-hand side once again.
:20:20. > :20:25.Great tip on by Ashton Sims and it finished by Rhys Evans.
:20:26. > :20:37.Catalan looking to extend their lead, make sure of the points.
:20:38. > :20:47.And Catalan have all but sealed it now.
:20:48. > :20:57.But he has great presence, great power
:20:58. > :21:07.Catalan make a winning start to this Super League season.
:21:08. > :21:09.Talking about big signings earlier, how big a signing
:21:10. > :21:12.could Greg Bird be, do you think for Catalan?
:21:13. > :21:16.He was big for them when he was there first time round
:21:17. > :21:19.and he's world-class and his experience and he's been on his
:21:20. > :21:22.travels and it just shows how excited, not just him but the whole
:21:23. > :21:25.team were about getting that win in the South of France.
:21:26. > :21:27.It was a great trip over there, especially for the
:21:28. > :21:30.fans, and I tell you, I can't make any excuses for Warrington,
:21:31. > :21:33.they had a few out injured and they had a few
:21:34. > :21:35.uncharacteristic errors as well looking at it, but let's not...
:21:36. > :21:37.We've got to give credit to Catalan because not
:21:38. > :21:40.many teams are going to go over
:21:41. > :21:44.He signed a five-year contract, Greg Bird and there seems
:21:45. > :21:46.to be a culture shift of who they've brought
:21:47. > :21:47.in and an emphasis on families
:21:48. > :21:49.with people settling a bit more.
:21:50. > :21:52.Do you think that could be key to them just gelling for a whole
:21:53. > :21:57.It's great that the club have decided to do that.
:21:58. > :22:00.It's something that Leeds and Wigan have done very well over the years
:22:01. > :22:05.Not only on the field but how they behave off it.
:22:06. > :22:08.And, you know, with Greg Bird, we spoke about competitors.
:22:09. > :22:11.He'll certainly bring that to Super League this year.
:22:12. > :22:14.Obviously, Warrington face Brisbane next week.
:22:15. > :22:17.Will this result worry Tony at all or at least
:22:18. > :22:20.offensively will he be fairly happy with it an attack to work on?
:22:21. > :22:26.He's always got his eye a few weeks in front and I think credit
:22:27. > :22:29.first of Brisbane for bringing a team over and put in that
:22:30. > :22:31.spectacle on and, you know, Wigan aside, if
:22:32. > :22:34.there was another team in Super League you'd like to see test
:22:35. > :22:37.it would be Warrington to chance their arm.
:22:38. > :22:38.They are mavericks, like Gareth says.
:22:39. > :22:41.They are full of competitors and as long as you practice, Tony
:22:42. > :22:45.Smith will let you do what ever you want and I think they'll be
:22:46. > :22:46.dangerous and it will be a great game.
:22:47. > :22:48.And for Catalan, do you think that...
:22:49. > :22:51.Do think the competition needs them to really make an impact?
:22:52. > :22:54.We all sat here for the first half last year and thought this could be
:22:55. > :22:58.their year but is it important, do you think, that they make a real
:22:59. > :23:00.impact at the back end of the season?
:23:01. > :23:02.Well, I think they've threatened for a few years and
:23:03. > :23:04.everyone spoke about Catalan being dark horses
:23:05. > :23:06.and, you know, there's a lot of changes
:23:07. > :23:08.this year but obviously they've got off to
:23:09. > :23:10.a great start and they'll be wanting to continue
:23:11. > :23:12.in that sort of vein of form,
:23:13. > :23:14.picking up big wins against big teams.
:23:15. > :23:18.So we are up and running in the 2017 season and it will be
:23:19. > :23:21.a relief to many to be talking about rugby league.
:23:22. > :23:29.It's been an eventful winter to say the least.
:23:30. > :23:32.It's been quite a negative off-season and, you know,
:23:33. > :23:35.there's a few things going on within our sport.
:23:36. > :23:41.The Sale director of rugby, Steve Diamond, says they've
:23:42. > :23:44.done nothing wrong in signing the record-breaking Super League
:23:45. > :23:47.winner Denny Solomona from Castleford.
:23:48. > :23:49.The England rugby league team have cancelled
:23:50. > :23:53.their pre-season trip to Dubai next month.
:23:54. > :23:57.I think it's been a bit of a time of confusion and at some stage,
:23:58. > :24:01.we need to calm down and get a bit of calmness about us and a bit of
:24:02. > :24:06.There are some things that are going really well.
:24:07. > :24:08.There are other things that aren't going as well so
:24:09. > :24:11.one of the things that were looking at at the moment is talent
:24:12. > :24:14.retention, so we're working hard to make sure we've got the best
:24:15. > :24:17.I think there's been a concern that we've
:24:18. > :24:21.been sort of losing some of that talent and as a result, the product
:24:22. > :24:30.We've got to look at what's happening in our competitive
:24:31. > :24:36.businesses. I don't even call them competitive sports. Particularly the
:24:37. > :24:40.NRL. We can't let it continue, the gap, financial gap. We've got to
:24:41. > :24:43.look to incentivising investment in talent but more importantly to
:24:44. > :24:51.retain the very best talent in this country. I hate the phrase, goat
:24:52. > :24:54.testers off in the NRL. We should be saying to Australian players to go
:24:55. > :25:03.test themselves in the Super League expect we are too passive, were not
:25:04. > :25:05.ambitious. We've already started central player contracts. We need to
:25:06. > :25:09.look at the next generation of players. The George Williams is, the
:25:10. > :25:13.Johnny Lomax is because we need them to play in Super League. England's
:25:14. > :25:19.rugby league side have cancelled plans after eight town versus
:25:20. > :25:23.country row. We shouldn't just show up and expect everyone to turn over
:25:24. > :25:26.backwards for you. You have to work hard to have that rapport with the
:25:27. > :25:29.clubs. And I suppose that is been the bit that has been lacking in
:25:30. > :25:33.recent times. It's wrong because some of the commotion I think if
:25:34. > :25:39.there had have beans and better communication between clubs and the
:25:40. > :25:42.administration and the England campaign, I think we would have
:25:43. > :25:47.overcome a whole lot of heart ache, if you like. I think we should learn
:25:48. > :25:51.lessons from this. If you're going to improve your chances of winning
:25:52. > :25:54.the World Cup, you start for years beforehand. You do start one year
:25:55. > :25:58.beforehand. You need to get the clubs to buy into the whole
:25:59. > :26:01.programme. We didn't go ahead with a can. We have streamlined the
:26:02. > :26:08.training sessions. We have one of the best coaches in the world who
:26:09. > :26:11.has put demands on the player so it has a real ballot in terms of player
:26:12. > :26:15.welfare. Our players need rest, not more work because of the demanding
:26:16. > :26:22.schedules. In terms of resting players, we can't possibly do that.
:26:23. > :26:24.We need a club, a fan base, a very important competition cold Super
:26:25. > :26:27.League we should be promoted and strengthened and we should put out
:26:28. > :26:32.our best players in every single game. We will always do what is best
:26:33. > :26:36.our players and so if our player needs a rest, we will do that when
:26:37. > :26:45.we can. That's therefore means we will actually be doing the best for
:26:46. > :26:50.England to. Start with you as someone who went to the NRL to test
:26:51. > :26:54.himself. Do you see that Gulf between is getting bigger,
:26:55. > :26:59.particularly into financially now? I am a big fan of Super League and
:27:00. > :27:02.when I was out in Australia I thought I was presenting England and
:27:03. > :27:08.Super League all the time I was there. I can see the Gulf and is
:27:09. > :27:13.getting bigger and we need to address it and the administrators on
:27:14. > :27:17.their spoke about bridging that gap and making it more lucrative and
:27:18. > :27:22.more incentivised for players to want to stay in Super League and
:27:23. > :27:25.it's a tough task. A tough task. Financially, rugby union has a lot
:27:26. > :27:30.more money. It seems that rugby league is under attack from all
:27:31. > :27:36.angles. Yes, the money side of it is obviously big. A big part of what
:27:37. > :27:40.you do. But there is a lot of incentive to go, testers off in the
:27:41. > :27:44.NRL, to want to play for England and Rugby union. It is something we have
:27:45. > :27:49.to address and I understand all the reasons why things have to happen
:27:50. > :27:52.and the plans that we put in place for England because we all want to
:27:53. > :27:56.see England winning the World Cup, that would be absolutely magnificent
:27:57. > :27:59.of our game, but I think there has been a communication breakdown
:28:00. > :28:03.somewhere between them and the clubs. We are in the final year of
:28:04. > :28:07.the current structure. They then have 4-mac years to plan for the
:28:08. > :28:11.World Cup. Being in this country, what would you like to see the next
:28:12. > :28:16.season of rugby league, would you like it be shorter so that are not
:28:17. > :28:20.playing as many games as we go towards the World Cup? I don't think
:28:21. > :28:25.what's out there matters. The only thing that matters is that everybody
:28:26. > :28:29.buys into the idea. That matters to me. Long-term planning, get everyone
:28:30. > :28:33.to buy into an idea and let's go for it. It might be a bad idea, but we
:28:34. > :28:39.don't know it'll be all buy into it. But do you need to play fewer games
:28:40. > :28:44.to be at your peak in November? I don't really buy into that. I just
:28:45. > :28:47.think I have always not bothered wasting energy on the things that I
:28:48. > :28:52.can't control and most of the things that I can. If I have to play 30
:28:53. > :28:57.games in a season Matt Garrett has to play 30 games, we'll have to play
:28:58. > :29:00.a lot of games. That's irrelevant. Get on with it. What ever is out
:29:01. > :29:04.there and what was put in place for us. War that strengthen us as a
:29:05. > :29:08.nation? If we are prepared to just say this is what we have to do? And
:29:09. > :29:12.we do it because we are players are we just get on with it, but I think
:29:13. > :29:17.the NRL, when I was there, in four games we played 70 something years.
:29:18. > :29:21.They were fresh and ready to go at the end of the year and I will be
:29:22. > :29:24.honest, I used to get to the end of the year in England and think, I
:29:25. > :29:26.can't wait for the end because I was that tired and drained and ready for
:29:27. > :29:32.a rest. We've got to play those
:29:33. > :29:38.games for the revenue. Everybody is talking
:29:39. > :29:39.about, there is no money, that is why we have got
:29:40. > :29:42.to play so many games. This could be
:29:43. > :29:45.a discussion for the rest It was anything but summer rugby
:29:46. > :29:49.at Wakefield on Sunday. How difficult were
:29:50. > :29:52.those conditions? We recognised there
:29:53. > :30:05.wasn't going to be much opportunity with ball in hand
:30:06. > :30:08.so reverted to Plan A, stick the ball up the jumper
:30:09. > :30:10.and take each other on Both teams went hammer and tongs,
:30:11. > :30:14.it was a close contest. Lee Radford said he
:30:15. > :30:19.knew this was coming. Earlier in the week we had
:30:20. > :30:25.rough weather and we had prepared ourselves with a game plan
:30:26. > :30:34.to approach it in that way and you saw it in the game -
:30:35. > :30:37.we took two points That was important,
:30:38. > :30:39.realising any opportunities. What do you make of Danny
:30:40. > :30:41.Houghton doing that? We saw that a couple
:30:42. > :30:43.of times this weekend. I have seen it a few
:30:44. > :30:48.times over the weekend. It is not something
:30:49. > :30:50.I am a big fan of. But when you are playing in that
:30:51. > :30:55.pressured environment and winning is all that matters, you
:30:56. > :30:57.see things like that. But I would like to
:30:58. > :30:59.see it addressed. Wakefield feel disappointed not
:31:00. > :31:02.to win the game but what did you Both teams went forward hammer
:31:03. > :31:12.and tongs and went at They have got some good
:31:13. > :31:33.combinations in their team now. They will be there
:31:34. > :31:37.about the top eight. Hungry for more
:31:38. > :31:39.silverware after what you This for me is our biggest
:31:40. > :31:42.challenge, hunger, obviously we fell away towards
:31:43. > :31:45.the back end of the year in the It has been a long time
:31:46. > :31:50.since the club has won anything, the magnitude of playing
:31:51. > :31:53.for the first time in a Hopefully we will find
:31:54. > :31:56.ourselves in that position And I'm sure we'll react
:31:57. > :32:08.differently and approach that at the back end
:32:09. > :32:11.of the year in the super eights Fair to say you are looking forward
:32:12. > :32:16.to the summer and a bit of To Castleford, first
:32:17. > :32:19.stop on the Super League Back in the top division
:32:20. > :32:23.for the first time in 12 years This Leigh defence
:32:24. > :32:55.is doing well so far. Gale, the prop forward,
:32:56. > :33:13.over to score the game's first McMeeken has been mentioned
:33:14. > :33:27.in England circles. Working things forward again
:33:28. > :33:58.here for Castleford. That was roughly
:33:59. > :34:12.from the full-back and Minikin almost in at dummy
:34:13. > :34:24.half but that's left instead for Roberts who goes
:34:25. > :34:26.scampering away here. Weston was lingering
:34:27. > :34:34.too long in the tackle. Luke Gale has landed
:34:35. > :34:48.his three conversions. That is a good strong
:34:49. > :35:07.carry from Jake Webster. Castleford now looking
:35:08. > :35:11.a little more lateral. Castleford are tearing
:35:12. > :35:39.Leigh apart in the Leigh under fire again right
:35:40. > :35:48.at the start of the second 90 seconds of the second-half
:35:49. > :36:02.played and Castleford Another chance for another attack
:36:03. > :36:29.at this Castleford line. Any points on the board
:36:30. > :36:32.at the moment but it might This is an excellent position now
:36:33. > :36:35.for the Super League That is a lovely soft handed pass
:36:36. > :36:39.that sees Hampshire through. Lovely from Drinkwater
:36:40. > :36:40.to set things up. Hampshire, against his
:36:41. > :36:57.former club, has scored. Nice spell from Hampshire
:36:58. > :37:11.and a kick on here. Luke Gale will claim that
:37:12. > :37:16.but there are a few questions The referee will put
:37:17. > :37:19.the square in the air. All those who chased
:37:20. > :37:24.I think were behind the The drop before anybody
:37:25. > :37:34.made contact with him by Hampshire and the grounding
:37:35. > :37:38.is good and that adds up to what should be
:37:39. > :38:00.Leigh's pedigree and character really been tested here tonight
:38:01. > :38:03.against a team who could well be rattling a few tins in Super
:38:04. > :38:18.Castleford are enjoying themselves here.
:38:19. > :38:23.He will be enjoying playing against Castleford, the club
:38:24. > :38:27.that resurrected his career last year.
:38:28. > :38:30.That is a lovely ball from Drinkwater and a try in the corner
:38:31. > :38:50.Taken in by Paterson who has got himself to the ten metre mark.
:38:51. > :38:53.Leigh carry it on and Danny Tickle, his 100th career try, against one of
:38:54. > :39:00.Too little too late to make a difference as far as
:39:01. > :39:03.the outcome is concerned but Leigh have something to cheer on their
:39:04. > :39:10.But it is Castleford and by a distance.
:39:11. > :39:13.Castleford are being talked about a lot when people
:39:14. > :39:25.The last three or four years, during Daryl Powell's
:39:26. > :39:28.tenure, he has just built a club, and when you go there the
:39:29. > :39:32.I went to the game to watch Leigh and the ground was
:39:33. > :39:35.bouncing, the fans, the staff, the people who work there.
:39:36. > :39:39.Watching Castleford running on and off the pitch, really cohesive.
:39:40. > :39:40.They look like they are enjoying their
:39:41. > :39:55.They are playing well and scoring lots of points.
:39:56. > :40:08.They look red hot at the minutes, even
:40:09. > :40:32.They have been notorious. Their attacking play. Everybody seems to
:40:33. > :40:36.want to go forward. There has been tough battles against Castleford
:40:37. > :40:41.over the years. They have players who could throw the ball around and
:40:42. > :40:50.make it difficult for the defence and defend out wide. Are you doing
:40:51. > :40:56.your homework on Leigh? What do you make of them? Tough. They have got
:40:57. > :41:06.some great players. Very physical side. I expect a very physical game.
:41:07. > :41:12.One of those Games where you can get knocked off the ball, disillusioned,
:41:13. > :41:17.tables can turn. They have been given a tough set of fixtures. Is it
:41:18. > :41:21.a case of almost hanging on in there at this point and not getting their
:41:22. > :41:26.heads drop if they find themselves in a match like that? I think so.
:41:27. > :41:32.Being promoted it as a new experience for them. A challenge
:41:33. > :41:38.every single big. Life, sport, it is all about persevering and taking
:41:39. > :41:48.knocks on the chin. Playing against one of the best teams. The need to
:41:49. > :41:51.hang on. Throughout this year we will be testing the general
:41:52. > :41:57.knowledge of some of the Super League's stars in a brand-new
:41:58. > :41:59.challenge. They have got to complete six sets in two minutes.
:42:00. > :42:24.First it is Luke Gale. The Darryl Powell, Brian McDermott,
:42:25. > :42:36.Chris Chester. Italy, Spain, Greece, Switzerland,
:42:37. > :42:44.Sweden, Poland. Goldeneye. The man with the Golden
:42:45. > :43:00.gun. Moon Raker. Casino Royale. Octopussy. Goldeneye.
:43:01. > :43:08.Elephant and Castle. This is a hard one stop I used to live there as
:43:09. > :43:19.well. Elephant and Castle. Can I pass?
:43:20. > :43:40.Frankel. Galileo. Red Rum. Red marauder. See the stars. What else?
:43:41. > :43:58.Vegetables. Broccoli. Carrots. Partner. -- pas Schlupp. This is
:43:59. > :44:02.harder than you think. Cauliflower. How many is that? Right. One more
:44:03. > :44:23.would be... Courgette. Raised eyebrows in here. Courgette
:44:24. > :44:28.is a fruit. It has seeds. Do not see we do not inform you. Are you
:44:29. > :44:34.looking forward to doing that? You will be in the hot seat when we come
:44:35. > :44:39.to your club. Finally, let us see what happened in
:44:40. > :44:43.the match between Widnes and Huddersfield on Friday. Big changes
:44:44. > :44:46.at both clubs. They have both been written off in some quarters, how
:44:47. > :44:53.much will that have motivated them? Hopefully, Huddersfield have never
:44:54. > :44:57.really lost it to be fair. They have still got all the ambition and
:44:58. > :45:00.firepower that they have had previously, and some skill. Talk
:45:01. > :45:11.about attacking teams, Castleford is one. Huddersfield is another. And
:45:12. > :45:15.they do have that straight power. You had a tough year last year. How
:45:16. > :45:22.important, so many new players, to get a win? Obviously it fills
:45:23. > :45:28.confidence. There are a few that are coming back. I do not think anybody
:45:29. > :45:36.will be looking too far into the future. But to get a first-round
:45:37. > :45:44.result is imported. Widnes have not have a great record. It will be good
:45:45. > :45:50.to see them performing again. How much will they feel they have a
:45:51. > :45:55.point to prove? From the division below, they will want to show that
:45:56. > :45:58.they are ready for Super League. I am sure they will be ready and
:45:59. > :46:07.raring to go, and to make the difference that is needed to do
:46:08. > :46:11.better than they did last year. No Kevin Brown, Joe Mellor out as
:46:12. > :46:16.well, do they have to learn to live with out them?
:46:17. > :46:22.Exactly. They have had a few weeks to prepare for this but to lose a
:46:23. > :46:26.player like Kevin Brown who has been so instrumental for Widnes for the
:46:27. > :46:32.last few years is going to be a big hole to fill. What are you overall
:46:33. > :46:37.impressions of the first week in? The thing that stood out was that it
:46:38. > :46:44.was quite a low scoring week. That is a bit of a leveller. A lot of
:46:45. > :46:50.teams concentrated big on defence. Looked at the statistic last year,
:46:51. > :46:54.the Grand Final, the second lowest point scoring, and comes back to
:46:55. > :47:01.this competitive nature, a lot of teams work on not losing as opposed
:47:02. > :47:08.to scoring points. We will see. We are underway in 2017. Thank you
:47:09. > :47:12.to Jamie and Gareth for joining us. We will see you for the same time
:47:13. > :47:16.next week for the World Club Challenge. Goodbye.
:47:17. > :47:17.CROWD CLAMOURS Karen!
:47:18. > :47:19.Hey, Julie. JULIE LAUGHS
:47:20. > :47:23.Have you heard where they found her? No. Have you?
:47:24. > :47:25.Tell her she owes you the truth as a mate.
:47:26. > :47:36.'You haven't lost you faith in people...have you?'
:47:37. > :47:38.How long did you resist working for us?