03/04/2017 Super League Show

Hello.

April has arrived and Super League's peak period looms large.

It's Round 7 and here's how the teams have been

shaping up so far.

The man with the million pound boot is with us.

Salford's Gareth O'Brien is alongside the Wakefield director

of rugby, John Kear.

It was Super League's 21st birthday last week and the party included one

of the biggest match ups of the season as Leeds took

on their old rivals, Wigan.

Parcell will look inside again.

Leeds looking to take advantage of this wonderful position.

Leuluai with the interception though.

He has come from an offside position.

You can see there on the line.

Leuluai clearly ahead of it.

A chance for a settler.

Ashton Golding puts this over.

Leeds will lead by 2-0 with seven minutes played.

It's Powell.

Williams stepping back.

On the left foot again, George Williams.

He's looking for a way through.

He's found a way through.

The wonderful stepper that he is.

George Williams with a try.

Powell, Wigan, looking to pummel this line, if they can.

It's gone through fingers though.

Leeds coming up with possession.

Given away.

Ablett.

And down the middle comes Calum Watkins in full flight.

A magnificent run from Watkins.

Hall in support.

He's the man to touch down but that was vintage

Calum Watkins to set things up.

What an angle!

What a run!

Parcell, plenty of support again here.

It's the long-legged Anthony Mullally, who is put down

within sight of that line.

Parcell spins it back.

Moon.

We have seen some tries of real quality tonight.

Terrific from Joel Moon.

Tautai will take it in hard.

The Leeds defence is there to suffocate his ambitions.

Or are they?

He has got it away.

Good play from Tautei.

Williams again.

Slick flick back.

Powell...

Williams...

Stepping on the outside of Delaney.

Delaney is left punching the ground.

Williams with another wonderful, solo effort.

He's having quite a night.

Trying to get a bit of room and a bit of yardage forward.

Here's wrestled to the ground by those three defenders.

He is clearly hurt, Oliver Gildart.

A muscular effort from the Leeds defenders.

That looks suspiciously like it might have been a crusher tackle.

Ten minutes in the sin-bin for Brett Ferres for the crusher tackle.

Watkins...

Boy, is he in the mood tonight?

Going across the Wigan line.

Parcell, up and going.

Liam Forsyth not square of the marker.

You can see getting to his feet.

Clearly not where he should have been.

Penalty here for Leeds.

A two-point lead at the moment.

Ashton Golding puts this over.

It is a four-point lead.

Maybe they are edging close to victory or maybe

Wigan have a response.

Not sure whether to put it long or bring it short.

Wigan again running circles here to try to find a way

through the Leeds defence.

The short pass here will be held up.

Very close to where he wants to be.

Another little spin here.

Has he gone over?

It is Gregson who is claiming it.

Try on the field.

Looking for the grounding here.

Gregson...

He is short there.

Is that a double movement?

Was there a second movement to promote the ball?

The video referee decides there was.

It is ruled out and a penalty for Leeds.

The scare survived.

One of his best efforts to try to get it away.

Quickly from dummy half again.

Across it comes.

Across to Calum Watkins.

Suddenly on the side of that defence.

Watkins goes on his outside.

Watkins with the step and will score another magnificent try.

Well, he's at the peak of his powers tonight, Callum Watkins.

Watkins again with the offload.

Leeds having to keep it alive here.

They have lost it.

Marshall is in the clear.

I don't think they're going to stop him.

Marshall is making quite a name for himself already this season.

Wigan have real hope now.

They need to score here.

Surely?

Ablett marching in.

Carl Ablett is having an eye-catching second half.

What an impact he has had.

He caps it with a try that will seal the deal for Leeds Rhinos tonight.

They are going to win this.

It is four wins out of four in the month of March for Leeds.

John, can we officially say the Castleford game

was a blip for Leeds, do you think?

I think it won't be referred to as much now because they were

magnificent psychologically.

He took the pressure off publicly by saying

they are on a month's notice, so back off and let them

get on with the job.

I'm sure that privately they will have felt the pressure.

They have come up with the goods.

They have played four really good games and four wins.

I think Leeds will be smiling at this moment in time.

Do you feel them?

Do you watch them growing in confidence as well?

They have such a tough year, last year.

As the beginning of this year been a little bit

of a rebuilding process?

Potentially, yes.

No unexpectedly do have the year they did last year.

I don't think it's a case of rebuilding.

They put that behind them and attacked this

year as a new year.

We are seeing the Leeds of old, throwing the ball around

the forwards and support play as well, so they are in good form.

Callum Watkins is the Calum Watkins we all know.

He had a fantastic game.

Is this as much about how the rest of the team are playing with him?

That is a great ball from Carl Ablett.

The line he hits there is superb.

The line is great.

The timing is great.

It's a great finish.

He's like a thoroughbred racehorse, he really is.

He just eats the ground up.

This is perfect for Carl Watkins.

An early pass in space.

There is only one thing that happens.

You may as well put your glasses down and applaud the try.

How hard is he to stop?

He is a big, attacking player.

I think the way to probably nullify that is to get up in his face

and cut his time down.

You know, that's what he wants.

Early ball in his hands.

Just skip around his opposite centre.

They put John Moon in at centre half the last three games.

What has that done for Leeds?

I think it certainly gives them a running threat.

He's very elusive.

It's a bit of an expectancy you have got.

Danny McGuire has done a really good job, organising the structure

of the Leeds Rhinos.

Joel runs has that bit of an X Factor.

He is coming up with tries.

Physically he is a big guy as well.

Their edges may well be shored up as well.

For Wigan, that's three games without a win.

They started the season so well.

Injuries have hit again.

Do you feel the structure is so strong it won't wobble.

I don't think it will.

He has done a tremendous job.

Pete the boys up, I sure.

-- He will pick the boys up.

You will look for a big response against Castleford.

What Warrington and Hull fought out for the Challenge Cup and the league

leaders shield last year.

They were at opposite ends of the table.

On Saturday, the walls were still looking for their first win.

Good position this for the black and whites.

Still Albert Kelly.

His eye is in.

He cannot stop scoring, the number six.

Clark at dummy half.

The ball is on the floor.

Bit messy.

He has got it again.

Out to Russell chance in the corner.

It will take some finishing has got down question I think he has.

Clark, to his left.

Flat pass.

It has been picked.

Jake Connor, no doubt here, we'll go 90 metres for Hull FC.

Connor is not stopping the black and Whites

have their second of the afternoon.

Liam Watts.

Round the defence.

Westwood and Atkins as well.

And, a bit slow getting off.

The referee puts the whistle to his lips.

That's a penalty.

Hull taking the two would point at a premium.

That kick is good.

Warrington on the attack.

Ratchford's mistake.

Picked up by Lytton.

Rare turn of pace.

He has one as well.

This is familiar.

He will go the length.

Hull FC with two long-range tries.

The second coming from the fullback.

Dwyer, to Brown.

That's Ratchford.

It will go out to Russell again.

Fantastic finish.

Hull breaking away again.

He goes the other way.

Westwood is in as well.

The referee puts that whistle has gone.

Another penalty.

I think Steve wants to take the two.

Easy as you like.

Atkins scoots to the right of the ruck.

Tackled by Watts.

Taylor as well.

Clark plays the ball.

Dummies.

He is through.

Daryl Clark.

Brute strength.

He is over.

Clark, to Brown.

Put out the pass for a hat-trick.

Russell is in.

Stevie Michaels couldn't stop him.

Matty Russell has a hat-trick.

Clark again.

To Kevin Brown.

Connor with the tackle.

The referee again puts whistle to lips.

Warrington have a chance to level things up here.

That kick is good and it is 22 points apiece.

Wolves with their first of 2017 or will all hold on for the win?

A chance for Snead.

A long-range drop goal.

He got the length but not the direction.

Snead misses.

Gidley to win it.

Kicks on his way.

The crowd are up.

The flag is up.

He has missed.

That drop goal is not in the class of your own, of course.

Your old club, Warrington.

How much will that second-half revival do for them to finally get

a point on the board?

It will definitely pick them up confidence wise.

They had a slow start to the season.

All clubs go through it.

The highs and lows of sport.

Warrington, I'm sure they will look at the second half and take up

the positives and look to crack on now.

I was listening to Tony Smith.

He was on 5live with Mark Chapman.

He was trying to be upbeat about the second-half

but you could feel it about the errors.

They were still there.

What has been the mood?

You still have good friends.

What is the mood amongst them?

They will be panicking.

They are all professionals.

They will know what kind of situation they are in.

And what they will need to do to nullify the mistakes on the field.

They will take this next game as a fresh way to prepare and look

to get the first one.

For Hull, that's two weeks in a row they've had a healthy lead

and the second-half they'd gone into their shell, the word

that Lee Bradford used.

What's going on?

It appeared they got one eye on the clock and they are hoping

the clock would run down and they've got enough postage on scoreboard.

You've just got to keep your foot on the accelerator and keep doing

the process of rugby league with the same intensity and focus.

The time looks after itself.

They'll be learning that.

Lee is a smart guy.

He will address that and attempt to make sure that

does not happen again.

It makes this weekend was my game is pretty interesting.

-- this weekend's game.

You are this weekend's game full would you expect a backlash?

Will they have had a bit of a roasting from Lee?

We will expect very physical game.

We will need to control the ruck against Hull.

Especially at their place.

A big crowd.

They definitely get behind them.

We will go there full of confidence and hopefully we can get a win.

So, Warrington have a point on the board.

What are their neighbours, Widnes?

They were at Leigh on Saturday.

They got off to a great start, John.

They really did.

It's the first time they had two half-backs since the first game

of the season, playing together.

They are together, two specialist halves.

They really make a difference.

The first hat-trick try.

I felt Gilmore steered the team around the pitch very well.

The kicking game was very good indeed.

Leeds came up with some good touches as well.

Looked as if they were getting back into the game.

There was a try by Crooks.

They seemed to have something extra, did the Widnes Vikings.

There's some good day all round here.

Great support.

Once again it has come across under the Hs.

We talked about what appointed do for Warrington will stop they lost

two guys to concussion.

What can a performance like this do for the rest of their season?

It is massive.

The last 20 minutes they did not have a south.

To grind out a win, especially at Leeds,

it is a really good start to the season.

The Widnes boys will be full of confidence.

To have two halves on the field, it looks to be a big difference

as to how the team attacks.

Danny was really good in the game.

He got hat-trick.

They were stronger this week.

White may well return.

You put them with Gilmore at the back and they have a good

spine, some hard-working forwards as well.

A big blow for Leeds to lose at home.

They have talked about making their home their fortress.

They have been pretty unbeatable while they have been

in the championship.

They have got a couple of losses already.

That is life in Super League.

I think they did better than everybody expected

initially but now they may well have plateaued.

I am certain they will look to take another step forward.

They are tough.

Anybody who goes there and think otherwise are fools.

Plenty of chapter at the moment about where Wakefield might be

playing next season.

On Saturday they were in the south of France to take on Catalan.

We join it with Wakefield leading 2-0.

Matt Newson was watching.

Wakefield from the penalty will tap.

The big runners coming in now.

Catalan swarming at the ruck at the moment.

They will go back to the right edge.

Taken in again.

Out towards the right-hand side.

Jones-Bishop.

Jones-Bishop finishes it off.

He had a lot to do for them he has done it really.

A fine finish.

Jones-Bishop bloodied from that try earlier in the game.

Wakefield, at the moment, are completely on top of this game.

Joe Rundle, a lovely pop pass.

Jones-Bishop goes airborne.

That is his second try, or is it?

Well, Gareth Hewer will take a look to the video referee

try onfield decision.

Well, Jones-Bishop does so well here.

It looks as though Richie Myler's going to clear him out,

but it's the presence of mind to stay off the floor

and get that ball down.

And a deserved second try.

And Wakefield are coasting.

First real sign that Catalan have had of the Wakefield half

early in this, well, should I say half?

We are an hour, almost, into this game.

Da Costa.

They're going to switch to this right-hand side.

Just a little bit of a shake from the Catalans.

But it's been picked up here by Tom Johnstone.

Well, he's dropped two already, and he's going to go

the length of the field.

And he's caught it when it mattered.

And Tom Johnstone has scored a terrific breakaway try.

And Wakefield right on top.

It's been a top half for the Perpignan club.

And that is a fierce bit of defence from Wakefield, setting the tone.

Da Costa will come to this right edge, then.

Slippery run from Ben Garcia.

Garcia is still going here.

I think he might just have outpaced the cover.

Has he got to the line?

Scott Grix did his best.

Ben Garcia thinks he's scored.

And again, the video referee has a job to do,

to try the onfield decision.

Did momentum take him over?

Well, Grix is doing everything in his power to stop him.

But I think he's got that ball down.

And Catalan will have their first try of the game.

And it is confirmed.

A rare bright spot for them.

Wakefield in the centre of the field at the moment.

Off-loads well to Wood.

This is where Wakefield have been so dangerous,

popping this ball around here, as Wood finds his man, Williams.

Williams away to this right-hand side.

Wakefield might go in here with Joe Arundel.

Well, he created one in the first half, and now he's got one himself.

And Wakefield are just running away with this game.

They've been caught cold early on in this second-half, Catalan.

They're looking to dish some punishment out to Wakefield.

Myler, takes the ball to the line.

Walsh.

Away to this right edge.

Bosc gets it in to Krisnan Inu.

Inu's going to make his way through.

And I think he might well have just finished that.

Just too powerful, the big Kiwi.

And Catalan showing some fight.

Great play by Jacob Miller.

Gets the ball away.

Again, they're well poised.

Finn.

Targeting this left-hand side.

Jacob Miller.

Short little pass to Matty Ashurst.

Well, he hit a great line, and he just could not be stopped.

And Wakefield edge further ahead.

Not even an hour gone, and Wakefield are fully in control.

Bill Tupou.

Will he be caught?

He's got support outside of him but, in the end, he's tackled,

and wins the penalty.

And Catalan at sixes and sevens.

Well, it was desperate stuff.

And Gareth Hewer sends him formally to the bin.

They're down on the board and now they're down on troops as well.

And Thornley trots away.

Sam Moa, frustrated.

This game is not going Catalans' way, in any sense

or shape of the word.

And there is Ben Jones-Bishop to catch the ball, from the kick.

And it's a great little break from him.

Is it going to burst the line here?

Ben Jones-Bishop, has he got the pace to cling

on for his hat-trick?

He's going to finish this one, he touches down under the sticks!

And Ben Jones-Bishop gets the hat trick!

Walsh just drops one off to Sam Moa.

Tries to skirt the line.

Wakefield honest as ever in defence.

What can he spin?

Myler, real close to the ruck.

Puts a little kick over the top.

It's going to be taken in by Fouad Yaha.

And he finishes very well.

Well, it's nothing more than a consolation, if it's

awarded by Gareth Hewer.

And again, he goes to the video referee.

Yaha, great spin.

Kept his feet in touch.

Ooh, did he lose the ball?

And that's a generous one, if it's given, for me.

And it is.

Well, something for Catalan to cheer.

Paul Aiton.

Goes to Walsh.

Has he got an inside ball?

No, he flicks it away to that right-hand side.

Little tip on by Inu, but it's fallen again to Tom Johnstone.

And we've already seen him scoot away for an intercept here.

Is he going to get a second?

He's going to race clear.

He will not be caught and will touch down under the sticks.

Tom Johnstone caps it.

That's four wins from five for Wakefield.

John, maybe you fancy a move to the South of France,

it seems to suit you all!

Yes, well, Perpignan, or whatever everyone calls it.

No, we'll just play at Bellevue.

We'll play at Wakefield whilst ever we're there.

No, it's very pleasing, that.

Joking aside, the best performance, would you say, of the season?

The best 80-minute performance here.

We've had great 20 minutes here and halves, or 60 minutes,

but we feel that we really nailed it - except for one or two

defensive blips - for the full 80 minutes there.

The half-backs controlled the game.

The wingers took their chances really well.

And the forwards really stood up to that tough Catalan back.

Ben Jones-Bishop, you mentioned the wingers, Ben Jones-Bishop,

three very different tries from him.

How good a player is this guy?

He's a very good player.

I mean, we're blessed with wingers.

Mason Caton-Brown can't get in at the minute.

Tom Johnstone, and then there's this guy.

And as you see here, he's got great evasive skills there.

He's carrying the ball in his right hand, he shields

the ball as their defenders, cross the cross, so that's one

for evasion and strength.

This one is for acrobatic ability.

Great ball from Joe Arundel.

But that's just a gymnast's try really there.

And great control with his right hand, the grip.

And I suppose this is a speedster's try.

He breaks the kick chase, defends there.

And, you know, again, we've referred to racehorses,

he's just gliding over the ground there.

In total control there of everybody.

We knew full well once he'd hit the fresh air,

that was going to be four points for us.

Is he another one that if you're at the full-back,

he's a tough one to stop?

You can see him there flying at you!

He's deceptively strong, Bish, as well.

No, he's really quick in full flight and definitely something

I don't like looking at, as a full-back!

And Chris Chester, a new two-year deal for him.

Does that include a pay rise for yourself, as the boss?

No, Chris deserves his two-year deal.

But Michael agreed with him when he first took over that they'd

review it in 12 months.

They've tagged on another two years and I think the players

responded tremendously well

and things are looking good at the minute.

But we know it's not a six, seven-game competition.

We're just coming up to a third of the way through the season.

There's still another two thirds, when it gets really pressured,

before obviously it splits into the three eights.

And what did you make of Catalan?

Yes, nervy, very nervy.

When you arrived at the ground, you just sensed there

was a nervousness about the place.

A sense of trepidation.

And we just felt that if we went there and stayed

with them initially, that we'd get on top of them.

And that obviously is what happened.

And you'll be hoping they stay nervous at home because you've got

them over Easter over there, haven't you?

Yeah, we've got them over the Easter period, on the Monday,

so it will be our second game.

I'm sure it will be a real tough test.

It's always tough going over to Catalan.

It's a real tough place to go and win.

As I say, we'll be looking forward to that one.

And tired, I should think, by that point!

Yeah.

Well, Salford are the only team to beat the leaders -

Castleford - so far this season.

They were looking for a third straight win when they took

on St Helens on Thursday.

Dave Woods saw this one.

Brinning under dummy half.

Oh, he's spotted a little gap there, but cuts across,

with a covering tackle.

Kopczak, out of dummy half, will have a go.

Salford looking to build some momentum here.

They have a penalty.

The referee deciding that Adam Walker was hanging

on here just a little too long.

So Michael Dobson settles himself here and, left-footed,

hits it high into and beyond that stand, and Salford have the lead.

Brinning.

St Helens' defence being tested again here.

Brinning.

Shaped left, went right.

Kopczak!

And in the week when he's just signed an extension to his contract,

it's Craig Kopczak who celebrates with his first try of the season.

Brinning.

A little step back on the inside here by Carney.

Off-loading it, and they keep it alive.

And now the break from Kopczak, who goes galloping through.

They're closing in, but he's got support.

And Dobson is over, for what could be a crucial try.

Roby.

A little spin, and a turn here by Amor, who's not far away.

Roby again going left.

And a crash-bang-wallop effort.

And I think that Walmsley's got that.

The referee concurs.

Dobson.

High and hanging.

Lui underneath it.

The ball's gone to ground.

It's pinging all over the place here.

It's picked up in the end by Lomax.

And suddenly, St Helens have a chance to break away here.

And it's into the hands of Morgan, who can move a bit.

But across comes Flanagan.

Morgan's away.

Oh, Flanagan, with a wonderful cover tackle.

The forward against the three quarter.

That was some effort!

But St Helens remain on the attack.

The threat sustained.

Roby.

All the way to the right-hand side, they look now.

Well, the tackle was effective.

But back comes St Helens towards the middle.

Salford's defence still being tested.

Walmsley.

Anxious moments from those looking on, with St Helens in their hearts,

because this is an opportunity here, surely, for Salford's defence,

which has been magnificent throughout the night.

Remains so.

Roby again.

Out it comes, towards that left-hand flag.

This time, Morgan is not to be denied.

And St Helens do have that much-needed try.

Flanagan.

Lui with the ball back on the inside.

It's kept alive here for Carney.

And now Dobson.

St Helens having to retreat quickly, and the referee's decided that

James Roby over-involving in the tackle there.

Hanging on to get his defenders in place,

but the penalty's given away.

So Michael Dobson, with a chance to extend this good night

for Salford with another two points.

Carney.

Pushed back down the middle again here.

Played by Mossop.

Salford on the sixth tackle, the chase is

on from Robert Lui here.

It's awkward, but it's out of play.

Watched calmly out of play by Morgan.

And Robert Lui is off into the sin-bin.

Just a bit of professionalism there to slow down the restart.

The ball's clearly out of play, and he had no need to get

involved here, but he does.

Lui's ten minutes out of the game.

Tomkins.

Thinking about the drop goal there, I think.

He's done that a time or two, hasn't he?

But Carney puts a very measured kick over the top.

Morgan.

Ooh, it's been spilled by Morgan.

It's picked up by Carney.

It's back inside for a match-winning try for Michael Dobson.

Salford will celebrate, and they can celebrate in earnest,

because they're going to claim another big scalp

here tonight, surely.

Time running out.

St Helens going to this left-hand side again here.

Can they find a way through, back on the inside?

It's given to Taia.

And Lomax in support.

Well, time is running out.

Time is running out.

Needs to kick this to give his side any chance of a miracle finish.

Has he got it over?

No, he's put it away.

He's put it to the wrong side of the sticks.

So Salford now, there's not time for St Helens to score twice.

It's another memorable win in this season for the Salford Red Devils.

Gareth, what has been the secret of the success so far this season?

Well, it's nothing fancy.

It's just a case of working hard for each other and, you know,

just preparing well.

You know, we've got a real tight bunch at Salford.

And, you know, a real good backroom staff and coaching staff.

I think the coaches have just signed a three-year deal, the lot of them.

So getting a bit of stability there now and, you know,

really enjoying our rugby.

And how much did you bond through what you had

to go through last year?

Yes, it was definitely a tough year for us last year.

Without the points deduction, I think we'd have crept in the eight.

So to go through the Million Pound Game and the pressures of that week,

it's definitely brought us closer together.

And, you know, it's showing in our performances.

Ian Watson's always talked about the team ethic

and working for each other.

Certainly defensively in this game, that seemed to be right at the fore.

Is that the secret?

Is that where you see the team is so together,

when you see defensive efforts like this?

He is massive on defensive.

And I think what's been really good for us this year is our goal-line D.

You know, I think we've leaked a few tries from our yardage,

which we need to touch upon,

but we've had a big emphasis on getting numbers in the tackle,

like we did do there on Jon Wilkin.

You know, surrounding Kyle, because he's a big off loader.

You know, really slowing that ruck down gives our defensive line time

to get set and assess what's going to come at us.

And you do seem to be piling in to help each other.

Yes, Jon Wilkin picked me out there, tried running over the top of me.

You know, thankfully, I had the help of Lee Mossop to help me out.

And what is Ian Watson like as a coach?

He's very black and white, very old-fashioned.

You know, he'll say, what are you doing, Gordon?

Especially what you need to improve on.

And did you know Flanagan had that pace?

I didn't know!

He's not shut up about that all week, to be honest.

No, that's just what we're about, to be honest, as a group of players.

Working hard.

typified there with him chasing back.

Typified there with the chasing pack.

You've also got Todd Carney sitting on the bench,

which is one hell of a player to have on the bench,

how has he slotted into the team, and what does he bring

to you when he does come on?

He's slotted in really well.

He said to me today he's really enjoying himself.

He showed in his debut against Widnes, when he came off

the bench, he kind of gives us that extra layer in attack.

And when we've got me, Dobbo and Robbie on the...

Which is what we saw, didn't we?

In that decisive try, you were all working

together to create that.

Yeah.

We've got a lot of attacking options.

Did you consider the drop goal here?

I was...

I was screaming at Lama to take another carry,

because we had another tackle.

But the ball came to me and I had pressure coming at me from...

I think Jonny Lomax shot out of the line, so I knew

if I get the ball to Toddy, he might be able to come up

with something, and he's put a real good kick in.

And Kris Welham, like he did all game, has chased real hard,

and forced an error, which has led to the try.

I mean, to have that kind of game management as well within a team,

with yourself and Michael Dobson, I mean, that must give you a huge

amount of confidence when you get to these tight fixes.

There's a lot of experience, you know, between...

Especially them three players.

So, yeah, as I say, they've been in tight games before and they know

how to really grind out a win.

So far, so good, huh?

Well, finally, then to the Super League leaders, Castleford.

They were at home to Huddersfield on Friday.

And once again, the Tigers conceding first, John.

Yeah, they conceded first.

I'm sure Daryl Powell won't be happy with that.

Because it's an online defensive issue there that they've just

come through the other side, did Huddersfield.

But shall we say, normal service was resumed after that.

And we see some flowing ball movement and some great decisions,

and formations in attack.

Gareth's just spoken about Salford working for each other,

Castleford do that in bucketloads.

Both defensively and attacking wise.

And they've got the great decision-makers and they've got

the great people who can execute.

So there's lovely defensive work there from Benny Roberts.

And over Jake Webster goes, who's having, you know,

he's having a second lease of life.

And they not only can go around teams, they can go

through teams as well, as demonstrated by Mike McMeeken.

But they really have...

They're easy on the eye, they're great to watch,

and the brand of football that they play at the minute,

it seems to be unstoppable.

You stopped them, though.

Salford the one team to beat them, what did you do?

Well, as John's touched on, they're a great attacking team.

And most of their attack comes through Gale.

And our plan was to just, you know, not give them that time

to execute their plays.

And I think it was just our day that day.

And I think it was a wet day that day.

So I think that had a big part to play in who managed

the conditions better.

And I think we did on the day.

For Huddersfield, many positives you can take?

'A good old drubbing', it was called, by the coach.

Yeah.

Well, it was a drubbing.

I mean, it's 50 points, isn't it?

They've had a good hiding, in that aspect.

But obviously, they've got Danny Brough missing as well,

which they can look at.

But Ryan Brierley there came up with the goods.

But they just need to regroup.

And they're not the first team to get this at the Jungle.

I'm pretty certain they won't be the last!

So I don't think you've to read too much into it.

You've to put it to one side and then just get

on with the next week's prep.

And for Joel Monaghan, he just seems to be loving stepping

into Greg Minikin's shoes, and picks up a hat-trick.

Yeah, he's a top finisher, is Ping.

I know that from playing with him at Warrington.

His try scoring record's like, I don't know, it's

very impressive anyway.

But as you say, yeah, Luke Gale just finishing up there.

And you know Rangi Chase, talk us through this one!

Rangi, well, he's got all the tricks, hasn't he?

The old show and go.

But I think it was one, two, three, and just brings Joel back

underneath and strolls in for a try.

It is fantastic to watch that kind of thing, is it?

It is great to watch it.

Yeah, I mean, it's just skill.

And it's entertainment, isn't it?

And anybody going there will feel they've got

full value for their money.

But I'm certain that Daryl Powell will feel that

Castleford can improve.

And he's a hard task master, Daryl.

He really sets his teams up very well, both in attack and defence.

I'm certain there'll be some work going on in defence there.

But they're a very, very good rugby league team.

And, you know, we're a third of the way through the season,

the table doesn't lie and they're lying at the top.

John talked about the defence, they've got Wigan.

Wigan will make life a little bit harder for them, won't they,

than Huddersfield and Catalan over the last few days?

Yeah, Wigan are a real good defensive team.

But as you say, it will be a real interesting game to watch.

Yeah, we've all been looking forward to that one for a few

years, it has to be said!

Yeah!

So that's all you need to know about Round 7.

Here's how they're standing in the Betfred Super League table.

Castleford and Leeds are level, on 12 points at the top.

But remember, the Rhinos have played a game more.

Salford move into the top four, as Wigan drop to fifth.

Warrington are now two points adrift of Widnes, at the bottom.

So we're into April and here's one or two things you may have missed

from the last few weeks.

People have been falling over themselves to keep up

with Castleford this season.

Even referee and former Royal Marine Jack Smith took

a tumble when the Tigers were at Widnes.

Obstruction, surely, there, ref?!

What was hiding under the table during Tony Smith's post-match press

conference at Salford?

Yeah...

LOUD BANG.

Ooh!

Oh...

Erm...

Kev Penny's, er...

Marvin's stashed some of his cash under here!

LAUGHTER.

Erm...

Poor old JT the Tiger gets left hanging when he goes

for the handshake at the Jungle.

And Remi Casty was the perfect advert for the holidays

in the South of France, when the Dragons took on Widnes.

So that is it for now.

My thanks to Gareth and to John for joining us.

We'll see you next week, but until then, goodbye.

He's back! Yes, he is.