19/02/2018 Super League Show

Hello, two worlds collide this week,

Leeds have been down under

to take on Melbourne,

and closer to home we've had two

more matches in Super League.

Jamie Peacock and Richard

Mathers are here to cast

their eyes across it.

We'll start with the Rhinos,

and their quest to become

World Club Champions

for the fourth time.

Cameron Smith and Kallum Watkins

leading out these two

sides onto AAMI Park.

It's a special occasion

and it will take a special

effort by Leeds to win this world

club crown down under.

Not since Wigan in Brisbane in 1994

has that been achieved.

But there's no doubting Leeds have

plenty of support here.

Here's Cuthbertson with a lovely

little off-load as well

to Singleton, who goes rampaging

closer towards where

they want to be.

And they get a penalty, Leeds.

Two referees doing them

a favour on that occasion.

And so with a tap, Cuthbertson just

teasing them and then

deciding to have a go.

Bromwich the first to meet him.

Parcell.

Spun across the line.

Sutcliffe's pulled down

but closer and closer they're

getting at the moment.

Hall back again.

They are really testing Melbourne

in these early stages.

It's Parcell, and he's got a dart!

But they're sharp,

that Melbourne defence.

It's one of their most

impressive areas, defending.

But Leeds are piling

on the pressure.

Left to Hall, and Ryan Hall

will score in the ninth minute!

Well, huge celebration,

and it is confirmed.

That's a wonderful

finish by Ryan Hall.

And it's Leeds who

have the early lead.

Well, isn't this Ryan Hall all over.

Slater.

Smith with a pass that

will have Kaufusi pushing in,

and Finucane is put down.

Penalty.

Right in front of the sticks,

you'd imagine they will roll

it on here, Melbourne.

Forward by Finucane.

Leeds defending very nearly

on their own line at the moment.

Here's Cameron Smith.

A short pass by Croft,

and a reach over!

Terrific stuff in the end

by Jesse Bromwich.

Just carrying all the power

and the determination.

And a young fella who fills

the boots of Croft

with a no-look pass.

And Jesse Bromwich, who had

a World Cup off, of course.

Smith.

Kaufusi.

Jones-Buchanan round the hips.

Parcell needs a second effort

here from Jones-Buchanan

to stop the carry.

They have taken him back.

Ten yards, he gained.

Slamming efforts down the middle.

Player of the Year,

Cameron Smith, how many times

has he won that award.

Five gone, here comes the last.

Quick pick-up here from

Billy Slater, running up.

It is the last tackle.

He keeps it alive for Cameron Smith,

whose kick is to the in-goal area.

And Ryan Hall is forced

to concede the drop-out

underneath his own sticks.

Some typical Cameron

Smith play there.

It's a decent crowd

inside AAMI Park as well.

Cuthbertson will need

some treatment.

The drop out reaches

the halfway line.

And back come Melbourne

with a little bit of vim and vigour.

The ball drops over

the top for Curtis Scott.

The Leeds defence wins

that one superbly.

Forcing the Melbourne player out,

and they will get their head

and feet at the scrum,

and that's a terrific effort right

from the drop out.

Finucane again trying to play

a path down the middle

of those Leeds defenders.

Cameron Smith.

Croft is going for the line

and I think he's very nearly there.

He might be there!

The referee asking the question.

I have a try.

He says try.

We are reviewing if it's momentum

that gets the ball to the line.

Momentum or double movement

is what they're looking for.

Well it looked as though

momentum had stopped,

but maybe a Leeds hand

there helped proceedings.

And the try is given.

And for the first time,

with 23 minutes played,

Melbourne have the lead.

Brodie Croft, the

youngster, the scorer.

Myler shifts it away to Moon.

There's Watkins.

Dealt with sufficiently

by Curtis Scott.

Jones-Buchanan.

A couple of tackles left to go

in this set for Leeds.

They wouldn't mind scoring next,

with half an hour looming.

They've certainly caused Melbourne

a few problems in this first half.

And they're keeping it alive

here until the tackle of Munster.

Parcell searches down the blindside,

Watkins keeps it alive.

Parcell with a drop of the hips.

Myler laying it back to Delaney.

Sized up and put down by Kaufusi.

Here is Moon.

It will bounce into the hands

of Watkins, who puts a kick

on there for Briscoe.

On the chase.

Addo-Carr is back there.

Lovely delicate little kick,

it's a superbly weighted one

by Watkins Addo-Carr has to deal.

So, Melbourne under a little

bit of pressure here.

Leeds forcing the repeat set.

Oh, it's a miscommunication.

Keinhorst and Hall look

at each other in reproach.

Someone should have

done better there.

Melbourne will get

the ball back again.

Slater.

On his knees, wants

to play it quickly.

Five gone, here comes the sixth.

Hoisted high in the air by Croft.

It's a tester.

Oh, it's just about kept

a hold of by Sutcliffe.

But the referee has given

a penalty for a bit

of shepherding of the ball here.

We see Dwyer just leaving the line

of his run to get the shoulder in.

The most consistently brilliant

performers down the years,

Cameron Smith, and his goal-kicking

is pretty neat as well.

And he's given his side

a two-score lead at 12-4.

Smith.

Played back by Kenny Bromwich,

who's on the field, and Slater

with the ball over the top.

And Brandon Smith's involved here.

One play to go.

Right at the end of the half.

It's back on the inside for

Vunivalu with a step

and a surge, and over he goes.

A heartbreaker for Leeds

at the end of this first half,

but a touch of class for last

year's joint top NRL

try-scorer, Suliasi Vunivalu.

He shows exactly why he's one

of the most feared wingers

on the planet with a wonderful

finish that left Leeds

grasping at thin air.

Here's Welch.

Leeds cannot afford to let

Melbourne score again

if they're going to keep

a grasp on the potential

of winning this game.

Here is Scott, searches

back on the inside.

Finds Delaney.

Three more help with the defending.

Still three tackles to go,

they're beautifully placed.

Cameron Smith again.

The legs went through

the perpendicular, and Cameron Smith

has landed an elbow on the back

of Matt Parcell's head.

Interesting to see how

the referee interprets this.

There's the penalty but then

there's the retaliation.

It's given Melbourne's way.

Cameron Smith in sniping range

again, and a big effort has taken

the big fella Asofa-Solomona over

the line, to claim another,

and Leeds' dream is just becoming

a little more distant now.

Parcell.

Jones-Buchanan getting

involved here.

Held up short.

Sutcliffe is the man

who is into dummy half.

Moon again.

Missing a couple of their strikes

of course, but here comes a big

effort from Brad Singleton.

Walker and Ward both off

but Leeds battling on again.

Myler is absolutely

crunched by Vunivalu.

Not only can he score tries,

he can make a tackle as well.

That hurts!

Inside passes there

but tidied up by those

couple of Leeds defenders.

Out of dummy half

goes Brandon Smith.

The young pretender to Cameron.

Here comes Cameron and Munster.

There are only ten away

and they are eyeing up

the Leeds line again.

The point of the game where things

start to get exhausting for Leeds.

Cameron Smith manages

to keep it alive.

Melbourne still have ambitions here.

Croft's kick to the right-hand side.

Vunivalu is underneath it.

Myler gets a hand back

and it's going to be

Will Chambers who will finish.

They went the aerial route.

They might have come

up with the try.

I have a try, just confirm

it goes back please.

Just look looking to make sure it

wasn't backwards here.

The contact, whoever got

the contact, it does go back

Melbourne's way so Chambers

will touch it down.

This surely will be another try.

And it is confirmed

in Melbourne's favour.

Only one winner now

for absolutely certain.

Vunivalu having a little dabble

himself, but throws back

to the middle and Melbourne trying

to keep it alive here.

They're getting close.

Glasby will play it.

Brandon Smith, brought back

to the middle again!

And has Finucane managed

to barge his way over here

and claim the score.

Make sure Finucane does not lose

possession of the ball in getting

it to ground please.

Well, it hits the ground

there and it doesn't look as though

he has lost possession.

It's going to be the final crowning

glory for the Melbourne Storm.

They are the world champions,

as that proclaims.

Leeds very much second-best

here against what is undoubtedly

the best side in the world.

Well, they won at a canter today,

they won at a canter several times

in the NRL last year,

including the Grand Final.

They are a champion side.

Leeds have gone halfway

round the world.

Their task was improbable,

it's proved impossible and it's

Cameron Smith who lifts yet another

trophy in his glittering career.

It is Melbourne, the 2018

world club champions.

I think it was as we expected.

We were against the world's best.

Very efficient, they're clinical

and it was really tough.

We tried until the 80th minute,

we kept playing and

obviously disappointed

but we will take some

positives from that.

By the end of the game,

when we didn't have

much energy, we were skating

the line with no punch and Melbourne

were just like sat on, you know,

their line kept intact and we didn't

have any punch through it.

So they defended that quite

well and, like I say,

they are a very good side.

Credit to them.

To be the best, you have got

to play against the best.

Unfortunately we did

not get the result.

But we saw what a top standard

of team did and hopefully

that will be a catalyst

to what we want to do this year.

It was quite a harsh scoreline

on Leeds, wasn't it?

Is that just a reflection

of Super League versus NRL,

or just how good Melbourne are?

I think a reflection of how

good Melbourne were.

They were ruthless.

Big, strong, athletic.

It was always going to be a tall

order for the Rhinos to go down

there and it certainly proved that.

In the end I thought

Melbourne had a great win.

Cameron Smith was fantastic.

And a blow out in the end.

The defence was what Brian McDermott

picked out afterwards.

Outstanding, suffocating, awesome.

Just some of the words he used

about the Melbourne defence.

You could agree with all of that.

I think Melbourne have prided

themselves on their defence

over the last 20 years.

That is why they have been one

of the most successful sides.

Got great kick chasing.

They have got great systems

and structures that

everybody buys into.

That is why they are so efficient.

They have got two of the best

players the world has ever seen.

In Smith and Slater.

If you just watch these clips,

these highlights, all these players

are in the same system,

in the same structure.

And they almost exactly

what their roles are.

And that is the beauty of Melbourne.

That is why they win games

and win Grand Finals.

Is it just a question that Leeds

couldn't find their way through?

Can you see a way

through that or not?

You can't and I think

it is a reflection of their system.

I think Leeds quite rightly tried

to play a Super League style.

You cannot beat Melbourne trying

to play like an NRL side.

And throughout the game, they came

up with some errors doing it.

But look at the Melbourne

defence and their systems.

It was first class.

And it is tough to defend against.

It takes a lot of energy out of you.

Can I just say, ouch!

On that one!

When they got the chance,

they fired in.

It is a tough way to defend.

But the systems are great.

Who says wingers

can't tackle as well!

Absolutely!

It wasn't even a fair fight!

You mentioned the errors

and Brian McDermott mentioned

the errors as well.

Was that Leeds forcing it or is it

early in the season,

a mixture of the two?

I think it is just

lack of quality skill.

I think Leeds wanted

to play with the ball,

move the ball around but just

on the end you've got to be

a little bit better.

Stevie Ward will be

disappointed with that past.

He is a better player than that.

This mistake here, you just can't do

this against Melbourne.

You have forced a set of six.

You think we've got another set

of six on their line.

And then it is just a comedy of

errors between Ryan Hall and Jimmy.

I think as well you don't get

that many opportunities

on the Melbourne line.

And you've got to be

clinical to take them.

And I think forcing passes and poor

skill, I think Leeds

played in the right way,

the expansive way, but just

didn't have the quality

of skill on the end of it.

You mentioned Cameron Smith.

He has been an absolutely brilliant

player for so many years.

What is it that is

so special about him?

Because when you're watching a game,

you're not necessarily going,

wow, Cameron Smith, look

what he's just done?

I think it's because you never

see him doing something

wrong, that's the thing.

Everything that he does is good.

He is composed, he is good.

I think he can read the game far

better than any other

player within the game.

I think he has had the ability to do

that for a long while.

But he has that experience now.

He has been in that many Australian

games, Grand Finals,

he knows better than anybody else

how to win a big game.

What step comes next,

where does the ball need to go.

Who needs the ball.

He's the man in charge of it.

Yes, and I think it

is just his quality.

And he never looks flustered.

He plays 80 minutes

week in and week out.

It is tough whichever

position you play.

But playing hooker at 80 minutes,

it looks like he comes off

and he hasn't broken a sweat.

It is just his quality

and decision making,

when to do the small things

at the right time.

The Cam Slam I think

he has been calling it!

He has won every single

honour available to him.

So what are the lessons that Leeds

will learn from that and how

will that stand them in good stead

for the rest of the season?

I think Leeds have got a good

style for Super League.

The ability to throw the ball

around does stand them

in good stead for the year.

And they showed some

courage as well.

They did not back out

of the challenge.

They just came up against

the far better team

than they were on the day.

I think Leeds just need

to understand that when they get

the good ball they need to build

some more pressure,

which they kind of do

when they get into Grand Finals.

But all year they do not bother

doing it and then they get

to Old Trafford and decide to do it.

So they will have learned some good

lessons and it is a great experience

for a lot of those players to go

down under and play

the best side in the world.

It got you a few trophies though,

didn't it, that style!

There was no official

World Club series this year,

but Wigan and Hull FC spent another

week in Australia, and took

on their own challengers

from the NRL on Saturday.

Hull were up first in

Saturday's Sydney double-header

and it was the Black and White's

first match against a side

from the southern hemisphere

since they played New Zealand

in the last match at

the Boulevard in 2002.

Despite being without captain

Danny Houston and Vice Scott Taylor,

the injury hit early birds got

the opening try.

Albert Kelly crossing

after ten minutes.

Dragons head coach Paul McGregor

fielded a strong side

and his team quickly responded.

Tim Lafai pulling them level

with 15 minutes played.

The NRL team continued to press

and got their rewards.

Kurt Mann said the side's

flourishing try scorer

Jason Nightingale to take the lead

on the half-hour mark.

But it was the Super League

side who went in ahead

at half-time thanks to a flash

of magic from Kelly.

A sidestep past Tarik Sims

and a burst of power saw him

wrestle over the try line

for his second score.

On the other side of the hooter came

another brace of tries.

But this time the Dragons' McDonald.

An acrobatic 47th minute dive

at the corner was worthy

of giving his team the lead.

And it was deja vu just five minutes

later as an almost copycat

finish gave the NRL side

the slender advantage.

Hull regrouped and

valiantly responded.

Liam Watts getting his rewards

for a strong performance

with the 52nd minute try.

Marc Sneyd's subsequent conversion

left the scores level

with over 20 minutes to play.

The tie was only settled

in the 77th minute.

When the Dragons' Kurt Mann evaded

the early bird's defence.

But despite the narrow defeat,

the fans will no doubt recount

fondly the members of Hull on tour.

The Warriors' 2018 tour

of new South Wales also

concluded on Saturday.

Wigan were up after Hull at the ANC

stadium and looking to block

a hat-trick of NRL wins

against their Super

League opponents.

With six minutes played

they made the perfect start.

Sean O'Loughlin's hit

was pounced on by Tom Davies.

A last-gasp touch on the ball

was confirmed by video

ref and the Warriors

were up and running.

The Rabbitohs drew level before

the quarter hour mark.

England international

Tom Burgess was an almost

superhuman reach for the line.

And after another video ref

consultation the try was awarded.

The Sydney side began to dominate

and took the lead five minutes on.

Hunt spotted a gap and dashed

through the Wigan defence before

feeding Campbell Graham who dived

in for the score.

The NRL side extended their lead

on the half-hour mark

with Leon Marshall sidelined

for a professional foul,

the Rabbitohs capitalised

on the extra man and Richard Kenna

put daylight between the sides.

Wigan closed the gap before

the half-time hooter.

A neat passage of play down

the right saw winger Tom Davies role

in for his second and the decision

again going to the big screen.

A quiet and cagey second-half meant

the only other try of the game

arrived in the 76th minute.

Adam Doueihi the scorer

for South Sydney.

Despite the defeat, Wigan coach

Shaun Wane hailed the trip

and unbelievable experience

and players and fans no doubt

will hope to return in the future

for more action down under.

No doubt that for the two clubs

involved this has been a fantastic

experience for them and a success.

But are you A, a fan of it,

and B, what do we get,

what does the rest of Super League

get from it?

I am a fan of it.

I think you have got to applaud

Wigan and Hull for going down there,

taking that Super League

game to Australia.

Playing the game out there,

then playing the friendlies

against the NRL sides.

I think the clubs themselves,

their players are getting exposure

to a high level of game.

The NRL game as well.

And I think it's just great

for our brand of Super League that

it's out there and out in Australia.

Maybe take it to another

country next time?

Is that what you would like to see?

Yes, I think so.

I think it shows there is appetite

there and I think just

to echo what Jamie said,

I think we can, their foresight

to give up a home game and take it

lock stock over there was great.

I think America would be

a great destination.

Dubai.

I think we've got a great product

and the more we share it,

the more we put it on a pedestal,

I think that is what the game needs.

I'm with you with America.

I think there is a real opportunity

for rugby league in North America

and we've got a World Cup in 2025,

we need to start doing things now.

We need to get a foothold

in that country.

Hopefully, fingers crossed, England

will be playing their mid-season.

Well, Wigan are back in more

familiar surroundings

on Friday when they return

to Super League action.

There is commentary on that match

on 5live Sports Extra

from seven o'clock on Friday.

And don't forget that Monday

is the day to download the latest

5live rugby league podcast.

There's a new one of those

available every week.

Well there has been confirmation

that Wayne Bennett is staying

on as coach of the England

rugby league team.

The Australian will remain in charge

for another two years.

Wayne Bennett first took charge

of England for the 2016 Four Nations

tournament when just one win

from three matches saw them

fail to make the final.

Oh, it is intercepted!

And this man will

take some stopping.

Johnson is away and they're not

even going to get close

before he touches down.

He is a heartbreaker, isn't he,

an English heartbreaker.

But the World Cup

was a different story.

It's Gale.

Back it comes to Kevin Brown.

They're trying to

craft something here.

It's got to be an opening try

for Jermaine McGillvary!

England made it all

the way to the final,

where they were narrowly

beaten by Australia.

Bennett will now lead them

into a match against New Zealand

in June and a further three Test

matches against the

Kiwis in the autumn.

Obviously you were part

of that England camp

as the England team manager.

Is this the right decision for you?

100%, yes.

Wayne Bennett is outstanding.

He is an outstanding

coach in my opinion.

You get to meet a lot of people

within the game who have big

reputations and you're disappointed

when you meet them face to face.

He exceeds all expectations.

The players want him round.

The results speak for themselves.

I think you saw the transition

of the side to a Wayne Bennett

side when we beat Samoa

in the mid-season test.

And we saw it again

in the World Cup as well.

And I think it's fantastic news

for England and for the game in this

country that we've got the man

in charge for two more years.

So having seen it up close

for a couple of months

while you were down there,

what is it that he does that leave

the players just all of them saying

how wonderful it was?

You know what, players

want things to be clear.

They want clarity.

What you need to stay in the team

and why you are in the team and why

you're not in the team.

He gives them that.

He creates an environment

where they enjoy themselves.

Where they are rewarded

for working hard and rewarded

for being an adult,

for making adult decisions.

And he puts it all back

on them in that respect.

And I think that is

what players crave.

And most coaches know that.

But not all coaches deliver that.

There has been talk though

from Kevin Sinfield,

he has done the review

and everything and the one

thing they had picked up

on was in the last 30 metres

there was not necessarily

enough creativity in that

final against Australia.

In terms of who Wayne Bennett might

bring in alongside to break things

up, who would you like to see?

I think in terms of players

or in terms of coaches?

In terms of coaching because we know

it is Wayne Bennett, what we do not

know is who the sports staff are.

For me in that sense, to answer that

question, I think Sean Long.

I think on the international stage

he is a brilliant player, creative,

outside the box and doing a really

good job at St Helens.

I know they're happy

with their staff.

You know, speaking to the Warrington

players, it was a great

tribute to the staff.

In terms of specialist,

last 30 metres of a game,

it would be Sean Long, for me.

I just think I would like to some

onus on the players themselves.

I believe we've got

a young half-back in terms

of international experience.

We used Luke Gale in there.

And I think those

players need to grow.

Need to understand that

internationally it is not

about scoring the first set of six

or the second set of six.

It's probably the third set

of six before you pull

the trigger and score a try.

And the sooner the half-backs

understand that, the better we'll

get in their 30 metres.

A thumbs up from both of you that

Wayne Bennett stays?

Absolutely.

Yes.

Well you can see all three matches

of the England Test match series

against New Zealand right

here on the BBC.

The first game is in Hull

on the 27th of October.

Now there were two Super League

matches this week, on Friday

night was Derby night

for Widnes and Warrington.

It hasn't been a happy start

to Super League life

for the new Warrington coach

Steve Price, who went to Widnes

on the back of two defeats from two.

Local derby, it's going to be

a really important game for us.

Especially coming off two losses

at the start of the season.

It's a matter of personal

responsibility to nullify

those penalties.

It was one win, one defeat

for Widnes and Denis Betts,

who had lost their last nine matches

against their local rivals.

To only have two points

after putting two massive efforts

in, we've got to get points.

We've got Warrington

next on Friday night,

they need points, they are smart,

they have got a really strong squad.

So we have got to dust ourselves

down and come out and play.

Quickly played.

Clark out of dummy half here.

Driven on by Cooper as Warrington go

in search of the Widnes goal-line.

Clark.

A little chip by Declan Patten

and up goes Ryan Atkins!

Who has taken it, plucked it out

of midair, and he's got

the touchdown as well.

There's a lot of pressure on.

Here is Ratchford!

Oh, wonderful!

Weaving run by Stefan Ratchford.

Classy play by the full-back.

An eye-catching try for Warrington.

They're trying to

make progress here.

Myer going to that right-hand side.

Myer again, barking out the orders

here and trying to get

players in position.

Little grubber kick to the in-goal

area and taken by Krisnan Inu.

Great finish, well

read by Krisnan Inu.

And the finish is good.

Oh, hang on.

Hang on.

The referee wants another look.

He thinks it's a try.

They're having a look

at onside-offside.

There's nothing from that angle

to rule the try out.

Grounding is good.

So it looks as though this

is going to stand as a Widnes try.

It is!

And they have one back

before the break.

Now it's Patten.

Delivering it back again.

Ratchford.

Hauls it out to this left-hand side.

Curry with the pass away.

Warrington knocking

on the door again here.

Here is Curry.

Ratchford asks for it, gets it.

Gets a kick in.

Beautifully flighted

and Atkins is there again!

Almost a carbon copy

of his first half try.

Great aerial presence.

Quickly skipping away.

And a searching high

kick again here.

Ratchford is underneath it.

The referee has taken a tumble!

The referee slipped over.

Chris Houston is down as well.

It looks as though they might

have collided here.

Phil Bentham is looking

a little shaken.

There is the collision.

And he has banged his head

on the ground as well.

Chris Houston offering his apology.

The referee, Phil Bentham,

having to go off for a head check.

And Scott Mikalauskas is the man

who comes on as a substitute referee

for the rest of the game.

Clark.

Shuffling along that line again.

Another high, searching

kick from Patten.

It is taken very well.

It has been dropped!

Warrington had it

back quickly enough.

The referee says play

on and here is Clark again in real

tangle of Widnes defenders.

No way through.

Zero tackle.

Tackle count starts here

and that is a penalty.

Jay Chapelhow climbing all over.

Giving the penalty away.

It is very kickable

for Bryson Goodwin.

And as he puts it over

it is a comfortable lead that

Warrington have now.

Daryl Clark wants to get

up and get on with it.

Curry plays it.

A little push from Inuu as well.

Who is getting a little

involved here as well.

Several players coming together.

The referee says play on.

And Jack Hughes will go

through and score the try.

I think there is a bit

of unpicking to go on here,

it is still a little heated.

The referee Mikalauskas puts

the square in the air.

They will have to

look again at this.

Well a push and a shove

between those two.

Daryl Clark comes in and gets

involved as well, just trying

to barge Krisnan Inu out of the way.

That attracts a few more.

All rather unnecessary.

And the referee with

a decision to make.

It is obviously no try.

And tempers calming

down a little now.

Houston.

Getting the arm free.

He has done really well

to get that arm free.

So Widnes still with

an opportunity here.

Out of dummy half it is thrown and

a kick towards this right-hand side.

A leap in the air by

Krisnan Inu, who will get his

second of the night.

Well, we have seen several tries

scored in a similar manner.

It is Krisnan Inu with the latest.

But they're still a couple

of scores behind.

A feeling of relief around

the place after that!

Yes, I think it was.

Played Leeds and had a disappointing

result over at Huddersfield

and they needed that win.

It was a tough game, local derby.

I think they've just not clicked

as yet but they were tough,

they were resilient and managed

to get that much needed two points.

Stefan Ratchford was picked out

by Steve Price as man

of the match performance.

He had taken a bit of criticism.

But he really did

step up, didn't he?

He did.

And by Stef's standards

he was disappointed

with the last two performances.

What I will say is you wouldn't meet

a more meticulous professional

and whose standards are way up high.

So it didn't surprise me that he

came out with that performance.

And put his body, that clip

there putting himself in the frame.

You either catch and score

or you get smashed.

And just his all-round

game was quality.

And just another great kick,

on the money, leading to Ryan Atkins

and that second try.

A really, really good professional

and I expected that that

performance from him.

He was outstanding.

And almost the season starts now,

we can kick on finally?

Yes, I think it was relief

because of the expectation and been

a lot of change with the new coach.

But on the flip side

of that, speaking to Steve,

there was no panic.

They knew it was going to come

and a lot of it was down

to individual errors and things

you can fix easily.

The systems and their

fitness and everything,

they were really pleased with.

So a big game on Friday night

but glad to get that two points.

And for Widnes it was a good

performance, wasn't it?

They've had two on the bounce

that they've lost.

But they put a huge

amount of effort in.

Yes, they are a great side, Widnes.

We saw that with the result

against Catalans.

And they pushed Cas close.

So there are good side.

They have a small squad

but they have got a good

coach in Denis Betts.

You expect them to be competitive

throughout the year.

But they don't want to go too

long without getting

another win, do they?

That's right.

The system they've got puts

a lot of pressure on.

And Warrington, imagine

if they had gone three,

then there is real pressure on you.

So you've got to try and get those

little victories, those close ones,

you need to win them.

Well no game this week

for the Super League leaders

St Helens, but a few of them have

been busy telling us

all about their team-mates

in the latest edition of Most

Likely.

Quickest would be Adam

Swift or Regan Grace.

Quickest, Regan Grace.

Ben Mee.

Alex Walmsley.

He's always on it.

Maybe Danny Richardson,

someone like that.

You know, they're on all the social

media platforms and you know,

they're constantly checking

everything.

James Roby.

He's always on it.

I actually sit next to him

and every time I catch him,

I always say every time I catch you,

you owe me a pound.

So if he held up to that,

I'd be a millionaire by now!

Dab, Benny Baba.

Probably Adam Smith would be

the most likely to dab.

Young Danny Richardson.

Bit of a cheeky lad.

And yeah, when all that was going

about, he was always giving it one.

I was nearly going to do one then!

There's a constant battle over

the music in the gym.

It's the same playlist we've had

for about six months.

Alex Walmsley.

Yeah, he likes to take charge

and to be fair to him,

he's got a good balance of music.

Jonny Lomax and Luke Thompson

who are very much house and dance.

It's not very good!

And then we've got kind

of Jon Wilkin, a few '80s kind

of golden oldies as some

of the young lads called it.

And then obviously there

is an R&B group as well.

Probably Louis.

Probably Louis McCarthy-Scarsbrook.

Because he's that loud that someone

would probably hear him.

He's constantly just up

there in terms of energy.

It's hard to be sort of down

and feeling miserable

when you're around him.

You know, he attracts

people wherever he goes.

Take to a desert island?

Probably Luke Thompson.

Could probably jump on his back

and he could swim home.

Who would save you two

on a desert island?

That says it all!

Oh, bless you.

Well finally to Hull

Kingston Rovers, when

the visitors were Catalan.

And two teams looking

for their first Super League

win of the season.

# It's all behind me,

there's good luck up ahead.

# Once bitten, twice shy,

this time it feels so good.

# I'd hate to see it fall apart.

# The first time I was a fool.

# It happened to me again.

# Third time lucky.

Well even this early in the season

a crucial game for Rovers

and the Catalan Dragons.

Both teams have been hit hard

by injuries in the early stages,

losing those matches.

Rovers will feel they possibly

should have got something out

of the trip to Leeds.

And Catalan failing to meet

St Helens last weekend of course.

Saints down to 12 men.

So is it going to be Rovers or...

The Dragons off the mark,

Thornley with a good run.

And here is Broughton

now for the Dragons,

a good, positive start.

Important for Catalan to get

off to a flying start.

Garcia brought down.

What on earth where they doing!

There was no one at

the play golf ball.

Luke Walsh is fuming.

Steve McNamara will be too.

That's a gift for Hull KR.

Tommy Lee.

Certainly with Maguire

in the Rovers ranks,

they won't be afraid to throw

the ball around.

That was a poor mistake, wasn't it,

from Catalan right at the start?

Little kick through.

There's another error.

And this time it's Luke Walsh.

Missed the match against his former

club, Saints, with injury.

REFEREE: Ball in.

Out.

Play on.

COMMENTARY: First score

always important.

Lee McNamara knows as well, it's

a difficult ground to come and win.

Rovers will be hoping

that is certainly the case tonight.

I can't really stress

how important it is.

Three weeks in, but a big win

for one of these tonight...

Atkin, stopped just short.

First real opportunity for Hull KR.

Lee.

The ball comes to the right-hand

side, that's good hands.

Dagger.

A chance here for sure!

That's a terrific

try from Ryan Shaw.

He moved the ball very quickly.

Maguire involved.

It was the teenage full-back,

Will Dagger with a pass

and Shaw did the honours.

You just feel at the moment

that Catalan cannot get

a foothold in this game.

Shaun Lunt and Mose Masoe have

made a real difference

since they've come on.

And both involved there.

There is Carney.

That was an inauspicious

kick, to be fair.

But the bounce is kind.

Lunt with a little kick through.

Should be OK for Mead.

Knocked on, that is another error.

And that is play on.

Six to go.

Shaun Lunt, the old experienced

hand, very quick to that.

Here is Mose Masoe.

Charges for the line.

He stretches out, has he scored?

Mose Masoe thinks he has.

James Child confirms it.

Well, Mose Masoe, a Grand Final

winner with St Helens

last year of course,

was wrecked by injury

with St George in the MRL.

Here is Shaun Lunt again.

And Mose Masoe.

Shaun Lunt, his 300th

career appearance tonight.

Enjoying it I think

as much as he ever did.

Mose Masoe trying

to get things going.

Danny Tickle on debut.

More good pressure here.

And Lunt with a dummy!

Lunt with a try.

What a way to celebrate 300 games

in a long and illustrious career.

Here is Dagger again.

Big future for Will Dagger,

only 18 years of age.

Already created one try tonight.

Rovers at the moment

are in easy street.

Tickle with the off-load.

And Shaun Lunt first to react,

as he has been all night.

Maguire now, directing operations.

Dummies to go one way.

It does find Tickle and Tickle

will surely wrap up the points

and Rovers' first win!

Much travelled Danny

Tickle on debut.

James Child reckons it is a try.

And I reckon he's right.

And there is confirmation.

Hull Kingston Rovers dominant.

That's going to be a first win

back in Super League.

Looks like Catalan have taken

two steps backwards,

and a giant step forward,

in running St Helens so close

in the south of France.

But tonight Steve McNamara

could have no excuses.

I'm pretty sure he

won't make any either.

Tierney.

His opposite number Tim Sheens

will be delighted with what he seen.

This is a rare opportunity

for the Dragons.

Bird with the break and it looks

like Mead will have the legs.

David Mead, the Papau New Guinea

star, will go 40 yards to score.

It is too little, too late.

But they have points on the board.

They would love to finish it

in fine fashion, I'm sure.

It has been a really good,

professional performance.

To be able to bring the likes

of Danny Tickle and Mose Masoe

and Shaun Lunt off the bench

has been crucial.

Here is Atkin with a drop goal.

Last minute of the game.

That is that.

A dominant Hull Kingston Rovers

and a disastrous display

for the Catalan Dragons.

Three defeats on the trot

but Rovers, off and running.

Three defeats on the trot

but Rovers, off and running.

Was it a relief for you guys as well

to get off the mark?

I don't think it is relief,

it is just getting rid of pressure.

Particularly with us being the site

that has come back up

from the championship.

If we had lost that game then

more questions asked,

when is your first win

going to come.

And I think the performance we had

against Leeds was a lot better

than the one against Wakefield.

It was great just to get

the win against Catalans.

Two points in the bank.

And now looking forward to Salford.

It wasn't a classic game by any

stretch of the imagination.

But was Tim particularly pleased

with how KL managed the second half,

having got that big lead?

I think so.

You can say Hull KR have been guilty

of squandering leads before

in the Super League two years ago.

Not under Tim, Tim is a very smart

coach, they have got

different half-backs now.

And to go in with that big

half-time lead, they just

played the right football.

They defended Catalan's half

of the game in the second half

and just managed the game perfectly

to win it.

Steve McNamara, he did

go for his team.

There was no beating around the bush

that it was not an acceptable

performance from him.

Would you be worried about Catalan?

I am worried.

I think they're way off.

I think fundamentally

they have got big issues.

When they have experienced

what they went through last year

and had to play for their survival

and all the pressure

that came with that.

To then roll into the start

of a new season like that,

pretty much the same attitude.

I think they're going

to struggle, I really do.

I do not see anything from not

necessarily the players,

in terms of skill, I just think

to making the point of difference,

to change, or the attitude,

I just don't see it.

It is almost like a lack of urgency

there when you watch them play.

I know they're making some

fundamental mistakes.

I think that is the right word.

And they can be changed,

they can be corrected.

But I just don't see

a sense of urgency at

the moment within that side.

You would expect, from the back

of last year, it is not

like it is a surprise

of loss of form.

It is just the attitude has gone.

I'm surprised, I was

unfortunate enough to play

in the million pound game.

That game is horrific.

I would never want to

experience that ever again.

I sure those players who played

for Catalans who were in it,

you would think they would come out

with that sense of, we do not

want to be in this game.

But you don't see it.

And for you guys, refocus for next

week, how important to just keep

building on those performances?

I think for us it is

about our performances.

We played a little

bit better each week.

Some of the players have not played

Super League before.

They are getting used to playing it.

We have strength in our squad

and I think you will see us come

good around Easter as well

because I think we have

quite a large squad.

And we'll be able to take advantage

of some sides that don't have quite

as big a squad as we have.

So Rovers and Warrington

are off the mark and this

is where it has left them

in the BetFred Super League table.

Those wins move Warrington and Hull

KR out of the bottom four and leave

Salford and Catalan as the only

teams without a point on the board.

All 12 teams are back

in Super League action

for Round 3 this weekend.

That is it for now.

My thanks to Jamie and to

Richard for joining us.

We will see you again next week.

But from all of us here, goodbye.