05/03/2018 Super League Show

Hello, the weather did

its best to ruin Round 4.

But while some of the Super League

landscape resembled a Christmas

card, only two games failed to stand

up to the Beast from the East.

The Wakefield captain Danny Kirmond

is alongside Brian Noble

for the verdict on the four

matches that survived.

And first to the DW Stadium

on a night to wrap up warm in Wigan.

We've not been on many pitches

but we've got through our training.

We've all prepared for tonight

and if we let the weather affect

what we do, we wouldn't do anything

in this country.

So we just get on with it

and do what we can.

This is a massive

challenge for us tonight.

Pretty hostile conditions.

Not just coming to Wigan as well.

They are on the back of a loss,

they want to get themselves back

on track and being the top side

that they are it will be

a pretty tough ask.

COMMENTATOR: Heremaia feigning left

and coming right here.

Wigan's defence on their

mettle at the moment.

Heremaia.

Back towards the middle.

Little kick from Gilmore

to the in-goal area.

And Matt Whitley, has he got there?

Yes, the referee has given the try.

Widnes open the scoring

with six played.

The ball bounced but into

the hands of Miller.

And they've got a penalty here.

Second effort from Ben Flower.

This is a warm up they

might want to kick.

So ten minutes played and Widnes now

leading eight points to nil.

It's all looking rosy

for them so far.

Hammered in by Greg Burke,

former Wigan man, of course.

He will surely be

enjoying it tonight.

It is absolutely freezing,

but his side are doing well.

Craven with a high kick.

Tomkins underneath it.

Oh, he has dropped it.

It's a knock-on and he's thrown it

away and the referee

has given a penalty.

This will take them

to double figures.

What a start they're having here.

Widnes, 13 minutes

played, Gilmore's goal.

Heremaia dashing out a dummy half

again back towards Cahill.

Rattling around.

It is kept alive.

Heremaia stays down injured,

but Widnes carry on and Sam Wild has

burst through a couple of defenders.

Well, he was looming

large on that Wigan line.

Hanbury quickly out there.

Missed that pass from Mellor

and it's a score by Marsh.

Their night reflecting their recent

form, Widnes really loving

this at the moment.

Escare.

Widnes will be anxious

to keep Wigan out here.

The dying embers of this first half.

Last few moments and they've got

a penalty here, Wigan.

They're not in the market for two,

they want the full six

if they can get them.

O'Loughlin now.

Here's Williams.

Great pass from Williams and

a guiding finish from Joe Burgess.

The referee has given it.

A timely moment for Wigan.

Quickly in comes Powell.

Widnes having to defend here again.

Tomkins opposite back on the inside.

A former Widnes man,

Willy Isa come just

short of six yards out.

Powell quickly out.

Sutton!

Super effort from Ryan Sutton!

And a big reach as well.

And Wigan are back in it now.

What a response in the second half.

Williams up and running.

Isa.

Firmly on again.

Widnes have just been backtracking

for the whole of the second

half so far, it seems.

Wigan really turning up the heat.

Powell again.

Joel Tomkins chopped down.

Quick play of the ball from him.

Davis back towards the middle.

Club comes smashing his way through.

Witness defenders hanging on.

Leuluai.

And he slips over to score!

Tommy Leuluai.

They are back within

touching distance now.

Williams to Burgess.

Joe Burgess with his carry.

Leuluai.

Bateman.

Straightening things up and taking

Wigan another step or two closer

to where they want to be.

Leuluai, left to Powell.

Leuluai.

Powell back to Williams.

Williams to Farrell,

who slides through and Liam Farrell,

underneath the sticks.

Wigan have the lead for the first

time from 16-nil down.

They lead the game.

Down the blindside, it is Mellor,

takes it on a stride or two.

Inside Wigan's territory.

Widnes desperate to

steady the ship here.

They were completely in control

and now they find themselves adrift.

The kick bounces nicely for Tomkins,

who is through.

And on his travels.

Looking round for support.

He doesn't need support!

He's underneath the sticks again.

And Wigan are like an unstoppable

express train in this second half.

Different half, different story.

Leuluai.

Here is Williams.

Gildart.

Running into a blockade.

Having to take the tackle.

Wigan with time on their side now.

It is ticking down, two

minutes left to play.

Leuluai.

Williams.

Dancing and darting

this way and that.

Back to Powell now.

Powell to Tomkins.

Great hands by him.

Bateman with the pass

and Davis with the score.

That will cap off a remarkable

turnaround by Wigan.

16-nil down at one stage.

They are going to win

here and they are going to win big.

Happy with the few points.

Disappointed we got to 16-nil down.

But I thought the way

we responded, very, very proud.

We have been in a tough

place for a few weeks,

not trained this week.

Like every other Super League team.

But to come back and score some

points, I thought that second half

was a big improvement.

We worked hard in the first half,

but we still had to do a lot

of things without the ball.

We lost the penalty count 6-2.

We had five sets

less than Wigan had.

Then we get a penalty

and don't kick the ball out.

So we created lots of problems

for ourselves in the first half.

Second half they came out

with their tails up having just

scored before half-time.

Just had a sense that,

just to keep going after us.

It took them a long time to break us

down and get back into the lead.

And the last ten minutes I felt

we just went soft on ourselves

and we showed our underbelly and let

them tickle it a little bit!

Straight out of the Brian Noble post

match interview, that last comment!

Quite interesting because if you

just look at that game

with the untrained eye,

I have to say I thought 16-nil up,

Widnes playing really well.

But Denis saying even

when they had the lead,

he wasn't a happy coach.

They left the croc in the water.

Some of the mistakes that they made

gave Wigan every opportunity

to come back into that.

And that is reflected

in what Sean has just said.

He understood that as well.

They played really well

in the second half, Wigan.

But on the back of some of these

mistakes you are actually opening

the door for them and letting that

crocodile come and snap

you back on the legs.

So that's what you've got to do.

You've got to finish good teams off

when you've got the opportunity.

And keep playing.

Just not finding touches.

Denis would have been suicidal!

Did it twice!

What is it like for the coach

when that's happening?

Because it is things that

are in your control, Tanya.

And that is what you are trying

to impress upon the players.

These things are in our control,

that we can fix up.

And clearly with the penalties

as well, not a lot of ball.

A great play from Sam Tomkins.

Give him a running chance

and an opportunity, and he has been

looking for that all year

and he is away.

All the teams this week have not had

a chance to practice but clearly

Widnes couldn't reverse

the situation and Wigan

got on the front foot.

They were playing the ball quickly

and there were penalties

and compounding errors

from Widnes as well.

Just gave them every opportunity.

Danny, from both teams point

of view, how crucial that try

on the stroke of half-time

because I guess if you are Widnes

and you've gone in and they are nil,

you feel a lot better about yourself

and for Wigan, getting on the board.

Yes, it will really pick

Wigan up a lot, that.

They would have known the errors

and the kick into touch

and the mis-kicks to touch.

They will come back to hurt Widnes

in the second half and I think that

try just before half-time gave them

a leg up.

And probably sent them

in with a bit more energy knowing

they're going to come out in that

second half and the mistakes

in the first half are going

to really hurt Widnes.

And you could see that

at the start of the second half,

they came out with a great deal

more enthusiasm, really.

What are you making of Wigan

so far this season?

They've talked about being

different, trying to play a slightly

more attacking style.

What are you making of the changes

that have been made to the team?

I think the teams that

went to Australia have

that tough element.

So we have seen some

indifferent scorelines,

maybe through fatigue.

And clearly the weather

has played its part.

I do not think they

are in full swing yet.

I think they are being allowed

to off-load a little bit more

and a little bit de-structured,

if you like.

The skill set has to match that.

It is clearly OK for everybody

to say we're going to play

a different way and going to do

this, that, and the other.

You still have to

practice those things.

And in many respects the level

of attention and detail

to your skill has to be better

to play that way.

So it might take a while for them

to be as fluent as they want

in that department.

Well St Helens were due

to play Salford on Friday

but that was delayed by almost 48

hours because of a frozen pitch.

They finally got going on Sunday

afternoon when Saints

were defending a 100% record.

The commentator for this

one is Matt Newsome.

Logan Tomkins.

Along the line for Robert Louis.

McCarthy makes a cutting run.

The penalty goes Salford's way.

Garth O'Brien, then.

To try and give Salford the lead.

And he does so with aplomb.

This is where Saints are dangerous.

So many ballplayers.

So many pivots.

Great kick through by Barber.

And Tommy Makinson got there first.

And Saints take the lead.

Alex Walmsley.

Bumping back defenders.

And managing to dump

the ball off back to Roby.

Here they are in dangerous

position once again.

Barber cuts through the defence

and out in the corner.

It was a loose off-load,

but he made the best of it.

McCarthy-Scarsbrook,

out the back it goes to Richardson.

Tries to step that Salford cover,

but they stood firm.

Now Roby is poised.

This is where Saints

are at their dangerous best.

Barber again, will

he get to the line?

He stretches out an arm.

They just cannot handle him.

Barber masterclass!

O'Brien with the drop out.

He shanked that, and

that is being kind.

It's gone out on the bull.

And that is a cheap

penalty to give away.

Danny Richardson,

cool as a cucumber.

It has become one-way traffic.

Peyroux into a little bit

of fisticuffs with Lama Tasi.

He has the biggest

of grins on his face.

And it looks as though Lama Tasi's

going to the bin for ten.

Theo Fage.

To Walmsley.

Richardson did well but managed

to work the ball away to Barber.

Tommy Makinson now.

Looking for a gap.

Finds Lomax.

Big booming ball to

this left-hand side.

Percival.

Salford trying to stop Saints,

but they can't do so.

And here goes Percival.

He has Lomax on his shoulder.

O'Brien had to make that tackle.

Saints in full flight here.

Richardson, lovely inside ball.

McCarthy-Scarsbrook

will not be stopped.

Stunning effort from Saints.

Back to their glorious best.

Fage to Richardson.

Chip and chase from him.

That is a player with confidence.

Ball bounces loose but

has been plucked up.

Peyroux.

Dumps it off to Fage.

Fage with the dribble kick.

It chases on.

They didn't force it

dead and I think that

might well be the score.

What a super finish.

Richardson.

The hooter's gone.

Saints playing with a flourish here.

Not giving up on this one yet.

Still more points to be had.

A lovely wraparound

between Barba and Peyroux.

Barba's got so many options.

Goes back on the inside.

Makinson to Thompson,

what a parting shot!

Superb finish from Saints.

Wonderful score.

You're never going to be brilliant

when you have a disruptive week

in some tough conditions

and the game gets changed,

so all those factors make it hard,

but in the end I thought we got

on with it well and came away

with a job well done.

I thought we were really good

first half, we just,

discipline, and, like I say,

Barba just being able to come up

with the quality that he's got

on the back end of that.

So yeah, I'm not worried,

I'm really confident

in the group of players there,

but we do need to be looking

at ourselves seriously

with our discipline issues there,

that we're not going to let that

continue and probably

structure our season, really.

If there's anyone that's

going to complain about training

in the snow it would be a bloke

from North Queensland!

But he actually made

light of it and said,

"What are you blokes whingeing

about, haven't you ever

seen snow before?"

to his team-mates that have lived

here all their lives.

So it was quite funny.

I knew he was in a good place

and he's enjoying training,

he's playing well and,

yeah, it's showing on the field.

It's great and it's

good to have him.

We may only have Ben

Barba for the season.

There's a lot of feeling he will go

back, but are you enjoying

watching him play, and he was quite

special again in this

game, wasn't he?

Absolutely, fantastically skilled,

and a great athlete himself.

This second phase football

that Saints are playing,

you can clearly see they're

all enjoying themselves,

not just Ben Barba, he just happens

to be the icing on the cake

on this particular occasion.

But the freedom and the smiles

on faces that we're seeing

is on the back of...

Well, Danny, you'll have

them in a few weeks,

how do you go about stopping this

kind of thing?

Well, firstly, I think he fits

perfectly into that St Helens team

and the way they play,

the offloads and the players

on the back of that.

They've got a number of players

who'll push through and support him.

With Ben Barba, I think it's not

stopping him, you've got to stop

what comes before that.

The forwards, the Walmsleys,

the Amors, the offload.

Once they offload, they're pushing

through off the back of Roby

and it's really difficult to stop.

Barba's so quick on his feet.

You get a one-on-one

with him and you've not

really got much chance.

I'd back you a little bit, mate!

LAUGHTER.

They, Justin talked

about the disruption of the game

being postponed 48 hours.

You had a similar sort of thing.

How difficult is that?

Are you good to go, did

you have enough warning?

Yeah, I think we kind of knew that

Friday was going to be off.

It is disruptive, you don't get

a chance to get on the field and do

as much work as you normally would,

but preparation and everything

like that's pretty much similar.

You still get a chance to do your

video and things like that.

The main thing is the people

who travel struggle to get in.

We have a few that travel

over from Lancashire,

and they weren't available to get

to training a couple of days,

but apart from that...

Look, it affected

everybody, didn't it?

So, as he said, you've just got

to be ready to go when it comes.

Luckily, we got our game on Sunday

and managed to get ahead with it.

Salford, as Ian Watson said,

it doesn't look good because they've

only had the one win but they've

only really had two bad halves.

Is it a case of staying calm there?

Clearly.

As Watto says, and Danny's team

played them a couple of weeks ago,

which I watched, and they were very

strong and very durable.

I think they have to have a certain

amount of ball and a certain amount

of things, but the game

against a hot Saints team,

they'll do that too many teams,

not just to Salford.

He's a confident coach,

Watto, and I'm confident

he knows where they're at.

Next up for St Helens is a trip

to Warrington on Friday.

You can follow that game

on 5 Live Sports Extra.

Join them from 7pm on Friday.

They'll also be at Headingley on

Thursday for Leeds against Hull FC.

And don't forget to check

out the latest 5 Live

Rugby League Podcast -

there's a new one every Monday.

The other team with the 100% record

going into the round were,

of course, Wakefield.

A fabulous start for you guys.

A lot of people have been talking

about the size of the pack

and if that makes a difference,

but your outside backs

have been doing a lot

of the work, haven't they?

Yeah.

I think the games at

the start of the year,

the conditions as they are,

they're real energy battles.

The outside backs are coming

in and taking a lot of this work

off the front rowers.

I think both centres have been

carrying the ball strong.

You can see Bill Tupou here,

taking four/five men to put him down

and that's going to create space

for everyone else

out wide after that.

He's getting through a lot of work,

as are all the outside backs,

the wingers coming in and doing

the work as well.

You can see Bill carries

the ball so strongly,

he's getting offloads,

and then he can change

his line as well.

As you see here, getting

the try against Hull KR.

He's in some real good

form at the moment.

A real unsung hero for you.

And Reece Lyne on the other

side, he's not a guy

that gets the headlines?

Yeah, he's a really big guy, Reece.

He's still quite young and I think

he weighs about 105 kilograms.

You can see he's got

great footwork as well,

as you can see there,

making a lot of defenders miss.

He's doing that

on regular occasions.

Do you think the role of wingers

has changed as well,

as the years have gone by?

We're seeing in your team

and a lot of the teams,

the wingers doing a heck of a lot

of legwork coming out of defence?

Yeah, you can see here,

Tom's just took that

carry and then Bish,

who's a right winger, is coming over

onto the left-hand side

of the field and taking a carry.

That just shows the workload

they're getting through.

They don't do much defending,

the wingers, but they're getting

in and taking a lot of work off

the big fellas, and I think you're

seeing that in the defence now.

Our middlemen have a lot

of energy and we're able

to defend our line a lot better now.

How important to go

with that the kicking game?

Well, yeah.

Obviously with the kickers

that we've got, we've

obviously got Liam Fiin,

who guides the team around the field

really well and Milky as well,

he's really improved that side

of his game.

You can see the kick

chase on the back of it,

the energy from what we're doing

in defence as well.

It's leading to turning teams

over in really tough

positions to come out of.

As I said before at the start

of the season, an energy battle -

these are the places you don't

want to be stuck with

the ball coming out

of your own ten yard line.

And how important for you guys

that that is helping

you to keep the energy up,

to help that defence?

Yeah, these things here,

like taking him into touch there,

I think that was a penalty

in the end.

They're the things that

lift your team up, get

you going and you might be feeling

a little bit low, a little bit

tired, but things like that really

get you going on the back of it

and build the momentum in the game.

How nice for you guys to see

Tom Johnstone back and back scoring?

You wouldn't have known he'd had

such a serious injury, would you?

Yeah, he's been unbelievable

at the start of this season.

I think the cruciate

ligament in your knee,

it's a really tough injury

to come back from.

And for someone with so much speed,

like Tom, I think it's

even more difficult.

It takes you normally 12-18 months

to come back and he's come back

and looks like maybe missed

maybe two weeks.

You can see the things

that he's doing here,

these are brave things to do.

To dive over this.

This next one, picks the ball up low

and then dives over like that.

You're putting your body on the line

and it's very risky,

it's easy to do a shoulder

or something like that.

He's just playing really well.

You can see here, the pace,

it's not gone at all.

David Mead's a very quick player

and Tom manages to burn him.

How nice for you guys to see that?

Oh yeah, that's lovely.

And as a forward, you can stand back

on the 20 yard line.

I think Tom and Bish,

they're both capable of doing that

at any time in the game,

and Mason as well.

He's our third winger, who's really

pressuring those two as well,

and keeping them playing

as well as they are.

A real strength in depth

you have, haven't you!

Match number four for Wakefield this

season was against Huddersfield.

That was delayed until Sunday.

No Tom Johnstone for Trinity this

week, but here's what happened

with commentary from Dave Woods.

COMMENTATOR: Finn just having a look

at the situation here.

England drives it in.

Last play in this set.

Still looking for the first

score nearly midway

through this first half.

Grix picks it off up the ground.

There's a bit of

space out wide here.

Ben Jones-Bishop will

score in the corner.

First try of the afternoon.

Away and Jake Mamo is in the line.

Trying to push himself over,

he's very close there.

Referee says just short.

Leaning again over the top

and it's going to be a nice,

simple finish for Gaskell.

Getting themselves up

and running again here.

Pauli Pauli, with all

his power here, he's

a difficult customer to stop.

Eventually put down.

Trying to slow him down

here as much as they can.

And eventually the referee says

Ikahihifo was lying on too long.

Penalty in front of sticks.

To give his side a four point lead,

Liam Finn strokes it over.

Great place to start the set.

Matty Ashurst.

Well, again, they're slowing it down

and Leeming this time is the man

at fault and the referee

is going to put the whole

team on a warning here.

So, Finn with another

relatively easy kick.

It's a six point lead, 10-4.

Trying to smash their way out

of trouble here, Huby.

Huddersfield trying to reduce

the yardage as much as they can,

stepping it up in defence again.

Another good effort forward,

and the referee has given a penalty,

and it's a yellow card.

Remember, Huddersfield

were on a team a warning,

and it's Kruise Leeming who's shown

a yellow card.

Finn again.

Back towards the middle

comes Ashurst.

Lobs it over the top to Huby.

Huby across the line,

stepped back on inside by Kirmond.

He's got support there as well

from Hirst, who will not

go down with the ball.

He's offloaded to Grix,

and Grix is within touching distance

of that Huddersfield line.

Hampshire wants it played

as quickly as possible.

Here it comes.

Finn, Finn with a left footed

chip, that's wonderful!

Ben Jones-Bishop with a finish,

but what about the creativity

of Liam Finn's kick?!

Gaskell's running out from his half.

He's lost it.

Dying seconds of the game.

It was a kick to the corner anyway,

and Mason Caton-Brown with a clean

pick up and a score.

In stoppage time,

Wakefield get another.

They've done it again,

it's another Wakefield win.

I wish we'd had a camera on him

when he saw the ball, you're very

excited by that!

He said there's some pink on it

as well, I want one!

We'll see if we can sort you out

with an orange and pink ball

just to keep you happy.

Danny, fantastic, four wins out

of four now for you guys.

You must be absolutely buzzing.

Yeah, we are.

I think it's been the manner

of the wins as well.

I think they've all been

really hard fought.

I think the first game

against Hull KR was always

going to be tough going there,

their first game back

in Super League.

Then the last three have been a real

slogs, down the middle as well.

Catalan really bashed us up

a little bit in the middle,

and we managed to come

through on that, and then

again at the weekend.

It was a very physical game.

We had to defend our line for a long

period of time in the first half,

and managed to come through it

and get a really good win.

How much confidence does it give

you, when you've defended

like the way that you did in that

first half and kept them out?

Yeah, I think that goes off the back

of last year, as well.

I think we've always been a team

that could score points but we also

leaked a lot of points.

I think we've changed that

a great deal last year,

and we've kind of gone off

the back of that.

At the start of that game,

I think we defended five

back-to-back sets at one point.

It just breeds the confidence,

and you know you can do that.

I think it also saps out

of their confidence as well.

When you go back up the other end

then and score, it really takes

a lot out of the opposition.

From Huddersfield's point of view,

to have had that much pressure

and not got over the line,

will that worry Rick Stone?

Yeah, I think it will,

because boy they had a lot...

I've watched the footage before

and pounded the Wakefield

line for 20 minutes.

Two things - Wakefield defending

really, really well,

so you have to say that's

the difference in their team

that's been crept in over

the last 12-18 months.

Not only can they score points,

they can bend their backs,

which will help them right

throughout the season.

Secondly, probably Rick Stone

will be looking for a bit more

dexterity or touches,

to try and break those

kind of defences down.

But this time of year,

with the weather the way it can be,

it's as much about how well

you defend and then getting

an opportunity the other end,

which can be soul destroying

for a team that's

been pounding away.

So yeah, it's a great reflection

from Danny that the defence

is as good as their attack

at the moment.

How are you lot dealing

with the fact that people are now

looking at you in games and saying

you're the favourites?

You are not underdogs

any more, are you?

It's not that band of brothers

things of pitting your wits

against everybody else.

People are saying favourites,

possibly top four this year?

Yeah, I think...

It's nice that people are saying

that, but we deal with it

in just the same manner.

I think we've a very level-headed

bunch of blokes at the club

who all work really hard

for one another.

We've really kept that

underdog mentality.

We know the moment we stop working

hard, we've not got any

world-class superstars,

but what we have got is a great

bunch who work really

hard for one another.

Once we stop doing that,

that's when we'll fall off.

But I think the attitude

at the moment is just showing that's

going to keep going for...

Well, throughout the season.

I think you have a few stars in that

team personally, but there you go!

England have finally confirmed that

they'll be playing a mid-season Test

against New Zealand.

They'll meet the Kiwis

on June 23rd in Denver.

Ultimately we want to have a league

out there, that's the end goal.

We've got a great target audience

there, they love the sport,

they're fanatical about it.

So I think to grow the game,

that's one place we need to be

targeting and what better way,

then to take two of the best teams

in the world and play against each

other in a great place like Denver?

Yeah, I think it will be great,

and with the World Cup

being there in a few years' time,

it's only going to build

the game over there,

get people more aware of the sport.

To go over and play a game

in the US will be pretty

special, pretty unique.

I'm sure American fans out

there will appreciate the game.

It will be physical and we'll

put on a good show.

Look, it's good not only

from a selfish point of view,

as an English player,

it's another chance for us to get

together, to improve as a team

and keep chasing that

number one spot.

That's what we're here for.

So why Denver, why is it

so important we go to the USA?

I think it's important that

England get another hit out

against New Zealand,

to keep the momentum

from the World Cup going,

first and foremost.

To Denver, is to showcase the sport

in relation to the fact

the World Cup's going to be

there in 2025, so there has

to be moves made now,

and there are moves to have a league

in the USA as well further down

the track, to increase the awareness

of our great product.

So they've chosen Denver.

Clearly the people

on the ground over in

America think that's

the right venue.

I've been to the Mile High Stadium,

I spent a week there

with the Denver Broncos.

It's a fabulous city.

You also know Jason

Moore, who is making

all of this happen?

I do.

And it's very ambitious,

the project there, so this

is probably one of the steps

to raise the profile

of the sport over there,

so when the next steps come along,

I think they're all

very exciting moves.

You know my views on the USA market

and the North American market

and the Canadian market.

I think there's a lot of gain

to be made over there.

Are you excited that the game

is going over to the USA?

Yeah.

As Brian says, I think it's great

we're getting another

international in mid-season.

It's great on the momentum

of what happened last year.

I think England performed

very well and I think

everyone was really excited

about international rugby again.

It's not really been

like that for a long time,

probably since the days

of Great Britain.

For once, people are saying this

England team's a good

team, not let's get back

to Great Britain again.

Let's move forward with things how

they're going and I think

this is a great step

in the right direction.

I think, as Brian says,

Toronto is going really well.

You can see the amount of fans

they get over there in Canada.

Yeah, let's showcase it a bit

further afield as well and buy

into that other market.

It's going to be important,

isn't it, that they fill the stadium

up and really get a buzz that

you get in Toronto?

I hope so, definitely.

It's a challenge for some

of our fans to get over there,

if they're going to do,

the middle of the Rockies, Colorado,

Denver is a fabulous place.

I'd recommend it highly,

but clearly the game's going over

there so they'll have plans to fill

the stadium, I'm sure.

Warrington to Hull is never the most

straightforward of journeys

on a match night and even more

so when the M62 is closed.

The Wolves took a train as far

as Leeds and then jumped on a coach

for the rest of the journey,

so it was game on.

The commentary for this one

is from Matt Newsome.

COMMENTATOR: Scott Taylor and Dean

Hadley applying the squeeze there.

Toby King taking it forward

for Warrington, looking

for a quick play of the ball.

And it's to their cost,

as Ben Thaler blows up for playing

the ball improperly.

That will be a penalty to Hull.

Cold night, even a big man,

a hard man like Lee Radford

needs his cup of coffee.

Marc Sneyd from the T will make

no mistake from there.

It's a 2-point lead for Hull.

Tuimavave causing problems.

Minichiello back to Sneyd.

He offers the ball

up to Josh Bowden.

Hull clamber to within a yard away.

Washbrook back to Sneyd again.

The kick goes up

towards that far side.

Back down to Manu.

Lovely looping pass.

Bureta Faraimo, the man on the spot

for Hull and Ben Thaler has no

problems with the finish.

It is more smart work from this USA

International, and Hull fans

have something to cheer.

Washbrook again in this

position, ten metres away.

Here comes Jake Connor.

A real menace, a real trickster,

as he sets off across the field.

Tuimavave now.

We know what slippery feat he has.

Manages to dunk the ball

back to Washbrook.

Hull throwing all sorts

of shapes at Warrington here.

As Minichiello takes

the ball to the line.

Ratchford involved in the tackle.

Akauola also involved.

The ball comes loose.

A penalty for a strip

and Stefan Ratchford is the

man at fault.

The arm still in the

tackle from Ratchford.

Hull ever keen to rack up points

will take the two from the T.

Marc Sneyd, on the cusp

of half-time, makes

it a ten point lead.

Josh Griffin.

As Hull go for that shift

to the right hand side.

Muscular defence from Warrington.

Faraimo goes off on one of those

trademark blockbusting runs.

They are struggling to put him down.

Declan Patton came in,

that was a swinging arm.

Faraimo looks in a world of trouble.

Manu comes flying in as well.

They struggled to put the big

man down and looked at

that, swinging arm to the chin.

Don't think Faraimo quite knows

where he is at the moment.

Declan Patton I think

knows what's coming.

It's a red card for him.

Warrington down to 12.

I don't think there was intent,

I don't think there was malice

but he certainly connected.

Faraimo, to Hull's relief,

at least is walking off.

So Marc Sneyd, again so accurate

from the T, manages to land it

from a long way out.

It is a two converted

score lead now for Hull.

Jake Connor with something to say,

it would appear,

from that smug grin on his face.

He is an agitator, a grub his coach

has called him, but he's a very

good player as well.

Brad Fash to Washbrook,

away down that left edge come Hull.

That's lovely.

Talanoa - and there is

the gap for Tuimavave.

Now they are cutting loose, Hull,

and Warrington have laid nothing

but a finger on them.

Lee Radford, to be fair,

doesn't look too happy about it.

Warrington down to 12.

Have they a response in them

here, as Chris Hill goes

buccaneering towards those posts?

Clark, who has been

a live wire for them.

That's a lovely ball from Ratchford

and Jack Hughes, they have

got a response.

Cut a great line, and

Warrington finally have some

points on the board.

Mike Cooper plays the ball to Clark.

Again they are in range.

That is a lovely short

ball for Westwood.

But muscle up in defence will do.

The ball has been worked

wide and that is a fine

finish in the corner by Ryan Atkins.

The try is good and suddenly, well,

this isn't game over.

Warrington are right

back in the game.

Hull's crowd lifted, as Hadley finds

a team-mate in space.

Hull closing in on that line.

It was Scott Taylor

who took the ball in.

Hadley will target

this right-hand side.

Good hands from Hull.

Here goes Jamie Shaul,

slips the net and then cleaned out

at the second attempt by Tom

Lineham.

Now Don Crosby and

Jake Connor are at it.

And it takes a bit of

separating those two.

Really good feet from Jamie Shaul.

Lost his footing and then came

Tom Lineham with the flop.

Marc Sneyd, then, just

to stretch out that lead

and give a little comfort to Hull.

Makes it an eight point ball game.

Still no change in

the expression from Lee

Radford.

Hadley from dummy half.

Looking to soften up some of those

Warrington defenders.

Connor is in at the play-the-ball.

Hull have this game

in the palm of their hands.

It's a man advantage

they have at the moment.

Liam Watts, struggling

to break through.

It's a bit of a wrestle

between him and Don Crosby.

Liam Watts sets off...

And he struck heads with Don Crosby.

I think he might find

himself in a little bit

of trouble here.

As Murdoch-Masila gets involved.

Don Crosby has his words to say.

Look at the eyes from Liam Watts,

he brushes heads, well,

it's a little bit more than that.

I think Liam Watts is

going to join Declan

Patton in being sent

off in this game.

Both sides down to 12.

Lee Radford's

expression says it all.

Liam Watts with a moment of madness.

So, Hull, they have the lead.

It's 12 against 12.

One more score would settle it.

As Taylor drives them

towards those posts.

Westbrook, Marc Sneyd

is in the pocket

and Sneyd will land the

drop goal and that must be it.

For Hull it's a fine

win, marred by the

dismissal of Liam Watts.

But for Warrington,

the inquests will continue.

They are yet to find their form.

First thing's first,

any complaints on the red

cards from either of you?

BOTH:

No.

Right, we can move on.

Lee Radford, happy and angry.

Very happy with how they got out

in front, but not happy

that they let Warrington back in?

Particularly in the main, they went

down to 12 men, Warrington.

You'd think, maybe there's that

element with players sometimes

who relax who are a score up

and in the ascendancy, but they gave

Warrington every opportunity.

They actually got better,

Warrington, with 12 men.

They became more vigorous

carrying the ball.

A bit more expansive with it

and tested the Hull defence.

How impressed were you with

Jake Connor, and where do

you think his best position is?

Wherever you want to play.

Centre, he's played well.

He's played well in the halves

now, we've seen that.

He's a really useful acquisition.

He has a tendency to get under

people's skin, as we saw there,

when there were a few conversations

with different players, but that's

part of his genius and his magic.

He tests you.

How much do you think Warrington

were missing Kevin Brown,

particularly in that first half,

just in terms of pushing

them around the field?

Yeah, I think Kev's probably

developed into that

role for Warrington.

He's the guy who guides

them around the field.

But I think they're

a very dangerous team

when they play through the ruck.

As Brian said, when they went down

to 12 men, that's what they did.

They carried the ball hard,

they've got some big ball-carriers,

Ben Murdoch-Masila, Ryan Atkins,

all win of ruck, and when they do

that, they flood through

in numbers and people

like Daryl Clark and Rathcford...

Do you think they're still trying

to find their style this season?

They're clearly having more

structure put on them by Steve Price

but it's sort of mix and match?

I think at the start of the year,

you have to play a different game

to what you're eventually

going to play in the summer.

I think maybe the structure's

the way that they're going to go

down at the start of the year.

I think as the ground gets a bit

drier and the pitches

are a little bit quicker,

I think you'll see them coming

to the normal Warrington

that we expect to see,

the quick rucks and Daryl Clark

getting out of there, beating people

and just flooding through.

I think as well...

We're looking forward

to summer rugby, aren't we?!

It takes time, doesn't it,

and Steve Price is new.

So, the four home teams whose games

went ahead got their rewards

with four home victories,

and here is where it's left them

in the Betfred Super League table.

St Helens Wakefield lead the way,

they are two points clear

of Wigan at the top.

Hull FC move up to fifth,

and Hull KR have gone up two places

without even playing.

They go above Salford and

Huddersfield on points difference.

That's just about it.

My thanks to Danny and to

Brian for joining us.

There's no truth in the rumours that

rugby league is applying to be part

of the next Winter Olympics,

but we'll leave you with some

snowy moments from the

Super League archives.

See you next week - goodbye.

MUSIC: "It May be Winter Outside

(But in My Heart It's Spring)"