Well Easter has come and gone for yet another year. The chocolate eggs have been scoffed and the hot cross bun wrapper is at the bottom of the bin, and that’s just in Terry Newton’s household. Seriously though, we are eight rounds into Super League XIII which is roughly a quarter of the season. So how is everybody shaping up? Well I’ll tell you what, lets start from the top shall we and move on from there. That way, things can only get worse.
Leeds have started like a house on fire. In the past three games against Harlequins, Bradford and Hull FC they have only conceded six points. Their success against Melbourne in the World Club Challenge has spurned them on to greater things. I honestly believe they are playing better rugby now than what they did against the Australian club. Their loss to Castleford was kind of expected in a way. The WCC forced out two key players for long periods of time, with several more picking up minor injuries. Brian McLennan rested key players for that game against Castleford, especially Jamie Peacock who is their sole leader on the field which is funny because they lacked leadership that day. However they currently can’t complain. Top of the league and four points ahead of Saints and Wigan would have been something they could only dream about at the beginning of the year.
So how long before Warrington blow it? As a fan myself, I cannot understand how we are in the position we are in. If you’d have said to me in February we would be in this position after Easter I’d have either laughed in your face or told you to get off the happy pills. I would be happy with our second placed position if I believe we had deserved it. I personally don’t think we have got out of second gear for most of the season. There were times against St Helens when we really took the game to them and played some good football. I also thought we played absolutely amazing for forty minutes against Hull KR, going into half time twenty eight points ahead. But apart from that, there is nothing to suggest we are title contenders or probable finalists this year. We have the squad for it, so lets see further into the season how well we do.
St Helens are not the side they used to be. Twenty four months ago they were out of this world setting the competition alight in the same way Leeds are now. Today they have lost against teams you would not normally expect them to lose against such as Hull KR, Huddersfield and Catalan. I know Kyle Eastmond would probably disagree, but the squad is ageing now since the glory days of 2006-2007. Also, I think the players are getting complacent now knowing Daniel Anderson is set to leave the club. They know they don’t have to play at their best because they’re not playing for a contract that Anderson will give them. The sooner the Saints board announce next season’s coach (or just announcing Wayne Bennett will do the trick) then the players might get some urgency about themselves and perform to a standard expected of that Knowsley Road crowd.
Wigan started brilliantly and have kept up their form, despite losing to Warrington, scraping a win against Huddersfield and losing heavily to Saints. This season they are undoubtedly top six material and Brian Noble seems to have got the squad playing with pride in their jerseys. Its been a difficult few years for the Wigan Loyal being starved of regular success for so long and missing out on the play offs for two years straight in 2005 and 2006. Their attitude and determination has rubbed off onto this season after losing to Leeds in the Final Eliminator last year.
It’s all gone pear shaped in Humberside recently. For once the red and white side of the River Hull seems to be outplaying the black and white side of the river. Their fifth position in the league is no fluke. From what I’ve seen they are doing enough against sides who are falling down to KR’s powerful front row. Added to the pace and excellence of Jake Webster and brilliance of Shaun Briscoe, its no wonder they are where they are. And fully deserved too.
Harlequins RL really have slid down the slippery slope in the past couple of games. While everyone tipped them for finishing near the bottom of the league (me included) they have performed well enough to be in the six presently, even second in the league at one point. However since they were hammered by Leeds 48-0, they have lost three in a row which has put them in sixth place and looking edgy to saw the least. Their next three league games don’t improve their chances of climbing higher. While Saints and Warrington should beat them (jinxing my own team again), Hull KR will prove to be a tough test. After which it’s the Challenge Cup tie against Castleford, which should see them go through. However as it’s the only all-SL tie of the round and with both teams expected to lose their next few games leading up to the match, it should be a cracker.
Speaking of teams going downhill, Bradford couldn’t be in a worse position considering the hype that was built up before they kicked off. I’ll admit injuries haven’t helped them, but they can’t be in a position to moan after watching Hull FC struggle to make eleventh spot. They’ve had a few good wins but they don’t seem to be pushing themselves. Teams that do get beat by them seem to be playing to their strengths, which is challenging their forwards down the middle. Once they’re on top of the opposition defence they then proceed downfield until the opposition concede a penalty and Paul Deacon nips one over crossbar. Not very expansive and attacking if you ask me.
The French outfit seem to be another side on the up and it seems home advantage is paying off after three years in the top flight. In 2006, their debut season, they were never welcomed by their rugby union counterparts at the Stade Aimé Giral. Teams were consistently beating them in England or in France and the result is a bottom place finish meaning Castleford were to be relegated from eleventh. A move across the town of Perpignan to the Stade Gilbert Brutus meant thay had an established home that provided the club with a better identity. But as it’s their own ground, they have full use of the facilities that nay other Super League club would have when they are at home. Also, I think the novelty of playing in France has worn off a bit for the players and there is less motivation to win away on foreign soil. That is why I believe Catalan are in the position they are in, and why they have currently a good home record this season.
I’ll be honest and say Huddersfield are the worse side I have seen play this season, not including Penrith in the NRL though. I think there is too much hype that surrounds Luke Robinson. He is still living off his six month glory as a Wigan youngster in 2003. Eorl Crabtree is not the same player he was previous when he was tipped as a potential GB regular and Stephen Wild is just so overrated it’s not even funny anymore. Things can only get better for the birthplace of Rugby League’s hometown club. I’d start with Jon Sharp.
Wakefield were crippled severely against Harlequins at The Stoop and seem not to have recovered. A further recent loss to Danny Brough is only adding to Wakefield’s despair. Brad Drew and Danny Sculthorpe were also out for long stretches. Maybe a half decent cup run could add a bit of glamour to their already spoiled season.
If ever a side were unlucky through injury, Hull FC would be the place to go. Recent reports are suggesting the waiting time for the doctor’s room in the KC Stadium is similar to that of an NHS A&E ward. Over the course of the season they have lost Raynor, Berrigan, new kid on the block Matty Dale, Kirk Yeaman. All of this is happening while Richard Horne is yet to make an appearance. (As of 30 mins into the Hull/Leeds match yesterday) I can see Peter Sharp being the first coach to be shown the door as the Hull board are about as inpatient as a four year old in a chocolate factory.
Judging by yesterday’s performce against Warrington, I’m struggling to see how they are bottom. They outclassed Leeds as well, although their return to SL could have gone better. In that game it was a case of whoever knocked on the least would win and in the Huddersfield game they might as well not have taken to the field. So it seems to me they are unable to finish off teams when they play well, but struggle to compete on off days. No wonder they’re bottom.
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