The Good, the Bad and the Ugly of Super League: Round 3
The Good
Hats off to Hull KR and Warrington in this shortened round for getting their first Super League wins of the season. Both were desperate and determined to avoid a 3 and 0 record after three rounds, and both deserved their victories over Catalans and Widnes, respectively.
It was far from a classic at Craven Park, with both the Robins and Dragons bumbling and fumbling through the first 40 minutes. But the home team showed enough class and application to improve in the second half and see out the victory. Danny McGuire was again pivotal for Hull KR, while the centre pairing of Liam Salter and Thomas Minns were impressive and Will Dagger made a solid debut at fullback. What helped change the game for them was their bench and the impact inflicted by Shaun Lunt, Mose Masoe and Danny Tickle.
All three scored tries and helped get Hull KR home. Lunt, playing in his 300th career appearance, was a handful and is always a danger at the back of the ruck. The club captain is a vital figure for Tim Sheens’ side. Masoe has slimmed down and made 91 metres in his short stint, while Tickle was the typical workhorse that he is.
Across the Pennines and it was Warrington who bounced back from their horror show at Huddersfield with an 18-10 result. Steve Price’s men responded in the right manner and Stefan Ratchford, who was very below-par the week before, was the Wire’s best. He finished with one, a try assist and 138 metres in a powerful display. Daryl Clark had one of his best games in ages, making 60 tackles and 111 metres, while Ryan Atkins finished with a brace. It was close but not close enough for Widnes, who weren’t far off claiming their second win of 2018.
The Bad
Where can you begin with Catalans? So poor last year, they were 40 minutes away from relegation in the Middle Pound Game. Somehow they managed to stay up and some believed that giving Steve McNamara more time, along with the recruits Michael McIllorum and David Mead, would see the French club back in the top four this year. After three rounds that would appear as likely as the United States winning the World Cup in 2021.
Catalans were simply shocking against Hull KR, a display filled with errors, pushed passes and dismal defence. In total they made 16 errors and handed the Robins the win on a platter. All the Robins had to do was complete the sets, and make sure of the basics, and they won easily. The worrying thing for the Dragons is that their worse performances were their star players – Greg Bird, Luke Walsh and Mead. This trio should be leading the way but they are worringly off-form.
Walsh’s kicking game has gone to pot and Bird is trying to do everything and win games on his own when he is not the same player he was a decade ago. It’s three rounds in so it’s not panic stations for Catalans yet, but they do need to start showing some more commitment and effort, and fast. After a spirited showing against St Helens, this was a big step backwards.
The Ugly
Chris Houston’s hit on referee Phil Bentham was a sorry part of the derby encounter between Warrington and Widnes. Strangely enough it is the second time the same player has collided with the same referee at the same stadium in the past year. It may have appeared to be accidental, and Widnes coach Denis Betts was certainly claiming so, but it was ugly all the same. Houston has not been a dirty player throughout his career, but when Bentham is near he is like a bull in front of a red flag. The forward is set to receive a two-man ban for his action.
