The Good
Hull KR proved the bookies, Wigan and your humble scribe wrong with an impressive 24-8 victory at home. The Robins were missing a long list of key players, while the Warriors were at full strength barring a handful. But Hull KR upset the apple cart with a spirited display in front of their fanbase. It lifted them off the bottom of the table and has breathed new life into their season. Coach Tim Sheens was in fine form after the game, when asked if this result might strop some of the criticism that has come his way this year. Sheens responded: “I don’t really care to be quite honest. Fans are the ones who turn up when you’re winning. Supporters are here when you don’t. I care for supporters, not people who blow in and blow out of the place. People put their money in, they’re members, they’re right from the start they’re behind the club. They’re the people I rate. They’re the people I’ve got time for.” Hear, hear.
Catalans made it three wins in a row with a good 33-20 win against Leeds. Little by little the Dragons have turned a corner. The addition of bad boy Kenny Edwards from Parramatta will give Steve McNamara added firepower in the back-row. The mid-signing of Josh Drinkwater to replace Luke Walsh is proving a masterstroke.
And what can we say about St Helens and Ben Barba that hasn’t already been said? We’re running out of superlatives after they eased Castleford aside easily. Still top of the comp, it isn’t just Barba that is thriving but Jonny Lomax, Theo Fages, Dominique Peyroux, Zeb Taia, Jon Wilkin and many more. Can anyone stop Saints in 2018?
The Bad
The reaction to Castleford’s loss to St Helens was a tad surprising. The Tigers had a dig but, meeting a team in top form and missing star performers like Luke Gale, Greg Eden and Jake Webster, it was always going to be a tough task for them. Tigers coach Daryl Powell’s interview with Sky TV was very brief and blunt, very much unlike the norm for the affable Powell. What was even odder was the statement put out by the club a day later, where director of rugby Jon Wells said: “Everyone has a plan, until they get punched in the mouth. Well today we wake up with a swollen lip and two black eyes. Yesterday was obviously a disappointing result particularly coming home from Magic Weekend in Newcastle with a real buzz about the team and the town again. All our staff and players would like to reiterate our thanks for your continued and unwavering support and rest assured there are some serious questions being asked and answered this weekend following our most recent loss against St Helens.”
Obviously aimed at unhappy Tigers fans, it seemed a tad unnecessary considering where the club actually sits right now. Yes, they haven’t dominated Super League like they did in 2017, but they do sit in fifth spot on 18 points, the same as fourth-placed Hull FC. A top-four spot is still clearly within reach and there is no shame in losing to a red-hot St Helens. The season is far from lost for Cas.
The Ugly
Sam Moa’s shot on Richie Myler was ugly and dangerous, a shoulder charge to head. Amazingly he wasn’t sent off, merely sin-binned, for an attack to Myler’s head. The Catalans prop should be facing a long ban.
Also ugly was Widnes’ eighth defeat in a row. Their 19-6 loss to Wakefield, which was their 12th of the season, meant they are now propping up the bottom of the ladder. With fans deserting the club in droves – only 3,681 turned up to watch the game – and unhappiness growing towards coach Denis Betts, something has to give. The Vikings are destined for the Middle Eights once more and seem to be in free fall.
