The Good
Happy days are here again at Craven Park. Hull KR made it five from five and clinched automatic promotion back to Super League after toppling Widnes 12-6 in a tense one. It wasn’t exactly a classic, but it didn’t matter for the Robins as they are back in the top flight. A lovely intercept try from Ryan Shaw, as the Vikings were mounting an attack, proved to be the difference. Kudos has to go to Tim Sheens, Neil Hudgell and the whole Hull KR club who handled their relegation with dignity, and their promotion push with class.
A very good week for both Wigan and St Helens. Both made huge strikes in their quest for the top four with important victories. The Warriors got over the top of Hull FC in a classic filled with controversy and more twists and turns than a Formula 1 track. They move into third spot, dumping the Black and Whites down to fourth. Saints pipped Wakefield to move up to 29 points, just one behind fifth-placed Trinity. The next two rounds are going to epic with everything on the line.
London kept their slim Million Pound Game hopes alive with a 36-14 defeat of Halifax. That win, coupled with Leigh’s loss to Warrington, means the Broncos can still potentially make the promotion playoff. The Wire are now safe after five straight wins, but will be in Super League next year with a new coach after the announcement that Tony Smith is departing. It won’t be easy replacing the 50-year old. All eyes will be on Widnes vs London this Saturday. The result will have huge ramifications for both the winner and the loser. On Friday Catalans will hope Hull KR will have spent the week celebrating their promotion hard.
Castleford made it four from four against Leeds this season with a comfortable win at the Jungle. Cas have now beaten the Rhinos eight times in their past eight encounters. Daryl Powell must love coming up against his old club.
The Bad
You couldn’t help sorry for Wakefield and Scott Grix on Thursday night. Grix has been one of Wakey’s best all season, and without him they wouldn’t be anywhere near the top four. But his error against St Helens was a costly one as a victory was snatched from their grasp. Even worse though was the canning the veteran fullback took on social media after the match. Grix is only human and he will bounce back. Some of the critics should know better.
The Ugly
Liam Watts received a red card, his third in 2017, as Hull FC were downed at home by Wigan. Many questioned the send off, but raising your elbow into the face of an opponent surely can’t be on. While it didn’t appear intentional, and a yellow card may have sufficed, it was clearly dangerous play.
Similarly ugly was Huddersfield’s defence on Saturday. The Giants shipped 52 points against a Salford side that, going into the game, had lost eight games in a row. Huddersfield were poor from the kick-off and it didn’t get any better for them. Some of the efforts of Rick Stone’s men, not to mention a few of the options taken with the ball, were dire.
