XIII Oceans

One of the hottest weeks in years and I’m condemned to spending my first annual leave days of 2009 with an extreme bout of man-flu.   A week that started with me viewing the highlights from Glastonbury is ending with a planned trip for a day on the sauce in Manchester curtailed by my killer virus.  It’s just as well the denizens of Salford won’t be running the risk of contracting this evil disease when they have enough social problems of their own to deal with.

I’ve gotten this far in the previews without retiring to my bed for a break.  This is some achievement.  Granted I soldiered to watching Michael Franti & Spearhead at the Manchester Academy on Wednesday night, however it was  a pilgrimage I knew would bring pain and misery for the remainder of the week, possibly through the weekend.  Now I’m trying to keep my sapped energy levels up enough for me to complete this and hang on to watch Jarvis Cocker on last night’s Question Time.  The timing is immaculate isn’t it?  Last week I saw that they had him lined up and then when Michael Jackson died the producers must have been rubbing their hands.  I hope there was some suitable commentary on the real legacy of Jackson i.e. his love-making with corporate America.

When watching Glastonbury last week I was pleased that it didn’t descend into some revision of him.  I won’t knock his contribution to getting black artists played on  MTV, however as MTV is and has always been shit it’s an overrated legacy.  Black artists, quite rightly can sit comfortably with him as a performer, the white glove tributes during the festival were nice touches for a person who appeared to be a loving man.  Neil Young didn’t trot out ‘This Note’s For You’ in his storming Friday night slot which is a shame because we shouldn’t’ forget the  press coverage Jackson’s tour dates got twenty years ago when fans were asked to fork out 2009 concert prices for bottles of Pepsi.  His death has done nothing for me other than highlight just how much rubbish he thrust down our throats over the years.  Give me Stevie Wonder, Smokey or Marvin any day of the week.

Salford (13th)  v St Helens (1st)
Richie Myler’s continued absence from the home side’s line-up pretty much condemns them to another loss here.  Not that Myler’s presence would result in two points either.  Let’s be honest, a kid who is already halfway out of the door, looking to pick up a mega bucks contract offer from somewhere, might not be throwing himself around the park anyway.  Is Offiah right to be touting Myler’s services around?  Robbie Paul has been professional enough to recognise the predicament both Myler and Salford face, giving a very honest appraisal of Myler’s situation.  If Salford were improving year-on-year there would be a case to be made for Myler to sticking at it for another year, possibly even two.  At the moment, he can’t run the risk of his market value being impacted upon by a poor season so as disappointing as it is to see him on the verge of leaving it is sensible.  Saints were rumoured to be one of the teams that’s interested in Myler and like any good club, at the right price he might be worth a look.  Tonight it won’t be the half backs which determine the result, it will be the machine that is the Saints pack, marching over the Reds to another two points.  Saints by 12.

Wigan (8th)  v Harlequins RL (5th)
A contender for the pick of the round, undone by contrasting performances from last week.  As Harlequins RL found a ceiling when they went to Wakefield, Sam Tomkins inspired Wigan to a brilliant and deserved win at Hull KR.  Rovers might have rattled up some points but don’t let that take anything away from a strong defensive showing from Noble’s men.  Tomkins was the man of the match, however what about O’Loughlin?  He turned in the kind of ball carrying effort last seen by a Paul Sculthorpe or Andy Farrell.  O’Loughlin has flattered to deceive too often.  At times, he’s fronted up and put the biggest of hits in, only to collapse a week later amidst his own ball-handling errors or high tackles.  I said similar of Jon Wilkin earlier this year about how a couple of performances can lift a player from good to great and O’Loughlin I believe is on the verge of getting the kind of consistency that cements those aspirations.  Unfortunately for him there’s still plenty of dross around to drag him and his boss down but without Purdham and Dorn there isn’t enough to give the visitors hope.  We’ve been waiting for Wigan to wake up and now they’re in a play-off spot it looks like that time is now.  With Catalans at home and a trip to Bradford to follow what chance Wigan catching McDermott’s men?  Wigan by 10.

Catalans Dragons (11th)  v Hull KR (3rd)
I never envisioned Walters’ warriors battling for a win last week and what a win.  It was thrilling game and keeps the Dragons in touch with that eighth spot.  For how long though?  Usually I would see the visit of Rovers as a signal for things to come to an end.  I’m not sure this time.  I have to go with the visitors on the strength of their showings this year even if they’ve still not replaced this slow puncture they picked up.  In the latter stages of last week’s loss to Wigan Rovers didn’t look like they could raise their game and put in a final charge.  They looked beaten and are in danger of letting Saints and Leeds claim the top two spots which would be a shame given they have a schedule that could have them pushing higher up than third.  Rovers by 6.

Celtic Crusaders (14th) v Warrington (7th)
Sorry Celtic but you’ve no chance here.  Warrington are setting themselves up nicely for the visit of Saints next week.  No need for anyone to guess what next week’s game of the round will be.  Warrington by 18.

Hull (9th)  v Leeds (2nd)
Here’s another one of our premier fixtures given the gift of being prime time Saturday tea time entertainment.  Sadly, the prestige of this one  now matters less to us than it does to Hull fans.  Hull’s dislike of Leeds has always proven pretty funny to me.  It used to fuel the terraces into a frenzy of cannibalistic turmoil.  Now it’s still there, just hidden beneath a swathe of knowing such energy can’t translate itself onto the field any more.  Agar continues to keep things ticking over, knocking off an expected victory here and there without giving the fans anything to be hopeful about.  You don’t need another lecture about coaching credentials, wrong appointments, not setting new high standards or anything similar.  We know where we are with Hull and that’s on the end of a flogging at the hands of Leeds usually.  Leeds by 12.

Bradford (12th)  v Castleford (10th)
Good effort from the Bulls last week.  Nay, great effort in what sounded like a terrific game.  Similarly the Tigers came up short in another five star thriller.  Whatever connection the Bulls have to the play-offs this year it is a loose one.  Realistically there are too many teams in contention with better records although I expect the Bulls to haul themselves closer to Castleford by the end of the weekend.  Bulls by 10.

******GAME OF THE ROUND******

Huddersfield (4th)  v Wakefield (6th)
Wakefield just won’t fall off the pace will they?  Despite not really hitting the kind of form that has others taking notice, John Kear’s men have dragged Harlequins RL back and with a win here would bring Nathan Brown’s men level too.  Great stuff if you ask me.  Nathan Brown identified the tactical aspect of Wakefield’s play as a strength with the kicking games of Drew and more notably Brough, able to dictate the pace and position of the game.  Wakefield have had an easier June than Huddersfield thanks to a week off which has seen them re-group with a fully fit squad, crucial at this time of year.  The Giants have had a mixed month, losing at Leeds and at home to Castleford so I can’t see a clear winner in this one.  I fancy the freshness of Kear’s men might be enough to spring a surprise, making this the one to watch this weekend.  Huddersfield by 2.

Last week’s predictions;

Leeds by 24 (won by 13)
Salford by 1 (lost by 24)
Saints by 24 (won by 30)
Castleford by 4 (lost by 2)
Rovers by 8 (lost by 8 )
Warrington by 12 (won by 12)
Wakefield by 2 (won by 2)

Couple of exact calls make it 69-53.