XIII Oceans

I take a week off when it’s Challenge Cup weekend and whilst I was eagerly anticipating last week’s historic final it sadly lived up to my expectations.  The result was a side issue for me.  Two teams who could win a big trophy for the first time in decades has monumental written all over it.  It was though a bitty affair, brought to life in the early stages by characteristic mistakes which created a false feeling of top class entertainment.  It was definitely an exciting start.  It was also a first half in which neither team was able to generate a good rhythm with the ball in hand and it wasn’t until the second half that the game really felt like a Super League game.  Up until the interval it felt very much like a typically scrappy cup game where neither team wanted to win.  The first twenty minutes or so of the second half were more like it.  It finally felt like a Super League game.

So it wasn’t a cup final for the ages and it won’t be one that people outside of the participants’ towns will be remembering twenty years later.  It was though a brilliant sampling of Tony Smith’s coaching ability as his Warrington side dominated the Giants with a defensive display as strong as their opponents was in the semi-final.  Smith’s side took some chances in shifting the ball wide and the selection of youngster McCarthy was indicative of Smith’s desire to present a mobile and fast moving defensive line.  It worked exceptionally well.  Right from the off Huddersfield had no way of penetrating the Wire line and didn’t look like they would make much yardage up the middle no matter how long the game went on.  Invincible is a strong word and we would be being overly dramatic if we used that word to describe the defence of the Giants after the semi-final.  Overly dramatic possibly.  Not without some substance though.  It was a deceptively intelligent coaching performance which superseded Brown’s victory over Saints.  Despite whatever reservations or disappointments you may have about what happened it was truly a pleasure to see a different set of fans experience the joys of winning a meaningful trophy.  Moments like Saturday’s mean nothing without having first tasted the barren years and Wire fans have had decades of those.

Leeds (1st) v St Helens (2nd)
For many this would appear to be one of the season’s critical fixtures, however there is little to be gained from pushing too hard on Friday.  Victory for either team should see them finish the regular season as minor premiers.  What does defeat bring for the other?  Not much difference in terms of play-off difficulty.  The pressure of being minor premiers has laid heavy on the heads of the visitors who have succumbed to the champions in the last two Grand Finals.  Leeds, I think, would relish the opportunity to convert a minor premiership to a Grand Final win and given the way their season has unfolded, finishing top and winning at Old Trafford would be some achievement.  Neither side has managed to establish an over bearing consistency with mishaps and convincing defeats along the way.  SKY’s game of the round merely presents both teams with the chance to establish some sort of psychological superiority going into the play-offs.  Leeds and Saints aren’t into psychological superiority when it comes to facing each other.  Other teams may already be onto the road to defeat before they’ve taken the field against these sets of highly-powered athletes.  When Leeds play Saints you can never be sure of what the outcome will be unless form is so heavily weighted in favour of one of the sides and even then we’ve seen surprises in recent seasons.  Think Grand Finals and Challenge Cup match-ups.  There is little psychological advantage at this stage because Old Trafford is all that matters to these two.  Standing in their way are expected to be Hull KR and Huddersfield.  Finish top and you will be rewarded by inviting one of those two new kids into your backyard.  It is no longer the reward that it used to be.  Leeds by 8.

Wigan (5th) v Hull (12th)
So Wigan made it.  Congratulations to the most maligned coach in Super League.  Brian Noble is there and whenever a Noble side is sniffing around silverware there’s always a chance, unless it’s at international level or not against Leeds or Wigan.  The home fans can switch off for a couple of games and enjoy the free-flowing and thrilling style in which they’ve been treated to this year.  They should all be on their knees from this day forward praying they get a shot at Leeds.  Wigan by 12.

Catalans (7th) v Wakefield (6th)
Saturday night’s SKY game is my second pick of the round’s games.  Wakefield will be partaking in knockout footy and remain in the hunt for a very creditable fifth place.  With Wigan hosting Hull that hunt is more than a stretch which shifts the concentration levels in favour of the home side.  We all know that Wakefield are a mystery team and unreliable when it comes to predicting.  The same is true of Catalans.  Is it enough by saying it means more to Catalans than Wakefield?  I think it is.  Should be a cracker.  Catalans by 2.

Celtic (14th) v Huddersfield (4th)
I thought pick your game was only in operation in the play-offs.  Surely the Giants must have fixed this one for themselves.  Play a cup final and then take a trip to South Wales, ideal isn’t it?  Not so sure.  Who wants to be making two such long trips in the space of a week?  Huddersfield fans don’t even like taking long trips down the M62.  Holiday in the valleys or a disaster waiting to happen?  If visas weren’t an issue then it might just have been the latter.  Huddersfield by 4.

Hull KR (3rd) v Warrington (9th)
As professional as Tony Smith is and as professional he makes his sides I cannot foresee the Wolves being drilled into the ground for this game after winning the cup.  We all know the story of what happens in the weeks leading up to and the week after the final, it’s preparation then party.  With the two teams above them facing difficult games which could leave them hanging on their final games to quality for the post-season, Wire could conceivably enjoy their cobweb-soaked champagne week and still be in with a shout of making the grade next week.  Can they take that chance?  If you were in the boss’ chair at Wire what would you do?  You’d be silly to force the play this week.  Let them enjoy their week and if there’s a sniff of a chance next week, go for it.  Whatever happens the season has been a success and anything else is now a bonus.  Besides, what harm does a few extra weeks rest do in preparation for the four nations and next season?  It’s a win-win for Cyrano.  Hull KR by 12.

Bradford (11th) v Salford (13th)
Mathematically it is possible.  Theoretically it is possible.  Realistically it is possible and it will happen.  So have been going Steve McNamara’s regular pre-match talks for the past two months.  We all knew the Bulls would storm along towards the end of the year when there was no pressure on them.  It’s motivational coaching of the highest order.  I wish Chris Caisley could see them now.  Bradford by 6.

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

Harlequins RL (10th)v Castleford (8th)
Sudden death it is.  A promising season is on the verge of lying in tatters for Brian McDermott’s men.  A run of just one win in ten rounds has seen Harlequins RL dive out of the play-off picture.  I’m sure they were third at one point as well.  What has gone wrong?  Injuries.  It’s one thing a team blooding youngsters during confident times and occasionally McDermott has managed to inspire brilliant performances.  Sadly, you can’t live on that.  A team like Harlequins RL needs to stay clear of squad testing absences because the depth isn’t there yet.  It might not be enough for them to win here unless they rack up a good score.  With Castleford travelling to Warrington in the final round a win for either of those clubs may still be enough for one of them to go through.  The spivs need favours.  They have to hope that Wakefield and Hull KR rattle up some big numbers and even then it’ll mean nothing without two points from this game.  Sudden death football is great.  Castleford by 2.

Last round predictions;

Hull by 2 (won by 20)
Hull KR by 8 (won by 4)
Saints by 6 (won by 2)
Warrington by 2 (lost by 12)
Leeds by 54 (won by 68)
Bradford by 6 (won by 24)
Wigan by 1 (won by 3)

A wild gamble on Warrington left the week’s predictions at 6-1.  96-68 overall.