Round 19 Previews

June 27, 2008 at 12:49 pm | Posted in Rugby League, Sport, Super League | Leave a comment
Tags: bradford bulls, castleford tigers, catalans dragons, harlequins RL, huddersfield giants, hull fc, hull kr, leeds rhinos, round one, Rugby League, saints, Sport, st helens, Super League, wakefield trinity wildcats, warrington wolves, wigoon warriors

Two terrific games on SKY last week, giving the viewing public as much entertainment as they can rightfully expect.  Of course such brilliant games get tarnished with bitter, biased match reports but even they couldn’t spoil what felt like a special RL weekend with the memories of David Topliss at the forefront.  Topliss was a player whose best years were really before my time, however that didn’t stop the tribute that SKY did before the Hull KR-Wakefield game being a very moving piece of television. 

Talking about television and I was relegated to watching the Leeds-Saints game on a small screen, in a pub, in Gretna last Friday and managed to watch the entire game without football interruptions (that was on the big screen).  Nothing exciting in that I know, except me watching the RL prompted a guy to come over and chat (these arseless leather chaps are hot man).  This guy was from Middlesbrough but was a Hull KR fan and we had a good discussion about the game and I’m sure that everyone finds it fascinating that you can go somewhere completely different and have a great reaction with any committed RL fan.  If you ever end up somewhere off the beaten track and see somebody watching RL or with a RL shirt on you have to go over and say something.  I know it gets tiring talking about RL as if it’s the world’s greatest secret sport (which it is!) but that friendliness knows no bounds and because of the nature of our sport it generates that kind of loyalty, trust and respect between fans. 

Onto this week’s previews…

Warriors v Harlequins RL (+10)
There was plenty of RL logic applied in predicting Harlequins RL loss to the Giants last week, the trouble is that RL logic, like most sports, encompasses the importance of the mental location of teams and I think that sometimes people overlook that.  This game throws up a very interesting battle of wills with both teams likely to be coming from a negative position from where they’ll be looking to build themselves a platform for the playoffs.  Thanks to equalling disappointing runs of results for the two teams above them, Harlequins RL are still in there hanging in the hunt for sixth and with Saints visiting The Stoop next week they’ll be happy taking something out of either of these next two fixtures.  Next week might just present a better opportunity for Harlequins RL because the Warriors will be exceptionally keen to get their forthcoming JJB residence off to a flyer, the momentum possible from the home stretch of games can push them beyond their current position.  That incentive courted with Harlequins RL being in a bit of a rut on the road is usually all the RL logic that you need to suggest a home win.  I expect Harlequins RL to give a more honest performance this week against a pack that can be brushed aside but the return of Hock should be enough for the Warriors particularly because Paleaaesina usually turns up against the little boys of London.  Warriors by 10.

Leeds v Castleford (+14)
When I saw that the time and date of this fixture I was concerned that it was going to be the Saturday night SKY game.  Who wants to watch a big guy beat up on the little guy?  Nobody really so it makes you wonder if there’s any coincidence that this game was placed in this round because it was always likely that Leeds would have several players backing up from the night before.  Does anybody read that much into games?  Even if they did I’m sure you’d have the kind of fringe lunatic, that inhabits every set of fans, coming up and saying that this isn’t a mismatch because we’ve already beaten them at home.  Here’s the thing.  Shock results can happen, but when you start basing your entire belief system on that sort of outcome you are Talking Heads.  Orville bemoaned his side’s inability to convert chances last week against the Warriors and had they, the Tigers would have had another impressive win to go alongside several spectacular scalps and disappointing defeats.  This weekend’s game is different though with strong possibilities that the champions will not be letting their international players backup from the day before.  Even if they do there’s still question marks about how competitive the Rhinos will be.  Apply your RL logic now.  Leeds by 4.

Bradford v Hull KR (+8 )
Texas hold ‘em put paid to Rovers last week as they folded on the turn when in control and now they face a difficult task in getting back into the playoff picture.  It’s one thing losing, it’s another losing to a side that you believe to be of similar ability to yourself that’s ahead in the table.  I don’t think I’m underestimating the importance of that result to Rovers and defeat this weekend will put them five points behind sixth spot.  Meanwhile, the Bulls returned to winning ways against Hull and the margin of victory is enough for you to side with the home side again and a couple of weeks ago I pointed out that their fixtures would assist them in keeping touch with the teams above.  This game is very winnable for the Bulls and I believe that they’re strong enough at home to get a grip on this game with the way that Rovers just haven’t kicked on in the second part of the year, not that Webster’s absence has anything to do with that either.  Bulls by 8.

Hull v Warrington (Scr)
Battle of the former assistants and a match that means a lot more to the visitor’s prospects than it does the hosts.  That doesn’t really make much difference to how determined either side will be, with both sets of players having something to prove, no matter how different they are.  For Hull it’s places up for grabs next year and a willingness to demonstrate that this coach and side are worthy of discussion when it comes to trophy contenders in Super League XIV.  The Wire troops on the other hand are still in with a shout of a decent playoff position and when they’re in that mix anything can happen, unless they get an away trip to Saints.  The similarities continue by looking back at last week’s games when I imagine both sets of fans might have had a sneaking feeling that their side could cause an upset and I wouldn’t decry them for that (I even tipped Warrington).  Unfortunately harsh reality entered the fray and focus shifts towards this interesting game.  If there were any growing positive attitudes towards Lowes, defeat in Perpignan will have pushed several floaters into my pragmatic approach to Wire’s coaching appointment, which is a good thing for the club and can only serve to highlight the uncertainty that Agar’s appointment has.  Whatever your position on the coaching appointment situation at either club, Agar is talking tough, defending his side and has the fish wives providing the vocal support so although I look at those line ups and see Warrington’s attacking prowess, the KC is usually the kind of place where you’re more likely to get Numberwanged than be part of it.  Hull by 4.

St Helens v Huddersfield (+14)
Like Leeds, Saints have several players expected to play a part in Friday’s international which could make this Sunday tussle more interesting that it should be.  Huddersfield appear to have rediscovered their feel for the game which is attributable to the departure of Jon Sharp and subsequent ‘new coach’ factor.  Can they take advantage of the strain Friday’s international could put on Saints?  I would imagine that the Giants temporary coaching team will be plainly aware of that and will use it as a motivation tool at a time when confidence is on the rise.  Any advantage gained from last week’s tremendous victory over the champions can quickly disappear down the drain if Saints slip up here and there is certainly scope to do that.  You’d probably have to go back to the days of Harold Wagstaff, or as far back as when the Giants last had a five figure attendance, to when the Giants last won at Knowsley Road so this threatens to be a tight game.  As Daniel Anderson is reported to only be deciding on the morning of the game on who will be playing for Saints this is a tricky one and like the Leeds-Cas game even if the internationals are selected the exertions from tonight are likely to distort this match-up from what it would normally be.  Saints by 2.

Wakefield v Catalans Dragons
Game of the round presents a chance for the Wildcats to stake a serious claim to a playoff spot.  Is it a feasible win given Catalans consistency this year?  Well one of the pundits stated last week that people haven’t been sure about what to make of the Dragons and last week’s walloping of Wire pushed their credentials into the serious contenders sect.  As impressive as that scoreline was, the way in which the Wildcats chased the game and won was symptomatic of a team that is playing with confidence and a belief that has eluded more star-studded sides.  I think that Kear knows that if his side is in a similar situation on Tuesday they’re unlikely to be able to produce that sort of comeback against the Dragons.  At Belle Vue only Leeds find it easy to come here and claim victory amongst the heckles and with a few of the French players backing up from tonight this could be a great win for Wakefield.  I say great win because if they do it’ll be nose bleed time for their fans who haven’t been as high since their old 70s glue heydays.  Despite a win pushing the Wildcats closer to Catalans it’s unlikely to give them more breathing space from those behind.  Does that make any difference?  It could take a bit of pressure off, knowing that victory doesn’t cement their position, and it could add some which is why you consider the internal strengths of the two sides.  Catalans have grown into a confident side, whereas I think that Wakefield are still growing into that and it’ll be a focus on a fascinating tussle between the winning professionalism of the Catalans Australian contingent and this new found Rhubarb Triangle Zen mysticism that John Kear has built into his team.  Wildcats by 2.

Last week’s predictions.

Leeds by 8 (lost by 14)
Wolves by 4 (lost by Numberwang)
Rovers by 8 (lost by 8 )
Bulls by 6 (won by 14)
Warriors by 10 (draw)
Giants by 2 (won by 10)

Ouch!  Tough week last week thanks to a couple of great away performances and a disappointing one making the overall total 67-42 (62%).