Super League: Round 1 - 13/14/15th Feb

[Vambo]

Friday 13th February 09

Hull FC v Wigan Warriors
Leeds Rhinos v Wakefield Wildcats
St. Helens v Warrington Wolves (SKY SPORTS)

Saturday 14th February 09

Salford City Reds v Celtic Crusaders (SKY SPORTS)
Catalans Dragons v Huddersfield Giants

Sunday 15th February 09

Bradford Bulls v Hull Kingston Rovers
Castleford Tigers v Harlequins RL


So... here we go. Round 1. Let war commence!

I'm gonna go for 7 home wins.

The Stains v Wire game should be the game of the round and a win for Wire would be massive and finally announce them as serious contenders for honours but will they ever get their Stains hoodoo off theirs backs?
Another Wigan loss is probably on the cards which would pile more pressure on Nobby who really needs to achieve something this year.
The Dragons *should* be far too strong for the Giants and Leeds will be looking for a better performance this week against a very hard fighting Trinity side who will be looking for another scalp.
Hull KR could turn Bradford over but I still think the Bulls will get off to a winning start.
Quins need a very, very good season on the field because all is not rosy off it. The Jungle may be too wild for them on Sunday though.

 

[Vambo]

HT Scores:
Hull 6 - 6 Wigan
Leeds 12 - 2 Wakefield
Stains 0 - 8 Warrington

 

[Vambo]

FT Scores

Leeds 18 - 4 Wakefield
Stains 26 - 14 Warrington
Hull 18 - 10 Wigan

 

[St Helens RLFC]

Great game, we're irresistable when we do that.

 

[QLD]

anyone got a site which shows highlights of the games?

 

[Vambo]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (St Helens RLFC @ Feb 13 2009, 11:12 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div>

Great game, we're irresistable when we do that.[/b]

Even at 14 - 0 down I knew you'd still win it. No surprise though which flank most of your tries came. Gidley is a fantastic player.

 

[Vambo]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Dale @ Feb 14 2009, 09:24 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div>

anyone got a site which shows highlights of the games?[/b]

Try here:

Super League TV

You'll probably have to wait a few days after the round though.

 

[St Helens RLFC]

Dale, speak to O'Rothlain. He seems to see all the highlights.

Vambo - I actually feared for us this time at 14-0. The referee seemed determined to keep Warrington on our try line with a series of ridiculous decisions. Not giving a penalty for a grapple tackle on Tom Anderson, then awarding the knock on before not checking for Higham's poential knock on for their first try, then in the second half giving a knock on against Fa'asavalu when the ball was clearly stripped and then giving a drop out against Wellens when he was clealy in play... very poor from a very poor referee.

We hadn't done anything with the ball in hand either and I was worried we weren't going to score let alone win. Then it all clicked when Gilmour scored from the base of the scrum. That really dented their confidence and we visibly lifted. Pryce started attacking their line, which is when he's at his best and we just kept attacking their left wing, aka Kevin Penny. Once we got it back to 14-8 I started to believe and Kevin Penny came up trumps twice more.

But what's going on with Wigan?

 

[Vambo]

Wellens grounded the ball on the line and then had his usual, predictable and petulant rant whenever a ref awards a decision against him.

I was suprised that Higham's try wasn't passed on to the video ref but I wasn't complaining Mind you... Briers should never have been pulled back for a knock on because he was committed to the tackle and wasn't playing at the ball.

Nice to see that King & Penny have continued where they left off last season :lol:

Young Anderson looks a good prospect. You might get lucky and Meli might not get into the country.

As for Wigan... not good enough. Simple as that. Hopefully they'll turn things around but I won't be holding my breath if recent seasons are anything to go by.

 

[St Helens RLFC]

How long has the coach got in light of the recent rumours?

 

[Vambo]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (St Helens RLFC @ Feb 14 2009, 03:05 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div>

How long has the coach got in light of the recent rumours?[/b]

Who knows. This is the last season of his current contract and even if he sees it out I think someone else will be in charge next year.

 

[Vambo]

Suprise result in France!
Dragons 8 - 30 Huddersfield

 

[St Helens RLFC]

I think it might take the Dragons a few months to settle down under the new coach.

 

[Vambo]

Good early try for Salford.

 

[Vambo]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (St Helens RLFC @ Feb 14 2009, 07:36 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div>

I think it might take the Dragons a few months to settle down under the new coach.[/b]

Same could be said for the Giants. Good start for them.

 

[St Helens RLFC]

Nathan Brown is experienced though.

Crusaders already 18-0 down and we've not had ten minutes yet. Disgraceful. And their chief executive has supposedly resigned today as well. All not well at the Crusaders at all.

 

[Vambo]

They've stemmed the flow though. They need to start games better otherwise they'll find themselves struggling week after week.

 

[St Helens RLFC]

Finished up 28-16 to Salford. What a shame Crusaders started off so badly, they were 18-0 down in the blink of an eye. Once they get on the front foot they look quite dangerous but there's no point looking dangerous from 20-0 down. If they get good starts going then they'll shock a few teams but if they don't they're going to get served week after week. Give Leeds or Saints a 20 point start when the season is well under way and the 96-12 Super League record will be under threat.

They have their first home game (finally) next week against Hull FC, who I don't rate too highly in spite of them beating Wigan last night. A good start with the crowd behind them could give them a good shot at winning. But the start today was really, really poor. They can and will do better I'm sure.

 

[Vambo]

Bradford 13 - 13 Hull KR

Drop goal from Deacon on 78 minutes cancelled out by Dobson drop goal on 79 mins!

 

[Vambo]

Castleford 8 - 12 Harlequins

Well done Quins.