Rugby League

[RavenBish]

Valiant effort from Wigan under-21s

 

[Camborne Gills]

Challenge cup weekend. Come on Cas

 

[Super_horns]

Very easy for Cas...

 

[Camborne Gills]

...........and again today. Now 6 points clear.

 

[Aberstone]

Maroons take Origin back to Brisbane for a decider in Game 3 then. Fantastic comeback in the 2nd half to nick it at the death.

 

[Super_horns]

Leeds seem to have had a resurgence this season.

Now it's Wigan having a tough time.

 

[RavenBish]

Yeah kinda expected Wigan to soar back up the table once everyone came back but it's not been the case - hopefully it's just a case of shaking off the rust and they can still challenge for 4th but looks unlikely. Could do with a Challenge Cup final at least.

Great to see the likes of Salford and Wakefield (without Johnstone!) challenging for top 4 though - Huddersfield look a good side now too even with Mamo sidelined.

 

[RavenBish]

Pathetic decision from Thaler in this game. The state of officiating in this league is embarrassing.

 

[Super_horns]

Wigan v Hull FC final then - as you say the former will be wanting to gain something from a disappointing league season.

 

[RavenBish]

Well that was disappointing. I think Webster was the only Cas player that didn't have a shocker.

 

[Camborne Gills]

Bottled it.

 

[Super_horns]

Doesn't help when one of your top players gets himself banned from the final.

Must have caused a lot of disruption in terms of tactics and style of play?

 

[RavenBish]

Hitchcox got done on a high ball that Eden would have probably done better with and Eden didn't have a great game defensively at full back so maybe. Forwards got thoroughly out-worked though - Millington and McMeeken were ineffective and Moors and Milner made too many handling errors, none of that was down to Hardaker's absence.

The ultimate 'what-if' but I thought turning down 2 on a couple of occasions very early on was very naive and something that a more seasoned side like Leeds would have never done in a Grand Final in tricky conditions.

 

[KevinMcallister]

that's the last we see of Castleford, most their players will be elsewhere next season where teams like Leeds will be still ok

8 superleagues out of 10 grand finals, when you've got it you've got it

 

[RavenBish]

Cas pretty much have everyone under contract for at least next season so should be fine for another go - don't think they'll have the resources to go for someone like Walmsley though as rumoured so it'll be a similar group (+/- Hardaker).

Leeds are an interesting one - always there but Dwyer and Myler replacing legends like McGuire and Burrow is a bit underwhelming (loads of young talent but not much leadership). Very early movers are Warrington - nicked Goodwin off Leigh and are set to buy Murdoch-Masila and get Tyrone Roberts in as a marquee player.

 

[Abertawe]

Wasn't great to see Castleford choke to the extent they did. The game was pretty crap really.

 

[RavenBish]

That England squad is stinking. Only 2 wingers and one, Hall, shouldn't be anywhere near the squad. Ratchford (a good player granted) ahead of Shaul and Tomkins. Bateman and Currie used as centres - Chris Hall and Kevin Brown somehow being included. Downright bizarre, Wayne Bennett is the worst. Dinosaur.

 

[Abertawe]

No Sam Tomkins is just absurd.

 

[Super_horns]

Rugby league World Cup starts tomorrow.

Can England beat the Aussies and will the improved Tonga/Samoa provide a shock with their influx of rejected Kiwis/Aussies?

 

[RavenBish]

No and No unfortunately. Tonga are strong in the forwards but hookers, half backs and stand offs run games and they've got very little on paper there.

England are seemingly going to try and batter the Aussies into submission - would have preferred Burgess at loose forward, Currie at second row, Percival in with Bateman on the bench for Heighington but there we go. Looking forward to it anyway, shame BBC/Sky/BT didn't get TV rights for the whole thing as there's plenty of intrigue with the smaller teams (Tedesco for Italy, Samoa/Tonga, home nation underdogs, Papua New Guinea on home soil for their national sport)

 

[Super_horns]

Narrow defeat (ish) and losing a key player in Sam Burgess.

Not a great game !

 

[RavenBish]

Thought we did pretty well - there were a couple of moments at 10-4 which showed we were just lacking a bit of spark to force one over the line (or maybe even a Hardaker or Percival?).

Watched the highlights of PNG v Wales. Crikey me that Wales tackling is an absolute disgrace.

 

[RavenBish]

Forwards are far too slow off the line and not making any breaks either. Chris Hill looks in terrible shape. Bateman has been good but he's not a centre - get Percival in and use Bateman in the back row

 

[Super_horns]

Tonga beaten the Kiwis having been well done at half time.

Shows their strength I guess.

Scotland gained a drawn after being hammered in their 2 previous games.

 

[RavenBish]

Good stuff from Tonga - certainly an advert for Tier 1/Tier 2 eligibility rules (not that I think I endorse it for Union yet).

Sets in stone the rest of the tournament as well - England/Tonga & NZ/Australia Semis. Nice. (Unless NZ get a massive shock from Fiji of course)

 

[RavenBish]

Shite again after the first 20 minutes. Stefan Ratchford on the wing in an international tournament whilst Greg Eden is probably sat in Ibiza or something - bizarre situation to only take 2 wingers when you know there will be some rotation against Lebanon & France.

Few positives were Widdop, McGillvary and Walmsley. Bennett needs to have a serious re-think of the composition of his backs because at the moment, we'll get run off the park by Tonga in the semis, you can't have a second rower in Bateman trying to compete on the edge with someone like Mahe Fonua.

 

[Super_horns]

New Zealand beaten by Fiji!

Tonga given a really tough game against Lebanon.



England to beat PNG easily or expect another close one?​

 

[RavenBish]

We struggled against Lebanon but that results suggests they're no mugs. We should beat PNG comfortably, they're a power side which is what we are set up to deal with well - who knows though - this might be one of those tournaments.

Fully expect an anti climax next week however where the Aussies put up 40 against that heroic Fijian defence.

 

[RavenBish]

Yeah, Tonga and England have no chance against this Australia side.

 

[RavenBish]

That was fun