HERE are five things we learned from round 10 of the 2016 Super League season.
1. A LANDSLIDE 62-0 is the type of score often used as evidence that Super League isn’t competitive. But Wakefield’s thrashing of Wigan proved just the opposite, as the team in ninth put the side chasing top spot to the sword. Sure, Wigan were without 10 frontline stars but coach Shaun Wane refused to seek excuses… though he admitted he “wasn’t stressed” about his heaviest ever defeat. But credit Wakefield, who had energy and enterprise in equal measure to claim their fourth straight win under Chris Chester. Jacob Miller poached a hat-trick.
2. WARRINGTON took advantage of a rarely-used rule – by turning down the chance to convert a try. Trailing 25-18 against St Helens, Tom Lineham crossed to cut the margin to three points. But Kurt Gidley – who had an off-day with the boot – took instructions from coaches not to kick the goal, giving the Wolves more time to – unsuccessfully – go for a match-winning try. It was a morale-boosting win for Saints, who were without several first-graders and had French halfback Theo Fages in impressive form.
3. WILLIE Mason marked his first return to Hull KR with a try as Catalans stormed to their fifth straight win. Mason, 35, controversially split from the Robins five years ago. His try helped the Dragons to a 40-0 thumping at Hull KR, their third win in England this year – more than they managed last year.
4. FIT-AGAIN Robert Lui was the star of the show as Salford condemned Leeds to an eighth league defeat of the year. He scored a try in the 14-10 win but the scoreline is deceptive – Leeds didn’t score their first points until Keith Galloway crossed in the 73rd minute. “I don’t think anyone is going home racked with self-doubt,” insisted coach Brian McDermott.
5. HULL FC have transformed their fortunes to shape as genuine top-four contenders. Since coach Lee Radford was excluded from a team talk after a 40-point drubbing at Widnes last month, they have gone on a five-game winning streak culminating in last weekend’s 37-20 victory over bottom-placed Huddersfield. “You’ve not seen the best of us,” said Radford, who recruited ex-NRL stars Frank Pritchard and Sika Manu in the off-season.
Super League round 10 results:
Wakefield 62 (J.Miller 3, N.Scruton 2, D.Kirmond 2, T.Johnstone, L.Finn, B.Jones-Bishop, M.Jowitt tries; L.Finn 9 goals) beat Wigan 0.
Castleford 34 (D.Solomona 3, R.Boyle, L.Gale, P.McShame tries; L.Gale 5 goals) beat Widnes 24 (P.Ah Van, M.Leuluai, C.Thompson, L.White tries; C.Bridge 4 goals).
Salford 14 (L.Tomkins, R.Lui tries; M.Dobson 2, G.O’Brien goals) beat Leeds 10 (K.Galloway, A.Golding tries; Z.Hardaker goal).
Hull FC 37 (J.Shaul 2, J.Bowden, L.Watts, D.Houghton, C.Naughton tries; M.Sneyd 6 goals, fieldgoal) beat Huddersfield 20 (J.Wardle, A.Murphy, D.Brough, J.McGillvary tries; D.Brough 2 goals).
St Helens 25 (K.Amor, J.Ashworth, M.Dawson, M.Knowles tries; L.Walsh 4 goals, fieldgoal) beat Warrington 22 (K.Penny 2, R.Atkins, B.Currie, T.Lineham tries; B.Westwood goal).
Catalans 40 (J.Broughton 2, V.Duport, K.Inu, G.Mounis, R.Myler, W.Mason tries; P.Richards 6 goals) beat Hull KR 0.
Standings after round 10: Warrington 16, Catalans 14, Hull FC 14, Wigan 14, Widnes 12, St Helens 12, Castleford 11, Salford 10, Wakefield 10, Hull KR 5, Leeds 4, Huddersfield 2.
(Widnes, Salford, Wakefield and Hull KR have played 11).
1. A LANDSLIDE 62-0 is the type of score often used as evidence that Super League isn’t competitive. But Wakefield’s thrashing of Wigan proved just the opposite, as the team in ninth put the side chasing top spot to the sword. Sure, Wigan were without 10 frontline stars but coach Shaun Wane refused to seek excuses… though he admitted he “wasn’t stressed” about his heaviest ever defeat. But credit Wakefield, who had energy and enterprise in equal measure to claim their fourth straight win under Chris Chester. Jacob Miller poached a hat-trick.
2. WARRINGTON took advantage of a rarely-used rule – by turning down the chance to convert a try. Trailing 25-18 against St Helens, Tom Lineham crossed to cut the margin to three points. But Kurt Gidley – who had an off-day with the boot – took instructions from coaches not to kick the goal, giving the Wolves more time to – unsuccessfully – go for a match-winning try. It was a morale-boosting win for Saints, who were without several first-graders and had French halfback Theo Fages in impressive form.
3. WILLIE Mason marked his first return to Hull KR with a try as Catalans stormed to their fifth straight win. Mason, 35, controversially split from the Robins five years ago. His try helped the Dragons to a 40-0 thumping at Hull KR, their third win in England this year – more than they managed last year.
4. FIT-AGAIN Robert Lui was the star of the show as Salford condemned Leeds to an eighth league defeat of the year. He scored a try in the 14-10 win but the scoreline is deceptive – Leeds didn’t score their first points until Keith Galloway crossed in the 73rd minute. “I don’t think anyone is going home racked with self-doubt,” insisted coach Brian McDermott.
5. HULL FC have transformed their fortunes to shape as genuine top-four contenders. Since coach Lee Radford was excluded from a team talk after a 40-point drubbing at Widnes last month, they have gone on a five-game winning streak culminating in last weekend’s 37-20 victory over bottom-placed Huddersfield. “You’ve not seen the best of us,” said Radford, who recruited ex-NRL stars Frank Pritchard and Sika Manu in the off-season.
Super League round 10 results:
Wakefield 62 (J.Miller 3, N.Scruton 2, D.Kirmond 2, T.Johnstone, L.Finn, B.Jones-Bishop, M.Jowitt tries; L.Finn 9 goals) beat Wigan 0.
Castleford 34 (D.Solomona 3, R.Boyle, L.Gale, P.McShame tries; L.Gale 5 goals) beat Widnes 24 (P.Ah Van, M.Leuluai, C.Thompson, L.White tries; C.Bridge 4 goals).
Salford 14 (L.Tomkins, R.Lui tries; M.Dobson 2, G.O’Brien goals) beat Leeds 10 (K.Galloway, A.Golding tries; Z.Hardaker goal).
Hull FC 37 (J.Shaul 2, J.Bowden, L.Watts, D.Houghton, C.Naughton tries; M.Sneyd 6 goals, fieldgoal) beat Huddersfield 20 (J.Wardle, A.Murphy, D.Brough, J.McGillvary tries; D.Brough 2 goals).
St Helens 25 (K.Amor, J.Ashworth, M.Dawson, M.Knowles tries; L.Walsh 4 goals, fieldgoal) beat Warrington 22 (K.Penny 2, R.Atkins, B.Currie, T.Lineham tries; B.Westwood goal).
Catalans 40 (J.Broughton 2, V.Duport, K.Inu, G.Mounis, R.Myler, W.Mason tries; P.Richards 6 goals) beat Hull KR 0.
Standings after round 10: Warrington 16, Catalans 14, Hull FC 14, Wigan 14, Widnes 12, St Helens 12, Castleford 11, Salford 10, Wakefield 10, Hull KR 5, Leeds 4, Huddersfield 2.
(Widnes, Salford, Wakefield and Hull KR have played 11).
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