English Super League ESL finals

[moto748]

1 v 4 - Warrington Wovles v Huddersfield Giants, Friday 16th, 20.00h
6 v 7 - Catalan Dragons v Hull Kingston Rovers, Saturday 17th, 19.45h
2 v 3 - wigan Warriors v St. Helens, Sunday 18th, 14.45h
5 v 8 - Leeds Rhinos v Hull FC, Sunday 18th, 17.15h

All times BST, obviously.

The BBC are generously showing a hour of highlights on Sunday afternoon, so won't include the Leeds game, and may not include Wigan either).

Having said that, I don't remember them doing that in past seasons (although i could be wrong), and, as they say in Yorkshire, "Owt's better than nowt".

I may try to get to the Grand Final this year. It's held at Old Trafford, which is a fantastic stadium, but Manchester is a long drive back on a Saturday night (unless you stop over).

 

[storm fan]

The closest Super League season I can think of at the moment. The only two teams that don't have a chance in my opinion are Hull FC and Hull KR.

 

[moto748]

I'd rate Hull FC over Hull KR and the Catalans. They have come into a strong vein of form lately. Obviously, being 8th, they'd have it all to do, but still... I wouldn't be surprised if they beat Leeds.

Warrington will blow Huddersfield out of the water. I think that's the only banker of the four games.

 

[moto748]

Warrington will blow Huddersfield out of the water. I think that's the only banker of the four games.

Forgot about this; turned on at half-time and it was 25-0 to Warrington. Now it's 41-0 with twenty minutes to go.

 

[moto748]

47-0! And Warrington were defending their line in the dying seconds as if their lives depended on it.

 

[storm fan]

That was unexpected.

 

[moto748]

Not by me. I don't know what the bookies reckoned, but I imagine Warrington were strong favourites.

Huddersfield have a poor second half to the season, like Castleford (who didn't even make the 8, after topping the league early on). Warrington play some awesome stuff.

 

[moto748]

Huddersfield still get a home tie next, though. And Warrington get a week off. And after that, they can choose their opponent, IIRC.

 

[storm fan]

Catalans defeated Hull KR by a smashing.

So much for the closest comp is year.

 

[moto748]

Well in fact Hull KR won in Perpingnan only a few weeks ago. Unfortunately they couldn't do it last weekend when it really mattered.

I've remarked before here about the phenomenon that is Steve Menzies. I can only imagine how good he must have been in his prime, and he produced another terrific performance here, scoring two tries. Remember that Marianne Faithfull song?

"At the age of thirty-seven..."

Apparently he is far and away the leading try-scoring forward in ESL this season. That quite an achievement for anybody.

Cracking game at Wigan between the Warriors and Saints, with Saints coming out on top; a result they really needed, and they obviously threw everything into it.

In the other game, which I haven't seen, Leeds beat Hull FC comfortably to set up a semi-final with Huddersfield. So I reckon Leeds have a foot on the Grand Final pitch already.

 

[moto748]

So in the end, there's no surprises at all, and it's Wigan, Saints, Leeds, and Warrington who are the last four, Wigan having comfortably disposed of the Catalan Dragons this afternoon.

Warrington get the 'club call' and can choose their opponents. And, unsurprisingly, they chose Leeds. So Wigan will take on Saints in the other semi.

 

[storm fan]

Very disappointing.

 

[moto748]

Well, I don't know about disappointing: the top teams go through. Surely that's how it should be?

 

[storm fan]

Not really, if the tops team lose to lower teams then there is a case that those teams don't deserve to be top teams at all. Thus the NRL system.

However, I was referring to the amount of ease the top teams got through. Not many close or tight games. It doesn't look like there were many finals games that had 'finals-like' quality, for a lack of a better phase.

 

[sighclone]

Very disappointing.

I presume you're talking about the standard of play. From what I saw this weekend, I would agree.

 

[moto748]

True, I expect the semis to be much more competitive, though. Really the top four are a cut above the other teams.

 

[moto748]

Well so much for my predictions! A real thriller tonight as Leeds went to Warrington and won it 26-24 with a 78th minute controversial penalty, with a Warrington player adjudged offside as he broke forward to try to charge down an attempted field goal. Man of the match: Danny Buderus, but another superb kicking display from Kevin Sinfield won it for the Rhinos.

 

[storm fan]

Some were saying that was the best Super League game ever.

 

[moto748]

I missed the first half, but the second was where it really got going. Warrington were leading 12-6 at the break, but had apparently been unconvincing. The sides exchanged tries shortly after the break, but then two tries in three minutes from Leeds turned the match on its head and gave them the lead. The first was set up by a brilliant jinking run from Rob Buroow, who broke clear of the Warrington defensive line and found five-eighth Danny McGuire on his shoulder. McGuire didn't quite have the pace to get away from defender Atkins (Brett Hodgson having gone off with an ankle injury after half an hour) and looked to be pulled up some way short fo the line. But McGuire didn't panic, and with a glance behind he saw support arriving, albeit some way behind. But a finely-judged pass over his left shoulder went straight into the arms of winger Hall, who didn't have to break stride to reach the line and score under the posts. Next up the roles were reversed, and it was Burrow latching onto a pass and racing through to score.

Warrington got a try back through Riley to bring it to 24-24, but, with golden point looming, referee Ganson, never one to shy from controversy, gave the big decision of offside against Richie Myler, and Sinfield's clear head did the rest. Heartbreaking for Warrington, as the best side in Superleague, who have scored over a thousand points this season, finish the season with only the League Leader's Shield to show for it.

Saints v Wigan toninght.

 

[moto748]

First time that a team from outside the top four has reached the Grand Final.

 

[Santana]

What a choke from Wire

 

[moto748]

Another compelling contest in the other semi, as the oldest rivalry in the sport took another twist as Saints got the better of Wigan by 26-18 to produce another upset. Wigan never looked quite at ease, but a superb defensive display from Saints kept them in the game, and errors from the Warriors at critical moments cost them dearly.

As I've said before, I'm sure James Graham will go well in the NRL; he was inspirational for Saints today. On the other hand, personally I'd be quite happy to see the back of Lima and Hoffman. Poor discipline from both of them; for me, they just give too many penalties away.

So it's Saints v Leeds in the Grand Final, and the winner? Anyone's guess?