So
week one brought very few shocks, if any at all. There were some bad defense, high scores and some good performances.
Widnes may have been playing the worst team in the SL but you still have to put in a performance to score 64 points. It's going to be a long season for the young Broncos if week one was anything to go by.
Leeds were poor first half against Hull KR completing around 50% of their sets, but in the second half managed to turn it around scoring 28 unanswered points with their right side combo of Watkins (1) and Briscoe (3) scoring 4 between them. Briscoe becomes only the 8th player in Leeds history to score a hattrick on debut joining Marcus Bai and Ash Gibson as the only Leeds players in Super League to reach that feat.
St Helens were probably the team of the round. Their performance away from home against last years beaten grand finalists was top notch and like the Saints of 5 years ago. Luke Walsh added a little something that the Saints haven't had since Sean Long took the Red Vee around the Knowsley Road pitch, organisation. They looked a much better drilled attacking team and if week one was a marker, they will be in with a shot come the finals.
Predictions
Last week I got 5 from 6, with Catalan being the only team to let me down. This week i'm going for:
Wakefield 28-22 Bradford
Leeds 26-18 Warrington
St Helens 40-10 Hull FC
London 10-48
Salford
Huddersfield 36-12 Hull KR
Castleford 22-26
Catalan
Roosters 42-0 Wigan
Wak v Bra
Relegation battle already? The Bulls are looking at a 4 point deduction this season so there are the games that they will need to pick up the points. They competed against a Cas side that I think will have a say in the 8 for 65 min before falling away yesterday. A little bit more composure and they could have made it a different story. That being said, Wakefield outplayed Salford in every aspect of the game apart from where it matters the most, the scoreboard. I can see both teams taking confidence from round 1 but home advantage should be enough to get Wakefield home.
Lee v War
I've called this for a close game because Warrington aren't mugs over night and should come out firing. They do have the stronger pack but the Leeds backs are much more dangerous. If they want to have any chance of stopping Leeds they will need to man up out wide and close down Watkins before he even gets the ball because in the trial game and yesterday, he has looked unstoppable. I'm not sure what the situation is with Matty Russell is too but I'd want to see him at full back with Ratchford moving to 6. It's not a foregone conclusion like most Wire fans are making out but it will be a tough ask against a Leeds back line that looks hot at the moment.
StH v Hul
Hull go to the team that looked the strongest of all on Friday coming off the back of a dodgy defensive performance. I can only see one winner in this and I reckon the Saints outside backs will rack up a few points. Turner looked awesome last week and the Hull left hand side could come in for some damage.
Lon v Sal
Salford sounded like a team of strangers yesterday and lets be real, at the moment they are. London though are made up of mostly academy kids and fringe players, of whom, not many will be involved in Super League after 2014. I still think Salford will stutter through the opening month or so of this campaign but will still have enough class to easily beat London.
Hud v HKR
Huddersfield come of a weeks rest due to their brought forward round 1 game and will be eager to go. They, like St Helens on Thursday, put in a complete performance against Wigan a week ago. Hull KR have a good pack but so do the Giants. In fact, I think Huddersfield pretty much have the advantage in every position. I cant see this being too close and the team from East Hull will struggle out wide again like they did with Leeds.
Cas v Cat
This could be the game of the round. Catalan looked awful in defence against Hull last week and are again in Yorkshire for a second straight week. I think they are both playoff caliber teams and it will be a good gauge for both teams early on as to where either stand. I have put down a Catalan win because I think they will finish higher in the table this year but in all honesty, I have no idea how this game will go. One thing is for sure though, if Catalan's defense doesn't improve, they will be looking at a round 3 game against the Rhinos with 2 losses to their name.
Syd v Wig
OK, where to start. I'm going to the game and hope it's a close match. I'll be hoping for a Wigan win but that's as close as I can see it getting. The Roosters were, in my opinion, the best team to ever lift the NRL trophy last season. Their defense was the best I have seen consistently from any team in my 20 years of watching League. Wigan on the other hand have a young team with the loss of some very good and experienced players in the off season. Their Defense against Huddersfield and the Warriors in the first half of last weeks trial game left a lt to be desired at times. They do have good structure in attack but come on, so do 75% of the NRL. I cant see this even being a contest unfortunately and I think it will be the last time we see the WCC played in the Southern Hemisphere for some time. Miracles can happen though, right?
I'm going down to Sydney/Wollongong on Wednesday night for the week and will be at the WCC on Saturday so Ill try and post a few pictures on here. Enjoy your Rugby League this week though. There should be a few good games.
