Weird results

[JasonE]

Wigan get smashed by Wakey but then beat the in form team Bradford.

Leeds were awful against Bradford but then beat St Helens away from home.

Oh and Wakey continue their great form with a backline full of young British talent.

 

[bartman]

Up and down competition this year. The top four look like they can beat each other on any given day, and then there's a few teams outside of that capable of the surprise.

There's a bit of a small gap in points between 6th and 7th unless Harlequins lose to Catalans. But still enough weeks left for play off spots to be open.

 

[S.S.T.I.D]

I've said it before and I'll say it again, John Kear is a genius. What he is doing with that Wakefield team is sensational.

That Leeds result was very strange. From the highlights I saw on Boots 'N All they were pretty terrible against Bradford. Wigan were worse against Wakefield. Ahh, who knows what is going to happen? I just cannot pick the ESL this season.

 

[Fairleigh Good!]

I've said it before and I'll say it again, John Kear is a genius. What he is doing with that Wakefield team is sensational.

That Leeds result was very strange. From the highlights I saw on Boots 'N All they were pretty terrible against Bradford. Wigan were worse against Wakefield. Ahh, who knows what is going to happen? I just cannot pick the ESL this season.

I agree on the John Kear comment. He's been consistently brilliant in just about every job he's had that I can remember. Certainly Hull stepped up a gear or two under him and his turning Wakey around has been sensational.

As for the Leeds-Saints game it was a win for Smith over Anderson more than the teams. Leeds turned up with incredibly negative tactics, i.e to slow the game down at every opportunity and deny Saints any chance to build momentum around the play the ball through Roby and Cunningham. They did this perfectly and where normally they would have been penalised to hell and lost, the ref (Silverwood) was weak and I don't think he gave a penalty for holding down all game.

I read somewhere Leeds (One out rugby throughout) made something like 3 offloads and 4 line breaks during the game whilst Saints made 63 offloads and 10 line breaks, yet scored only 10 points.

 

[S.S.T.I.D]

I agree on the John Kear comment. He's been consistently brilliant in just about every job he's had that I can remember. Certainly Hull stepped up a gear or two under him and his turning Wakey around has been sensational.

As for the Leeds-Saints game it was a win for Smith over Anderson more than the teams. Leeds turned up with incredibly negative tactics, i.e to slow the game down at every opportunity and deny Saints any chance to build momentum around the play the ball through Roby and Cunningham. They did this perfectly and where normally they would have been penalised to hell and lost, the ref (Silverwood) was weak and I don't think he gave a penalty for holding down all game.

I read somewhere Leeds (One out rugby throughout) made something like 3 offloads and 4 line breaks during the game whilst Saints made 63 offloads and 10 line breaks, yet scored only 10 points.

63 offloads?! That would have to be a record for any professional competition. And that they didn't win is amazing.

 

[Evil Homer]

Some more strange results this weekend.

Wigan 18-2 Leeds
Bradford 10-4 St Helens
Hull 20-8 Quins
Catalans 20-22 HKR
Wakefield 23-24 Huddersfield
Warrington 42-6 Salford (8 missed goal kicks for Warrington)

It's certainly an unpredictable competition.

 

[bartman]

I think I'm getting just as many correct by not putting my tips in each week than if I was trying to work it all out?

 

[bartman]

Just got home, saw first half of St Helens Wigan where Saints seemed to have things under control.

But Wakefield over Leeds? Kudos to John Kear, he's got that team bouncing back and believing they're top six material and playing accordingly.

 

[The Clan]

Wakefield could be a suprise package in the play offs. should they get there!

They've beaten Wigan, Leeds, Sts, Hull, and lost very narrowly to Bradford 5 tries to 4.

Such is the competativeness of the league this year that with six rounds to go any team from 4th to 10th has a realistic shoy at the 4th place spot let alone the top six.

 

[bartman]

Yep, no-one is safe on a given day.

 

[JasonE]

Wakefield could be a suprise package in the play offs. should they get there!

They've beaten Wigan, Leeds, Sts, Hull, and lost very narrowly to Bradford 5 tries to 4.

Such is the competativeness of the league this year that with six rounds to go any team from 4th to 10th has a realistic shoy at the 4th place spot let alone the top six.

Regardless of what happens from now on John Kear must be named coach of the year.
I love the way he has transformed the careers of so many unfashionable players who were on the scrapheap and also his willingness to give young British talent a go.
In my opinion Wakey have 3 really good up and coming centres in Atkins, Gleeson and George and not many other clubs can say that.

 

[S.S.T.I.D]

Unless Kear didn't want the England job I don't know how he wasn't a walk up.

And on Warrington, people over here tend to think that Monaghan is a certainty for a halves spot but he won't oust Briers and I doubt he will oust Bridge. I don't really know why they went after him and why he didn't sign with Hull who are fairly desperate for some creativity in the halves.

 

[JasonE]

Unless Kear didn't want the England job I don't know how he wasn't a walk up.

And on Warrington, people over here tend to think that Monaghan is a certainty for a halves spot but he won't oust Briers and I doubt he will oust Bridge. I don't really know why they went after him and why he didn't sign with Hull who are fairly desperate for some creativity in the halves.

Agree although they have the option of playing Monaghan hooker. Having said that Louis Anderson's best position is hooker imo.

 

[S.S.T.I.D]

Agree although they have the option of playing Monaghan hooker. Having said that Louis Anderson's best position is hooker imo.

Yeah, they will play Monaghan at dummy-half for sure IMO. I am certain that Michael won't be happy about it because he certainly hasn't been happy playing there for Manly, it is a large part of the reason that he left them. In saying that I am sure that he was made aware, if he didn't know, that Briers and Bridge are two world class players and that his position in the team (in terms of halves or dummy-half) would not be cut and dried. But my word they are going to have a formidable team next season.

 

[JasonE]

Something like:

1. Stuart Reardon
2. Kevin Penny
3. Martin Gleeson
4. Matt King
5. Chris Hicks
6. Lee Briers
7. Monaghan/Chris Bridge

13. Vinnie Anderson
12. Paul Johnson
11. Ben Westwood
10. Adrian Morley
9. Louis Anderson/Jon Clarke
8. Paul Wood

Rob Parker Mark Gleeson Andy Bracek Ben Harrison Chris Riley Mike Cooper Simon Grix and Steve Pickersgill for backup.

At this stage I would say Paul Rauhihi, Brent Grose, Henry Faafili and Chris Leikvoll will get released.

 

[deluded pom?]

Warrington are currently in the middle of a hot spell regarding their form. Watch them cool down if they make the playoffs. Next season will be the same. Warrington are a bit like the Cronulla of the ESL only a bit better ;-)

 

[bartman]

Yeah, I'd prefer Briers/Bridge in the halves, but then it comes down to Monaghan/Clarke/Anderson at hooker, with one on the bench and one missing out.

I'd say Monas is a direct replacement for Sullivan who never really seems to have fitted in, but with Grose probably going they might follow Huddersfield's lead and convert one of these guys to fullback (Bridge?), giving Monaghan a slot in the halves and Reardon on the wing.

1. Bridge
2. Penny
3. Gleeson
4. King
5. Reardon
6. Briers
7. Monaghan

9/14. L Anderson/J Clarke

Not bad, with the pack and bench as above. But comes down to if they can make it happen on the field better next year.