Super League XIV. Round 3. *contains spoilers*

toomevara

ROUND 3: Fixtures

Fri 27 Feb. Hull FC v Catalans Dragons KO 20:00

Fri 27 Feb. Bradford Bulls v Huddersfield Giants KO 20:00

Fri 27 Feb. St. Helens v Hull Kingston Rovers KO 20:00

Fri 27 Feb. Wakefield Wildcats v Warrington Wolves KO 20:00 *Sky Sports*


Sat 28 Feb. Harlequins RL v Wigan Warriors KO 17:30 *Sky Sports*

Sat 28 Feb. Castleford Tigers v Salford City Reds KO 18:00

Big weekend in prospect. Some excellent ties, in fact every game promises to be a cracker. Dragons to take Hull, Giants to shock the Bulls, Saints to continue their fantastic start against a dogged KR. Kear's Wakey to slaughter a down at heel wolves with Irelands player of the WC, Damien Blanch in a starring role.

If Quins beat Wigan (as I'm predicting) expect some serious fallout and the Tigers will comprehensively beat a poor Salford side...but hey what do I know??Any advances?

amacachi

Lookin at them individually I'd've said all 6 home teams to win.

Did Wigan lose a load of players over the winter? I know they've been inconsistant for a while, just surprised at the poor start.

toomevara

amacachi wrote: »

Did Wigan lose a load of players over the winter? I know they've been inconsistant for a while, just surprised at the poor start.

Not particularly, they just don't seem to have the cohesion or consistency exhibited by warriors teams down the years. Morale seems low and they play like 13 individuals rather than a team...defensively they've also got some serious issues...

amacachi

Wouldn't mind a few quid on them to win the overall title though, if they sort themselves out they're one of those teams who seem to be able to beat anyone on their day.

I know I do this in EVERY thread :P but do ya know when the National League is starting? Can't seem to find anything about it online.

toomevara

amacachi wrote: »

I know I do this in EVERY thread :P but do ya know when the National League is starting? Can't seem to find anything about it online.

I really don't know amacachi, the whole things up in the air as far as I know, with suggestions that a new format is to be mooted, with a possible NI league and a southern league. I know there was a meeting at the end of last year of the various clubs, as for the outcome, I don't know.....watch this space I guess...

amacachi

Meant the english ones :P

Think they're called Championship and Championship 1 this year.

Never mind, 20th of March

toomevara

amacachi wrote: »

Meant the english ones :P

Think they're called Championship and Championship 1 this year.

Never mind, 20th of March

doh, apologies.....

toomevara

amacachi wrote: »

Can't seem to find anything about it online.

Here's the site....

http://www.cooperativechampionship.co.uk/index.php

amacachi

Was on the site before, didn't realise ya had to click on the particular league THEN on "fixtures". :P

Can't see Wigan losing 4 in a row.

toomevara

amacachi wrote:

Can't see Wigan losing 4 in a row.

Ordinarily unthinkable, but they've been playing so poorly of late, anythings possible...They've named their nineteen man squad and on paper its pretty impressive..

Richard Mathers, Amos Roberts, George Carmont, Pat Richards, Tim Smith, Thomas Leuluai, Stuart Fielden, Mark Riddell, Iafeta Paleaaesina, Gareth Hock, Phil Bailey, Sean O'Loughlin, Joel Tomkins, Andy Coley, Harrison Hansen, Karl Pryce, Eamon O'Carroll, Sam Tomkins, Shaun Ainscough.

Quality all over the pitch, and surely a match for any SL team on their day, but their mojo just ain't working....

amacachi

Some start from Wakefield. Damn 6 nations clashing.

amacachi

Not over yet.

When're Sky gonna show more bloody matches?:mad:

jkmanc1974

Amacachi - how many matches a week do you want Sky to show???? 2 out of 6 every weekend is a more than fair return IMO.....

Brgds
Johnny

toomevara

Just back form the 6n game in Dublin, sky-plussed this weekends action, will catch up this eve after the world club challenge....

amacachi

jkmanc1974 wrote: »

Amacachi - how many matches a week do you want Sky to show???? 2 out of 6 every weekend is a more than fair return IMO.....

Brgds
Johnny

Yeah I know, just wish they'd show more :P Tho compared to the Union or soccer which they sometimes give a choice of 4-8 games it's not great.

toomevara

amacachi wrote: »

Some start from Wakefield. Damn 6 nations clashing.

Bloody hell, Warrington are bad...morale seems at rock bottom and defensively they're a joke...can't understand it, something badly awry in the set-up because on paper they're a decent team....

Shock of the weekend must be KR...tbh they should have beaten us last week, they're starting as early dark horses this year....

jkmanc1974

Looks like Jimmy Lowes will be gone by the end of the next fortnight(NAP!) - dont think McRae that far behind, Salford abysmal on Saturday night....

Brgds
Johnny

toomevara

jkmanc1974 wrote: »

Looks like Jimmy Lowes will be gone by the end of the next fortnight(NAP!) - dont think McRae that far behind, Salford abysmal on Saturday night....

Brgds
Johnny

Lowes looking precarious alright..(andy Kelly for Warrie anyone?), but you've got to say the players are letting him down big style, basic errors, poor discipline and, save one or two stalwarts, zero pride in the shirt..there's only so much a manager can be held accountable for.

I think McRaes doing alright...I heard they had a mare against the Tigers but prior to that, of the two newcomers to the SL, they seem to have handled the leap in class better...Having said that if 50+ thrashings become the norm...who knows? I'd leave McCrae in situ for a season or two, to give the Reds a chance to bed in...Its not fecking soccer after all!;)

jkmanc1974

Wire have mystified me for the last 3 seasons now with the squad that they have!!

Salford were dire against Wakey as well for the first 40 mins the week before, things will come right hopefully though with the usual couple of shock wins at the Willows thrown in for good measure!

Brgds
Johnny

toomevara

jkmanc1974 wrote: »

Wire have mystified me for the last 3 seasons now with the squad that they have!!

Wow, Tony Smith for Warrington, now that is a massive surprise...If he does the kind of job he did for us at Leeds , the slump may soon be over....