The Greatest Game

If anyone is picking up the Rugby Leaguer and League Express this week, they will notice a few articles written by me surrounding last Friday’s astonishing Castleford - Leeds match.

Aside from two news stories, in the centre pages there is a reflection piece on ‘a great night for rugby league’. A snippet:

“On the crumbling terraces at The Jungle, it was possible to recognise three essential things about modern rugby league: sport needs its Davids to make its Goliaths, the old heartland matches can provide as much interest to the watching world as any other, and that Super League can never, ever be predictable.”

You can buy a copy for just £1.20 from most newsagents in the north, you can also subscribe to view every issue online for just £5 a month.

For more information, visit www.totalrl.com

Full unedited post match comments from Tigers coach Terry Matterson and Rhinos coach Brian McClennan after Friday’s stunning upset at The Jungle.

Brian McClennan, Leeds Rhinos

What’s your first reaction Brian?

We’re all really disappointed with how we performed tonight. It’s a pretty sombre dressing room but that’s sport isn’t it? We had a glorious high last week and now we’re down on a low. But that’s sport, we’ll have to dust ourselves off and get ready for Harlequins next week.

Did the game last week take more out of you than you thought?

I don’t want to go there. I don’t want to disrespect the way Castleford played tonight. They played great. They really opened us up and were unlucky not to win by more. If they’d kicked all their goals in the first half it would have been an even bigger score. Well done to Castleford, for us Rhinos we’ve learnt that you’ve really got to have 100% in each game and we’ll make sure we’re right next week.

Is it a mental problem more than anything else? Playing the bottom team?

I think it could be that. We’ve got to review the game yet. We can see that there were a lot of chinks in our armour and we were breaking down. But full credit to Castleford, they scored some wonderful tries and they put the pressure back on us and that was our plan, we wanted to put some pressure on them and they did a better job tonight, pure and simple.

Has it put a bit of perspective on the competition again? After the highs of last week you’re back to the daily grind of Super League. Has it brought you down to earth somewhat?

Every loss does. When you lose there’s a bit more reflection on yourself and we’ll have plenty of that. We’re a very proud club and we’ll get to go back to Headingley and play Harlequins next week and we’ll be aiming to improve dramatically on that and get back onto a roll again.

Any injuries tonight Brian?

Yeah there’s a couple, Lee Smith has a crooked hip and Ashley Gibson has tightened up around the hammy area. We’ll just have to check on those. We got a few bumps out there I thought. The guys will all be pretty sore.

Terry Matterson, Castleford Tigers

Last week you said you were getting there Terry, did you imagine you would win tonight?

I was confident that we were going to win tonight, a lot of the things we did in training were good - the guys were disappointed with last week after the way they’d bounced back [after the Huddersfield game] – and got into their work this week. I could feel something was brewing and the town certainly played their part in that because the build up was great and it was a really exciting night for us tonight.

Do you think you should have won by more?

There’s no doubt about that, we make it hard for ourselves. There are areas there that we need to improve on and we bombed some tries that you wouldn’t think you’d be able to bomb to be honest with you. If you give Leeds Rhinos those opportunities you’re not going to get the opportunity again. There was still a lot of time on the clock and we just kept giving it back and not scoring tries and we weren’t converting some of the goals but credit to the boys for sticking to it and we’ve got to make sure that it’s not just a one off and we build and become more consistent because that is what it’s all about.

Do you think this will kick-start your season?

Our performance was good last week, I was really pleased, it was a quality game and we just came out on the wrong end of it. We did a lot of good things tonight. Out of the five week period gradually our discipline has improved massively – we won a penalty count and we won it well. That helps and you seem to get the penalties when you’re on the front foot and we were on the front foot for most of the game.

Some fans have doubted your wisdom in signing Brent Sherwin but he had a fantastic performance tonight…

Yeah it was good but the forward pack were on the front foot so he was able to do what he does best. It is very hard as a half back when you’re not getting any good ball. Over the last few weeks we have been doing all the tackling and getting penalised heaps so I think he will get better and better, and there’s still some improvement in his game. Him and Luke Dorn were excellent. I think when Luke carries the ball he is a threat and, at the back, Ryan McGoldrick has been a bit of a revelation. I’ve been trying to get him back there for about a year. They all contributed tonight but the forwards laid the platform. Without that we couldn’t have done what we did.

What about Korkidas?

He was awesome, he’s had a tough road in a couple of games and I’ve been disappointed with a couple of his performances but that’s what we brought him here for – to lay the platform for our guys. Defensively he was strong and he led the way, that’s his job.

Any injuries?

No, no. It’s amazing that! That’s just the way it goes. Kirk Dixon’s got a bit of a sore shoulder but he’ll be fine. Richey Owen will be available this week and we have three or four playing in the academy which is something we haven’t had – that’s great.

How much did the crowd help with the local derby?

With the build up and the excitement around the place. They were probably as frustrated as us with the tries we kept bombing but they deserved that last try because it looked liked Leeds might get another one and we finished on the right note. I think the scoreline was an opportunity to work on our points for and against there but jeez I don’t want to be too greedy! It was a good time to get em, but you shouldn’t take anything away from our players. They might be missing three players but they’re still a top quality side and I think our guys deserve a pat on the back for their effort tonight.

Brent Sherwin, Castleford Tigers

Feeling a bit sore Brent?

Yeah, just a knock on the foot.

Should be okay for next week though?

Yeah mate, no problems there, I’ll be back.

Did you enjoy it tonight?

Definitely, we played well as a team and we’ve been playing well last week and building. But the boys have really enjoyed it.

How have you found it since coming over, not getting the wins despite some decent performances?

It has been disappointing but the win was around the corner and we’ve had confidence in ourselves as a team and we were just happy to put it together tonight.

Is it case now of getting grounded again and kicking on from here?

Yeah whoever we’re playing this week we’ll have to concentrate on them and we can’t look too far into the future because you get sidetracked, you have to take one game at a time and wherever you end up, you end up.

Are you used to the cold yet?

Not yet mate, I’m enjoying it though, can’t wait for next week.

Finally the BBC have announced that they are to show the Super League Show nationwide.

The public’s television broadcaster, whose coverage of league extends to Ray ‘why don’t they kick every penalty?’ French and Jonathan ’shut up Ray’ Davies mispronouncing names and having a liberal grasp of the rules (not to mention this claimof the Beeb comparing league -  Challenge Cup final 2007 attendance: 84,241 - to shinty - Challenge Cup final 2007 attendance: undisclosed), seems to have recognised the fact that rugby league coverage on Sky Sports attracts viewing figures second only to football and are fitting in with the ever-growing support for the sport.

Does it go far enough? Where does the line get drawn when the superb online community for the sport turn from respectable campaigners to serial whingers? Indeed, the BBC’s nationwide coverage consisting of a repeat showing of the Super League Show in the graveyard shift of 12.30am on a Monday morning is not perfect, and frankly bizarre given that the repeat will be after the matches the show previews.

Perhaps it is important to highlight Sky Sports News’ Sunday evening 9.30pm highlights round-up of all Super League matches from the weekend including an analysis from the significantly-better-dressed-than-Harry-Gration Tony Rea. It is hard to see the benefit of nationwide BBC coverage at 12.30am when fans with the most basic digital television package can access all the action from the weekend’s top flight games. The sceptic inside every league fan has to wonder if this is a BBC ruse to claim a lack of interest in the show from outside the north by putting it on at a time most people cannot realistically watch. Hopefully the BBC’s viewing figures take into account those with recording devices, only time will tell.

As a sideline to the news, BBC Sports Editor Roger Mosey uses the opportunity to promote the BBC’s increased coverage of league this season.

Avoiding any talk of the broadcaster’s lack of interest in the rugby league world cup (and not mentioning the future of the superb Rugby League Raw), Mosey advertises the BBC’s coverage of the Challenge Cup and the new coverage of one England international. He also claims that the broadcaster will be experimenting with different timeslots for its Challenge Cup coverage, with 5.30pm quoted as the likely time. Thankfully, he acknowledges that the change in coverage is a “modest increase” and it is nice to see that the broadcaster is starting to respond to the sport - a sport whose online community upset the status quo of venomous anti-league national rags when the Beeb put the Team of the Year prize at the 2006 Sports Personality of the Year awards up to the public vote, a sport which, despite what its (largely jealous union) critics claim, is played across the country and across the globe, is on the big screen in every pub that has one in my Birmingham village every weekend and is growing at a rapid rate.

The people are talking, and it seems that the BBC are finally listening.

Super League Show logo and St Helens images from BBC.co.uk
England RL badge image from the Times RL blog (usage policy)

The cold winter months may not be over but finally the rugby league season is fully underway to warm the cockles. Rugby league media may be prone to comments such as ‘the closest season yet’ but the first full weekend programme hints at that bold statement becoming fact.

In fact, at the Super League launch, the RFL were keen to throw out facts about last season being the tightest table since its inception in 1996, St Helens topped the table with the fewest number of points, and Warrington Wolves missed out on the playoffs despite being just six wins off top spot.

This season though sees a predictably unpredictable Super League, as well as across the league programme with a number of matches over the weekend regarded as shock results.

In the Super League, Hull KR toppled Saints 24-22 in controversial circumstances and Wakefield pipped Bradford Bulls 26-24. Both Saints and Bradford are expected to be in the running this year, but Wakefield and Hull KR - who finished 8th and 11th respectively last term - have recruited well and are expected to challenge. There is no one to take their place towards the bottom end of the table though, with Castleford likely to replace relegated Salford at the bottom and Catalans Dragons and Harlequins still languishing somewhere in the lower regions come September. It really is unpredictable - how predictable!

But outside Super League, there were a number of surprise results in the Northern Rail Cup as Batley edged out expected play off contenders Dewsbury 19-18 and Leigh beat last season’s grand finalists Widnes 15-8. As for big scores, this season’s expected National League 2 all-conquerors Gateshead smashed Hunslet 58-6 and Halifax and Keighley traded point after point as ‘Fax grabbed an epic 64-40 victory.

A great season ahead, predictable unpredictability - here we go!

Here is the transcript of the press conference following the Catalans Dragons victory over Castleford Tigers at The Jungle in round one of Super League XIII.

Mick Potter, Catalans coach

A good start to the season Mick…

Yeah, it’s good to come across the Channel and get a win first up. We knew it was going to be tough and we’re happy just to get two points.

It was a strange first half wasn’t it? You had lots of field position and then ended up 12-2 down at half time.

It was unusual, we had a lot of overplays and we threw passes when things weren’t on and they controlled us around the ruck very well and as a consequence we need to change our play a little bit, we need a bit more support play around the ball and I think we got that in the second half.

And it was a good performance from Aaron Gorrell first game back.

Yeah, I’m really happy with Aaron he played 80 minutes straight up in the middle of the field. There aren’t too many players who can defend up the middle of the field for the duration and he came up with some really good options for us. Very happy with his first game back.

What did you make of your half-back combination tonight?

I was really pleased, you get a little excited in training but it isn’t real contact and they took the ball to the line really well tonight and they got a few in the ribs as a consequence but they’re not afraid to do that and I’m really pleased they did.

What is the story with Adam Mogg?

He hurt his hamstring in training so we had to improvise a little bit, Jean Baile is only 20-years-old and that was his first hit out in Super League. He has only played about ten games in league one in France and for him to come in and step up on the night is really good. He’s got plenty of improvement in him and he didn’t look too out of place. Centre isn’t really his position but he is confident in himself.

Is Mogg looking okay for next week?

He’ll have a scan this week. He tried to test it on the treadmill this morning and he couldn’t run at level 9 which is just about a jog. I’m no medical person but to me if he can’t run level 9 and you’ve got one week it is unlikely that he’ll be playing the next game.

Was it over here that he did it?

Yeah, he was going to play but at training he slipped on the ground.

Did he do it on the pitch? Were you training here?

No we couldn’t get the pitch so we had to train at Castleford Panthers amateur club. They were fantastic.

Is that disappointing to you that clubs can use your ground but you can’t use theirs?

I think it is an issue that needs to be sorted out. I don’t know why it is but I’ll chase it up.

There’s a vacancy at Brisbane next year Mick, is that of any interest to you?

[laughs] You never say never! If somebody wants to ring me I’ll be happy to talk to them but I don’t think that is going to happen. I’m happy where I am and it is a good place to be. When you’ve got weather that is 22-23 degrees day-in day-out and it is sunny every day it is hard to leave.

Your contract is up this year isn’t it?

It is yeah.

Terry Matterson, Tigers coach

There were a stack of penalties against you Terry, did you feel that was the main thing against you tonight?

It’s not a surprise that was the first question asked to me. I’ve got to look at where we went wrong. We had enough opportunities there in the first half that we didn’t take and that’s where I’ve got to look. I’m not the boss of the other side. I think the penalty count was 17-9, the ten minutes in the sin bin [for Ryan McGoldrick] I’m not too sure what that was for, I’ll just have to concentrate on what we can do better because we certainly made enough opportunities to win the game. I’m pretty disappointed. It is pretty much our trial form – we got away in the first half and we came out and created some good things in the first part of the second half. Very disappointing but we need to regroup and build upon the good things we did.

Your defence was outstanding in the first half, to go in ahead at half time must have been quite a relief?

Yeah it was. We were on our line, on our line and we probably had more pressure put on us in the first half than the second. But I think all the work we had to do took its toll in the second half and we played dumb with the footy there’s no doubt about it and that’s got to sit firmly with our halves.

A lot of penalties against you, is that something you need to address?

I’ll need to look at the video before I comment on that but it is a frustration and I thought that they were staying in the tackle while we were up playing the ball, I thought that was fairly obvious but I want to concentrate on what we did wrong.

A bad moment for Brent Sherwin – knocking on and conceding position at a critical time.

It was but that wasn’t why we lost. It was a big part of the game definitely but we held out so many sets of six in the first half and they didn’t score a point – they must have had ten sets on our line. You’ve got to roll your sleeves up and we did a good job. There’s a lot of good stuff there defensively and good stuff to build on and I’ve got to make sure we concentrate on that and not get caught up in other bits. We are a team that has just come together and that is our third game together. Five or six guys didn’t play the last trial so in reality it is only our second game together and it is a big step up from where we were last year. We competed tonight and that was pleasing but we’re not here to compete, we’re here to win. I’m a bit frustrated.

A lot of the season build up was on the youngsters, you must have been happy with the performances of Shenton and Westerman tonight?

They did step up tonight and they keep on doing what I ask them to. Joe nearly played the entire game and he’s handling it really well.

Any injuries?

Unfortunately yeah, it looks like we’ve lost Stuart Donlan in the last tackle of the game, probably out for a month with medial ligament damage. That’s a position we didn’t need to lose anyone but that’s how it is running at the moment.

Does it scare you with the size of squad you’ve got? Is going into each game damage limitation?

It doesn’t scare me but I’d prefer not to pick them up. We don’t have a deep squad but we’ve got a couple of guys who missed out tonight who are going to get their opportunities next week.

What were your thoughts on Brent Sherwin’s debut?

There were some things there and he came up with a couple of mistakes when the crunch was on. I think our halves did let us down at times in certain areas and that is something we’ll continue to work with. Three new halves with Dorn, Sherwin and Moore will take time. It’s not going to happen overnight but it’s their job to create and I’m expecting them to do it better.

Mick Potter image from www.catalansdragons.com
Terry Matterson image from www.castigers.net (usage policy)