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!
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