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Rugby League 2016 Super League

S

SAMOAN

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Season starts tonight with Leeds Rhinos and Warrington . Can't see anyone doing a " Leicester City " and the top 5 will probably be Leeds, Warrington, Saints, Huddersfield and Wigan ( not necessarily that order ) No team stand out at the odds, so my only bets are for the Man of Steel award for the outstanding player in the British game. It was originally voted on by members of the Rugby Football League press, but from 2008, by the Super League players themselves. As a players award, am thinking the forwards might get a bit more love, so 2 of my 3 picks are forwards, with the other being a first season Aussie import -

2016 Man of Steel -

KURT GIDLEY ( Warrington ) at 20's
ALEX WALMSLEY ( Saints ) at 20's
CHRIS HILL ( Warrington ) at 25's
 
Thought it was worth re - visiting this thread as the big games are now approaching. In the Super League Play Off's we have a semi - final line up of WARRINGTON v ST HELENS and WIGAN v HULL FC. The top 3 league spots were pretty much sewn up early and despite a mid season wobble St Helens secured the last spot 3 weeks ago.

A more surpising story comes from the Middle 8's ( also referred to as The Qualifiers ) where 2 Super League teams will battle to stay in the division. Under the newish system, the top 8 Super League teams ( after the home and away rounds ) played each other again with all points carrying over and the top 4 teams making the semi final's. The bottom 4 teams from Super League joined the top 4 from the 2nd tier and played each other with each team starting this new league on zero points. In this qualifiers league the top 3 finishers earned entry into Super League next year and the bottom 3 the Championship.

The Teams in 4th and 5th ( HULL KR and SALFORD ) will now meet in a one off game, with the winners staying in Super League and the losers banished to the Championsip. This was because the 2nd tier LEIGH CENTURIONS only lost one game in the qualifiers and procured Super League status a couple of weeks ago.

The inaugural game last Year between 4th and 5th was christened the Million Pound Game and it is definitely that this Year with the losing Super League club set to lose a massive amount of income
 
Warrington v St Helens about to kick off and it should be a good one. Gone with 3 decent priced options for 1st Tryscorer -

JON WILKIN ( Saints ) at 25's
JORDAN TURNER ( Saints ) at 20's
DARYL CLARK ( Warrington ) at 18's
 
Close game and choc full of controversy. Plenty of doubt over 2 of Warrington's 3 tries and a late Saints try ruled out which would have got them within 2. The first Warrington try looked to be grounded short of the line, but the video ref only looked at a possible obstruction and did not even question the grounding. The 3rd Warrington try ( which gave them an 8 point lead ) was a knock on in the act of scoring, but this was not even referred. The late Saints try that was ruled out looked from the replays to be a clear legal grounding and all of the TV analysts and a former ref could not understand the decision.

Always like to see games decided by the players and not sure how such things can happen in a big semi final, especially with a myriad of technology available.
 
Just goes to show even with Technology they still get things wrong.

I've not had time to watch much RL this year Samoan but I'll be watching tomorrow when Salford play Hull KR in the million pound match, hopefully Salford will be able to stay up but something in the back of my mind tells me we're doomed.
Feel sorry for Koukash as well because he's invested heavily in Salford and we're still shite lol, saying that if it wasn't for his financial doping we wouldn't have had points deducted and be in the position we are now.
 
slick said:
Just goes to show even with Technology they still get things wrong.

I've not had time to watch much RL this year Samoan but I'll be watching tomorrow when Salford play Hull KR in the million pound match, hopefully Salford will be able to stay up but something in the back of my mind tells me we're doomed.
Feel sorry for Koukash as well because he's invested heavily in Salford and we're still shite lol, saying that if it wasn't for his financial doping we wouldn't have had points deducted and be in the position we are now.
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You can support the barmy Leythers next year Slick
 
Fear for Salford if they go down and would of course also have a huge impact at Hull KR ( Though both have been in the 2nd tier recently ) On the subject of Koukash, I must admit to quite liking the guy and more opinions like his might drag the game out its current malaise. 12000 at the HJ on Thursday and more gaps than I expected at the DW on Friday suggest that supporters are leaving the game in droves. Not sure I could commit hundreds of hours and 1000's of pounds to following a side around the country, when the game is of a much lower standard than 10 years ago and there is a real possibility of them getting completely screwed over in a big game

Would certainly be gutting for Salford should they lose, especailly as performances on the pitch had them in the Super 8's. Obviously they are not the best supported club, but again there will be a loyal band following them around the North of England. The protocol surrounding the points deduction was certainly brought up by Koukash and given the inconsistencies surrounding franchising, refereeing and the absurd disciplinary commitee I would suspect he had some valid points.

Anyway back to the Million Pound Game. I am just giving the edge to Salford, but just imagine Gareth O'Brien or Josh Mantallato lining up a last minute kick to win it. Whatever happens, I just hope there is no massive controversy as with a loss of income the relegated club will have to downsize somewhat and some of those working at the club will have their jobs under threat. Obviously folk losing their jobs is gonna sting a bit, but as Rugby League fans they could probably accept it a bit better if their team lost fair and square.
 
Tell you the truth Samoan, Salford would be as well to change their name to Manchester to gather better support, it would hurt the die hards but there aren't many of them anyhow..

Salford is a footballing City and always will be, whereas the surrounding areas like Wigan and Leigh play rugby at school, Salford doesn't , it's football football football.

It works for Sale and I'm pretty sure it'll work for Salford, in yesteryear when Salford was at the Willows they gathered support locally from Weaste and Eccles, not many out of that area were interested.
Now they are at the AJ Bell they are even more out on a limb because nobody from Salford lives round there and it's a bastard to get to.

You can support the barmy Leythers next year Slick
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If Salford do go down Howson obviously they will still be my team but you're right, the barmy Leythers will become my superleague club because you're closest to us and I know you'd all rather be in Salford than Wigan:lol
 
Salford won the toss, elected to receive and got to just over half way after the 4th Tackle. On the 5th tackle, Gareth O'Brien picked the ball up ran a couple of yards and then unleashed the winning drop goal
 
Whilst the drop goal sealed it. Salford were actually 8 points down with a couple of minutes to spare. They scored in the corner, missed the conversion, received the kick off and then scored in the opposite corner. To be fair the potential winning conversion was nowhere near, but Gareth O'Brien certainly made amends.
 
When Slick comes down off the ceiling, it will be interesting to read his thoughts.
 
Lol, What a game, I've seen some things in Rugby League but that just topped the lot.
We didn't play that badly, had a shakey 10 mins at the beginning but when we got into the game and Salford more than matched Hull KR by pulling them back before the break then the injuries started to pile up and we just couldn't go that extra yard to break Hull down.
Lots of pressure but no points and Hull taking their chances to go 8 points ahead.

Then when that 40-20 kick came in the last few mins it was all over, we had tried but just weren't good enough, no subs and nothing left in the tank, Hull parked on Salfords line and me resigned to a Salford loss.

Then the unbelievable happened, two tries in 2 mins for Salford out of nothing, Hull must have thought they had won the game and mentally let slip, then into extra time who could have foreseen a kick like that from over halfway, It was a bit like the Aguero moment when City beat QPR to win the league, you just can't believe what you have just witnessed.
 
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Because of the relatively low profile of the sport, it will never be recorded as such, but surely it has to be up there with the best sporting finishes of all time. I like the comparisons with City as both times the trailing team were 2 " scores " behind with time rapidly expiring and both teams were effectively down and out

When you also consider just what was at stake, it magnifies it even more for me and would have to make my top 10. Others I can think of ( in no particular order) are below, but probably left an obvious one out somewhere

The 72 Olympic Basketball final

Micheal Thomas with the last kick of the season for the title

Aguero

Kevin Dyson tackled at the one yard line in the last play of Superbowl XXXIV

Scott Norwood missing a " winning " field goal with the last play of Superbowl XXV

The infamous " Wide to West " try for St Helens with time expiring in a big play off game

Allan Donald getting run out in the 1999 Cricket World Cup Semi Final

Michael Jordan's last ever shot in his career in the 1998 NBA Finals ( down by 3, he scored, forced the turnover and then scored again ) this last shot securing the title

2015 NRL ( Aussie Rugby League ) Grand Final - Try in the corner with 20 seconds to go for the North Queensland Cowboys which tied the scores. Touchline conversion missed, sending the game into extra time,
Ben Hunt spilling the ball on the kick off and Johnathon Thuston slotting over the drop goal.
 
Some nice comparisons there Samoan, like you I probably have more in my head somewhere but off the top of it I can't think of any lol.
Although harping back to City there was the Dickov equaliser against Gillingham albeit it didn't win the game.
And for United I suppose there was the little SS moment against Munich to fluke the European cup.
 
I remember this because in 1985 there was no football on TV for some reason so instead of Match of the day they showed some NBA basketball and this was one of the games shown

 
slick said:
Some nice comparisons there Samoan, like you I probably have more in my head somewhere but off the top of it I can't think of any lol.
Although harping back to City there was the Dickov equaliser against Gillingham albeit it didn't win the game.
And for United I suppose there was the little SS moment against Munich to fluke the European cup.
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Did not mention the Utd one out of respect for your good self. Was the City v Gillingham one also 2 late goals ?
 
SAMOAN said:
Did not mention the Utd one out of respect for your good self. Was the City v Gillingham one also 2 late goals ?
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Well, the rugby's finished, I think this thread has served it's useful purpose now. Any objections if we just lock it, or move it to the archives? :talkhand
 
Very Late, 90 and 95 mins to be precise then we went onto win on pens, It was one of the very few occasions where I nearly kicked the telly in lol.

It's not up there universally with the famous turn arounds you mention but to any City or Gills fans it is and will never be forgotten.
 
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