Sunday, 25 August 2019

Rankings: CHALLENGE CUP WINNERS

It's now time for one of the hardest articles I'll ever write - player rankings from yesterday's incredible Challenge Cup Final win.
The reason this is going to be hard is because of how good every player was. The nature of rankings is that someone has to be bottom and some players are going to be low down - but that's not because they were bad, just that they weren't as good as the people at the top. It's a far cry from Wigan last week, where everyone from 3rd down was poor.

1) Daryl Clark
All bias aside, I honestly think yesterday was the day when Daryl Clark certified himself as the best player in the league. He is consistently sensational every single week regardless of opposition or how his team-mates are playing. His work through the day was amazing, particularly his tackles on Jonny Lomax and Regan Grace, as well as plenty of breaks from acting half. So worthy of the winning try and the Lance Todd Trophy. We are incredibly lucky to have him.

2) Stefan Ratchford

A huge performance from Ratchford, effectively playing two positions. Defensively he was at full back and didn't make a single error all game, and found himself everywhere defending the line. When attacking, he played in the halves at stand-off and was brilliant, with his kicking game causing a world of problems for Saints all day. 

3) Joe Philbin

Lovely for someone like Philbin to score the opening try. He showed so much grit to get the ball down after his run, which he directed perfectly. As always, his tackling was consistent and constant. Such a great forward and behind Clark and Austin, has probably been our best player this season.

4) Bryson Goodwin
He may be leaving in a few months' time, but Bryson Goodwin is showing absolutely no signs off his head being elsewhere. This was a committed, energetic and hard-working performance, the highlight of which being an inch-perfect tackle on Tommy Makinson to prevent the winger from scoring, which he was unable to do in identical circumstances a few weeks ago. Game-changing moment. One excellent break early in the second-half too.

5) Chris Hill

Now that was a captain's performance. Plenty of metres with the ball and top tackling to match. The main thing though was the discipline he showed in this game after it being a criticism of him all season. So pleased for him to get to lift the trophy - he looked so emotional.

6) Tom Lineham

One of Lineham's best ever Warrington performances. Absolutely terrific at the back and a major part of the Wire brick wall that Saints struggled to break through for so long. One particularly outstanding catch from a high kick, and unlucky to have a try of his own chalked off. Top performance.

7) Ben Murdoch-Masila

There's been real questions about Murdoch-Masila's heart recently, but he responded with a monster 55-minute stint that included big hits and the second try of the game - and his second try in a Challenge Cup Final. Great strength to get the ball down.

8) Jack Hughes
I was very concerned when it became clear that it was Hughes, rather than Currie, who was playing in the halves, but he did an excellent job. Ratchford and Patton shared kicking duties which meant Hughes could focus on keeping Jonny Lomax quiet, which he did brilliantly, and not many players have done that this year. Great assist for Murdoch-Masila's try. Doesn't rank right in the top echelons because of the dummy that Fages sold him for the try.

9) Declan Patton
Arguably his best performance of the season. His kicking game was on-point from the word go, and he constantly had Saints in trouble. His passing play was fine and he made no errors in defence either. The only negative that the mistake to kick the ball out on the full when looking for touch, which proved costly as it led to Fages' try. Still, excellent performance overall.

10) Mike Cooper

As always, a good performance in the forward pack from Cooper. Made plenty of ground with the ball and always looked for the offload. Our forwards were excellent all over the park.

11) Ben Currie
A very sweet day for Currie. After his heartbreak in 2016 and missing out on last year's final through injury, there won't be many people who feel this victory as much as Currie will. Solid all-round and unlucky not to have a try.

12) Toby King

The backs worked so hard and so selflessly yesterday. The likes of King and Charnley did so much defensive work without anything in the way of scoring, and it can't be underestimated how important that work is to the end result.

13) Josh Charnley

We didn't play the ball out wide to Charnley's side very often at all, but Charnley's best moments were carrying the ball out from his own tryline - there aren't many better wingers in the country at that.

14) Jason Clark

Starting at loose forward again after a brief hiatus, Clark did well in his first stint. To his credit, he never shies away from a tackle and always gets involved in the defensive side of the game.

15) Sitaleki Akauola
Wasn't on the field for long, but made one superb tackle on Theo Fages prevented the Frenchman from making a break. There were a few big moments that happened in that second-half to stop Saints from scoring and that was one of them.

16) Matt Davis

A great interchange to have, a player who is energetic and pacy, but has a superb tackling game and is non-stop. I'm surprised he didn't get used more in this game to be honest.

17) Jake Mamo

It turned out to be a clever move having Mamo on the bench. This allowed us to restructure the team in terms of a few personnel's positions. Had very little time on the pitch, but it will be interesting to see if we continue with the idea of having a back on the pitch.

Those 17 men I just wrote about are all heroes. All of them.



It's always our year.

Daniel (@aloosewire)

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