Sunday, 4 April 2021

Late Mail: Super League Round Two

The Easter Round of Super League saw the big boys pick up wins by heavy scores and after two weeks, things are starting to take shape.

The round started with a comfortable win for Wigan over Wakefield, winger Jake Bibby scoring a hat-trick as Adrian Lam's men made it two wins out of two. Their conquerors in last year's Grand Final St Helens did much the same, nilling Hull KR and scoring 25 points in a routine win for the defending champions. Warrington got their season properly underway with an impressive demolition of Leigh Centurions, featuring braces from Toby King, Tom Lineham and Gareth Widdop. Castleford then edged out Leeds in a very tight West Yorkshire Derby before Hull FC put on another impressive attacking performance, masterminded by Jake Connor and Josh Reynolds, to hammer Salford. Round Two, in tribute to Mose Masoe, finished with Catalans Dragons making it two wins out of two as they defeated Huddersfield.

Round Two Results

Wigan Warriors 34-6 Wakefield Trinity
Hull KR 0-25 St Helens
Warrington Wolves 44-12 Leigh Centurions
Leeds Rhinos 10-18 Castleford Tigers
Salford Red Devils 4-35 Hull FC
Huddersfield Giants 10-20 Catalans Dragons


Top Five Players of the Round

5) Toby King
A very good performance from Warrington's centre, who got his second and third tries of the season, as well as showing great hands to consistently form part of Wire's potent left edge.

4) Jake Bibby
A hat-trick for the Wigan man, who has started the season on fire. Two acrobatic finishes in the corner as the ex-Salford back showed his clinical finishing ability.

3) Sam Tomkins
The 32-year-old Sam Tomkins is still as good as ever. He is reproducing his Wigan form for Catalans, who have won their first two games. Has to start at full-back for England, so influential.

2) Jake Connor
Ever so slightly more impressive at full-back was Jake Connor, who is making the role his own at Hull FC. He was terrific in offence, getting great passes away for the first two tries and showing why he is one of the most talented players in the league.

1) Gareth Widdop
Over a year after arriving into Super League, this was the performance we've been waiting to see from the marquee half-back Gareth Widdop. He controlled proceedings for Warrington, getting two tries, two assists and showing brilliant handling and vision throughout. Involved in everything.


Top Five Tries of the Round

5) Matt Whitley
A try that is all about wonderful full-back play from Sam Tomkins. The ex-Wiganer dummies before showing great acceleration and footwork, before finding Whitley with a skilful offload.


4) Niall Evalds
Another try that is all about the work of the pivot player to set it up. Good, evasive footwork from Jake Trueman gets him away, before he then finds a lovely offload to Daniel Smith, who has his full-back making a late run to chime into the line and score the try.

 


3) Jake Bibby
Great, fluid hands from Wigan as they move the ball from left to right effectively. Bibby catches the pass and finishes acrobatically, one-handed. Very good try.

 


2) Gareth Widdop
Warrington scored a number of nice tries on Friday, and they all came down their prolific left edge. Ben Currie's good hands help get Widdop and Toby King away and the centre makes the right decision to return the ball to Widdop for a walk-in try.


1) Josh Reynolds
It's just all about Jake Connor, isn't it? The full-back takes on the line, attracts a defender with a dummy and then gets a quality offload away to partner in crime Josh Reynolds, the former State of Origin half-back scoring his second try in two games for Hull FC.


Team of the Round

Full-Back: Jake Connor
Another tough choice at full-back, with Zak Hardaker and Sam Tomkins both impressing, but I went for Connor, who was tremendous for Hull FC as they systematically took Salford apart. Involved in everything.

Winger: Jake Bibby
A hat-trick for the Wigan winger, helping them to their second win of the season. Two acrobatic finishes and it's five tries already in 2021 for Bibby.

Centre: Toby King
King is fast-becoming the best centre in Super League and is arguably Warrington's most consistent player. Two more tries and plenty of influence in Wire's exciting left edge attack.

Centre: Willie Isa
Playing out of position, but the ever reliable Willie Isa put in an excellent performance for Wigan. Such an asset. Two assists and 126 metres.

Winger: Regan Grace
The speedster got two tries for Saints on Friday, doing superbly well to stay in touch for the first try. His devastating pace, coupled with clever footwork, make him a tough winger to handle.

Stand-Off: Jake Trueman
Another very good performance from Trueman, who was everywhere for Castleford. Did brilliantly well for the Evalds try and got five tackle busts too.

Scrum-Half: Gareth Widdop
Widdop's best performance so far in England. He was terrific for Wire, controlling their attacks down the left flank, getting two tries of his own as well as two assists and 26 tackles.

Prop: Chris Hill
Played like a man possessed on Friday, rolling back the years as he made carry after carry, consistently helping Warrington win the forwards battle, as well as getting a few offloads away.

Hooker: James Roby
When the day eventually comes, how will St Helens ever replace him? Still so influential at hooker. 38 tackles and just one missed in his 470th appearance for the club.

Prop: Scott Taylor
Taylor is used to being a starter but had a major impact off the bench for Hull FC on Saturday, making 16 tackles and not missing any, as well as carrying the ball 17 times and gaining 154 metres.

Second Row: Ben Currie
Really starting to get somewhere near his 2015 and 2016 form now. A key component of Wire's left-edge attack. Constant good hands and keeps being found in gaps.

Second Row: Oliver Holmes
As well as scoring his second try of the season against Leeds, the 28-year-old made 44 successful tackles and missed zero. That's outstanding by anyone's standards.

Loose Forward: Benjamin Garcia
Did really well to score his first try of the season, leaping high to collect Josh Drinkwater's kick. Also made 46 tackles and 158 metres, setting the platform for Catalans' win.


Next Time Out...

It's Round Three of the Challenge Cup next week, with Wigan, Warrington and Hull FC facing trips to Championship clubs York, Swinton and Featherstone. The final Championship club, Widnes Vikings, have drawn Salford away from home. There are four all-Super League ties, including Hull KR hosting Castleford and Wakefield travelling to Catalans, as well as Leigh against Huddersfield. The most attractive tie of the round is holders Leeds taking on last year's Super League winners St Helens.


@ALooseWire


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