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Super League XX opened on Thursday night as defeated grand finalists Wigan Warriors went to Widnes Vikings expecting victory.
Widnes Vikings vs Wigan Warriors
The Warriors led 16-0 and 22-12 at points in the match while Widnes had wingman Patrick Ah Van dismissed for a high tackle on Josh Charnley – the damage caused resulted in Charnley not returning to the field – in the first half and also lost influential playmaker Kevin Brown to concussion after just 22 minutes.
Former England rugby union international Joel Tomkins, brother of Sam, opened the scoring and Cook Island centre Anthony Gelling quickly followed him over the line of few minutes later. Gelling scored his second just before half time to make it 16-0 but an opportunist try from Widnes halfback Joe Mellor, scooping up a loose ball and outpacing the Warriors cover down the wing, reduced the deficit to 16-6 at half time.
Vikings fullback Rhys Hanbury got another back early in the second half before Warriors winger Joe Burgess, Sydney Roosters-bound next year, put a horror first half behind him to score his first of the season. Matty Smith’s touchline conversion gave the Warriors a 22-12 lead with 25 minutes remaining, and with the extra man that should have been enough.
Cameron Phelps scored with 15 minutes remaining and young forward Chris Dean crashed over near the posts with just three minutes remaining – stand-in kicker Stefan March was successful with the conversion and match ended in a 22-22 draw.
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Vikings: former Wests Tigers fullback Rhys Hanbury scored his 51st try for the Vikings in just his 78th game and defended well, while former Bulldogs three quarter Cameron Phelps also crossed for a try.
Warriors: Roosters-bound winger Joe Burgess had a horror first, fluffing two chances – one of which cost his side a try. Former Eels and Sharks forward Taulima Tautai debuted for Wigan after his close-season move from Wakefield Wildcats and put in a powerful, roughhouse performance.
St Helens vs Catalans Dragons
Friday night saw St Helens open their title defence with a hard-fought 18-7 defeat of Catalans Dragons at Langtree Park, giving rookie coach Kieron Cunningham his first taste of success.
The Dragons actually led 7-6 at half time – Saints opened the scoring through new forward Atelea Vea who powered onto a pass from former Panthers and Hull KR halfback Travis Burns who was also making his Saints debut.
The Dragons responded through international hooker Eloi Pelissier – Thomas Bosc converted the try before Pulissier dropped a goal to push the Dragons noses in front.
The first half was marred by the loss of star Dragons signing Willie Tonga. The former Queensland and Australia Test centre was knocked out in the first tackle of the game after just 12 seconds and was stretchered from the field but was well enough to take a seat in the stand later in the match.
Catalans were punished in the second half by a string of penalties and the loss of wingman Michael Oldfield to the sin bin.
Jordan Turner and Andre Savelio scored tries that took the game beyond the Dragons before Tommy Makinson scored a fourth Saints try with a couple of minutes remaining. The Dragons could not add to their first half points tally and went down 18-7.
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Saints: star halfback Luke Walsh will not be rushed back by Cunningham so did not feature. His former Panther partner Travis Burns made his debut and looked right at home, kicking well and having a hand in Vea’s try. Former Roosters and Panthers giant Mose Masoe and former Warriors back Lance Hohaia started on the bench and had minimal impact on the match.
Dragons: star signing Todd Carney pulled out injured on the day of the game and former Knights halfback Scott Dureau also missed the game through injury. Willie Tonga left the field on a stretcher after the first tackle of the game and former Knights forward Zeb Taia stepped in and did a good job in the centre position.
Warrington Wovles vs Salford Red Devils
Two former Salford players, Stefan Ratchford and Richie Myler, helped put the skids under the second coming of the ‘Devilution’ to help the Wolves to a 22-8 win.
The Wolves are much fancied to win their first Super League title in 2015 and gave debuts to England hooker and Man of Steel Daryl Clark, former Saints halfback Gary wheeler and Fijian international prop Ashton Sims.
The game had a ferocious opening quarter with both packs throwing themselves at each other, highlighted by a huge hit by Sims on former Wests Tigers back rower Cory Patterson.
Warrington led 12-0 at the break with Ratchford converted tries from Myler and Micky Higham.
Michael Dobson came from the bench at the start of the second half to make his Salford debut but Wolves centre Ryan Atkins grabbed their third try, again converted by Ratchford, to extend their lead to 18-0 despite Ben Westwood serving time in the sin bin.
Dobson quickly made his mark when a superb long pass put another debutante, wingman Ben Jones-Bishop, in at the corner.
The Wolves closed the match out with their fourth try with 10 minutes remaining and Jones-Bishop picked up a second try as a consolation two minutes from the end.
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Wolves: former North Queensland Cowboys prop Ashton Sims showed he will be a firm favourite in Super League with a barnstorming debut. New club captain and former Australia international Joel Monaghan did not add to his tally of 128 tries in 118 games for the Wolves but did provide an assist, while former Bulldogs, Rabbitohs and Dally M prop of the year Roy Asotasi performed strongly from the bench.
Red Devils: Michael Dobson marked his debut with an assist and back rowers Weller Hauraki (Eels) and Cory Patterson (Tigers) showed they will add power to the Red Devils pack. However, New Zealand international Kevin Locke was a late withdrawal through injury as was former Roosters and Broncos forward Lama Tasi. Former Knights and Storm forward Junior Sa’u was also missing through injury.
Hull Kingston Rovers vs Leeds Rhinos
A ground record crowd of over 11,800 saw a classic to-and-fro game filled with exciting rugby league at the KC Lightstream Stadium.
Tom Briscoe opened the scoring on the Rhinos’ first attach after just two minutes but Rovers responded fantastically. Two tries from halfback Albert Kelly, both from Terry Campese kicks, and one from former Eels forward Mitch Allgood – all converted by Josh Mantellato – pushed Rovers into an 18-4 lead inside 20 minutes.
Kevin Sinfield and Danny McGuire pulled converted tries back for the Rhinos before new Hull KR captain Campese grubber kicked through and followed up to touch down underneath the posts.
Rovers led 24-16 at the interval but there was a feeling that the match wasn’t over yet.
The Robins got off to the best start possible in the second half when centre Kris Welham scored an 80-yard intercept try – it was again converted by Mantellato and Rover led 30-16 after 45 minutes. But the Rhinos were looking dangerous and Hull KR were allowing way too many offloads.
McGuire scored his second, followed by tries from Kallum Watkins and Zak Hardaker to push the Rhinos 34-30 in front with a few minutes remaining.
Failure to stop England international Ryan Hall from being caught in-goal resulted in forward Brad Singleton scoring the final try of the match to give the Rhinos a 40-30 victory.
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Rovers: where to start? Former Gold Coast Titan Albert Kelly and Canberra legend Terry Campese where a superb halfback partnership in the first half before Campese, in particular, ran out of steam in the second. Former Eels flyer Ken Sio looked dangerous going forward and his former teammate Mitch Allgood looked strong and scored on debut. Kelly’s former teammateat the Titans put in some good strong runs from the bench and Italian international Josh Mantellato (Knights) kicked five from five on his debut.
Rhinos: Well-travelled forward Adam Cuthbertson (signed from the Knights) had a great debut and was strong throughout, as was Mitch Achurch, who came off the bench to add impetus when the Rhinos were struggling.
Castleford Tigers vs Wakefield Trinity Wildcats
The Wildcats are most people’s pick as the team to pick up the wooden spoon this year, while the Tigers had their best season in many years in 2014.
It would have been no surprise when the Tigers opened up a 22-6 lead mid-way through the second half thanks to two tries from Denny Solomona (2), Luke Gale, and former Raiders and Roosters wingman Justin Carney.
What did surprise people was the final 20 minutes when the Wildcats produced a stunning comeback.
Tries from Pita Godinet, Ali Lauititi and Danny Washbrook – all with involvement from Tim Smith – saw the Wildcats charge home to an unexpected 24-22 win.
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Tigers: star signing Ben Roberts missed the match due to injury but Junior Moors (Storm) impressed on his debut. Carney (46) edged nearer to a career 50 tries for the Tigers while former Sharks and Bulldogs prop Grant Millington continued his good form from last year. Former Titans, Storm and Hull KR centre Jake Webster started from the bench.
Wildcats: former Eels and Sharks half back Tim Smith pulled all the strings for the Wildcats alongside his new half back partner Jacob Miller (Wests Tigers). Former Warriors hooker Pita Godinet crossed the tryline and former Roosters prop Lopini Paea (signed from Catalans Dragons) put in a strong stint on debut.
Huddersfield Giants vs Hull FC
Gareth Ellis made his 250th Super League appearance and led Hull FC to an unexpected but thoroughly deserved 19-0 victory at the John Smith Stadium.
The nil against the Giants was the most impressive statistic to come out of the match as the back and whites showed a great attitude towards the hard work required in defence throughout the match.
Former Salford and Catleford halfback Marc Sneyd carried on his impressive form of 2014 by having a hand in two of his side’s three tries and contributing points with the boot.
Leon Pryce and former Gold Coast Titans back rower Mark Minichiello also had outstanding debuts.
Former Rabbitoh Fetuli Talanoa opened the scoring for Hull to give them a 6-0 half time lead.
Young fullback Jamie Shaul scored two second half tries while the Giants looked under-prepared, after having only one trial game. They only posed a threat through Danny Brough’s towering bombs.
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Giants: former Warriors forward Ukuma Ta’ai started from the bench but seemed to be as under prepared as the rest of his team.
Hull FC: Mark Minichiello looks a good signing for FC and put in a strong performance on debut against a big physical Giants pack. Former Rabbitohs wingman Talanoa was FC’s player of the year in 2014 and looked good in attack and defence against the Giants while club captain and former Wests Tigers back rower Gareth Ellis looked as strong as ever in a pack that also contains former Bulldogs prop Mickey Paea.
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