The reigning champions opened the round for the second successive week on Thursday night, and this week had a much more comfortable evening.

Salford Red Devils versus St Helens
Giving home debuts to Michael Dobson, Ben Jones-Bishop, Cory Patterson and Scott Taylor, and with Kevin Locke back in the starting line-up at fullback, the Red Devils were woeful – particularly in the second half when they shipped 32 unanswered points.

The Saints didn’t have to play anywhere near their best to record a comfortable 52-6 victory. They even had enough left in the tank to give major players James Roby and Travis Burns an early night before next week’s World Club Challenge against South Sydney.

A number of Saints tries were simple, single passes out to a strong runner close to the line and the home side failed to muscle up and prevent the score. In attack Michael Dobson failed to spark his new side while it wasn’t clear that Rangi Chase was in the house or not.
Mark Percival, Jordan Turner and Joe Greenwood all scored two tries, with the others coming from Tommy Makinson, Andre Savelio and Louis McCarthy-Scarsbrook. Percival kicked six goals for a personal points tally of 20.

Jones-Bishop scored his third try in two games for the Red Devils and must be wondering why he left the luscious pastures of Headingley for the money laden turf of the AJ Bell Stadium.

The Red Devils have a mountain of work to do if they are to turn this one around in a couple of weeks.

NRL watch
Red Devils: Kevin Locke, Michael Dobson and Cory Patterson all left the match early with injuries. Locke aggravated a groin strain that he had been struggling with even though he had passed himself fit in the week, Dobson hurt a shoulder and Patterson injured a knee. Lama Tasi made limited impact from the bench.

Saints: once again Saints did not play Luke Walsh but his halfback partner Travis Burns had a comfortable night directing the play and was a constant thorn in the side of the Red Devils. Big Mose Masoe started the game and showed the quality he has to go along with that size and power.

Leeds Rhinos versus Widnes Vikings
The Rhinos ended a run of four games without a win at Headingley as a decisive second-half performance ended the Vikings’ challenge.

Scores were locked 6-6 at half time as Zak Hardaker (Rhinos) and Manase Mauokafoa (Vikings) traded tries. The second half was a different story and the Rhinos cut loose scoring six unanswered tries through Ryan Hall, Adam Cuthbertson, Danny Maguire, Tom Briscoe, Kallum Watkins and Kevin Sinfield.

The Vikings did not get a look in and severely missed injured skipper Kevin Brown.

NRL watch
Rhinos: Cuthbertson made his home debut for the Rhinos and put in a towering performance, scoring his first try for the club and topping the tackle count with 45. Former Broncos and Warriors centre Joel Moon had a hand in one of the Rhinos’ seven tries, although a few errors marred his personal performance. Paul Aiton once again performed strongly at hooker, while Mitch Achurch had a bit of a quiet night.

Vikings: formers Rabbitohs, Cowboys and Eels forward Manase Manuakafoa scored his first try for the club after his off season move from Bradford Bulls, while former Panthers, Tigers and Raiders back rower Danny Galea put in a strong performance in his first outing of the year. Former Storm forward Hep Cahill topped the tackle count with 39.

Hull FC versus Warrington Wolves
The Wolves made it two wins from two with a tough 7-6 win at the KC Stadium against a strong and competitive Hull FC side, who were missing a number of key personnel including Gareth Ellis and Setimata Sa.

The Wolves had their own problems and lost fullback Stefan Ratchford inside 10 minutes.

FC caused the Wolves a lot of problems with short kicks from half back Marc Sneyd causing confusion and debutant centre Steve Michaels (Titans) pressured the attacking side to force a drop out early on. The Black and Whites dominated possession in the first quarter but it was the Wolves who opened the scoring.

England hooker Daryl Clark did what he does best and used his vision and pace to take the ball from acting half 30 yards out and beat the defence for his first Wolves try. Halfback Gareth O’Brien dropped a goal on the half time hooter to give the Wolves a 7-0 lead.

Hull were hit by the loss of fullback Jamie Shaul early in the second half but still looked the likelier to score – Tom Lineham was held just short of the line and a few minutes later he was on hand to stop Ryan Atkins from scoring at the other end.

With 15 minutes to go Lineham did score a try that was converted by Sneyd, but the Wolves’ resolve was too strong and FC could not trouble the scoreboard any further.

NRL watch
FC: former Titans centre Steve Michaels made his debut in place of the injured Setimata Sa and looked dangerous and pacey. Gareth Ellis also missed out through injury and Mark Minichello put in another strong performance making 31 tackles and gaining 149 metres. Mickey Paea was also strong in attack and gained 146 metres.

Wolves: former Raider Joel Monaghan could not add to his tally of tries for the Wolves, while new signing from the Cowboys Ashton Sims made 23 tackles and gained 100 metres in attack.

Wigan Warriors versus Huddersfield Giants
Top four hopes the Giants suffered their second straight loss, despite leading 16-10 at the interval at the DW Stadium.

The Giants were looking for their fourth consecutive win at the Warriors and would have fancied their chances as the home side were without suspended England scrumhalf Matty Smith and had his young halfback partner George Williams pulled up lame in the pre-match warm up – another Wigan youngster, Ryan Hampshire, stepped up to the plate in his place.

The Giants scored first through Anthony Mullally before tries from Joel Tomkins and back rower John Bateman, who was outstanding throughout the match, put the Warriors ahead.

The Giants edged ahead through a converted try from halfback Jamie Ellis before Wigan were reduced to 12 men when halfback Sam Powell was sin-binned for a dangerous ‘chicken-wing’ tackle on Eorl Crabtree.

While he was in the bin the Giants extended their lead when, five minutes before halftime, winger Aaron Murphy collected a kick from fullback Jake Connor to touch down in the corner.

The Giants still looked strong at the start of the second half but the Warriors defence held firm and it was Warriors centre Tomkins who crossed for his third try of the season to level the scores.

After that, the Giants fell away and could not trouble the Warriors line again.

Hooker Michael McIlorum followed a brilliant break from Bateman to touch down and prop Ryan Sutton closed the game out with a powerful charge onto the ball from close to the line. Hampshire nailed the conversion and the Warriors had gained a hard fought 24-16 victory that sets them up nicely for next weeks match against Brisbane Broncos.

NRL watch
Warriors: fullback Matty Bowen was the only ex NRL star in the Warriors’ line up and had a pretty quiet match, while Roosters-bound winger Joe Burgess looked dangerous and gained 137 metres in just 10 carries.

Giants: former Warrior Ukuma Ta’ai and former Knights and Sea Eagles back rower Chris Bailey both had strong games.

Catalans Dragons versus Castleford Tigers
Both sides lost their opening fixtures and were desperate to get a win under their belts on a rainy Saturday afternoon in the south of France.

The Dragons had Scott Dureau back in their line up after nearly 12 months out, but will have to wait at least another two weeks before giving a debut to star signing Todd Carney.

Meanwhile, the Tigers gave a delayed debut to former Bulldogs and Storm half Ben Roberts and it was a deft little kick to the corner from Roberts that enabled the ‘Tank on the Flank’ Justin Carney to collect in full flight and touch down in the corner. Luke Gale converted to give the Tigers a 6-0 lead after 12 minutes.

There were no other scores in the first half, although both sides had scores ruled out by the video referees and three players, Jake Webster from the Tigers and Eloi Pelissier and Olivier Elima from the Dragons, were sin-binned on the stroke of halftime after a mass brawl when Pelissier was penalised for a shoulder charge.

Dureau set up the equalising try early in the second half with an exquisite reverse kick that was picked up by fullback Morgan Escare, who scampered over. Dureau converted and then added a penalty after Carney, who was his usual rambunctious self throughout, was penalised for a high tackle.

Ex-Shark Ben Pomeroy took a high kick to set up back rower Elliot Whitehead for a try and the Dragons should have put the game to bed a few minutes later when Pomeroy intercepted a pass close to his own line before handing on to former Sea Eagles winger Michael Oldfield, who fluffed the pass under no pressure with the try line wide open.

The Tigers set up a grandstand finish when a barnstorming run by Carney was supported by fullback Jordan Tansey who scored. Gale converted and the scores were level with seven minutes to go.

Both sides struggles to get into the right position for the required points to win the game before Dureau got a successful drop goal shot off with just seconds remaining to give the Dragons a 13-12 win.

NRL watch
Dragons: former Knights back rower Zeb Taia was outstanding for the Dragons while Scott Durea, who had a try disallowed by the video ref, was a guiding light. Pomeroy had a strong game while Oldfield will be disappointed he did not score. Former Rabbitohs and Wigan Warriors prop Jeff Lima put in a couple of barnstorming runs. Former Australia centre Willie Tonga recovered from his early head knock last week against Saints to take his place in the centre, although he struggled to make an impact. Todd Carney is still suffering from a calf strain.

Tigers: Ben Roberts made his debut and set up the first try with a great kick to the corner – after that he struggled and did not appear fully fit. Justin Carney scored the first try and was involved in every altercation in a fiery encounter. Grant Millington and Junior Moors put in big efforts in the Tigers pack.

Wakefield Trinity Wildcats versus Hull Kingston Rovers
In the only Sunday game of Round 2 the Wildcats won their second game in a row, despite being heavily fancied for the wooden spoon, and Hull KR shipped over 40 points for second game running.

Rovers started off well and former Titan Albert Kelly followed up his own bomb to score his third try of the year. Trinity hit back virtually straight away through Matty Ashurst.

Ken Sio nearly got Rovers back in front but was hauled down close to the line. The resulting play former Northern Pride forward Tyrone McCarthy scored his first try for the club. Former Knights three quarter Josh Mantellato converted both Rovers tries and they led 12-6 a few minutes before the break.

The Rovers’ frailties were soon on show again and they were hit by a quick one-two just before halftime.

Former Tigers halfback Jacob Miller, making his home debut, pounced on a loose pass from Kelly to sprint 40 metres for his first try and he quickly followed that up with a second as he handled twice in the move before touching down to give the Wildcats a 16-12 lead at the break.

The Wildcats extended their lead through skipper Danny Kirmond, from a Tim Smith pass, when he burst through a gaping hole in the Rovers defence.

That made it 22-12 on 51 minutes and Rovers got themselves back in it when a flowing move was ended with Sio going over in the corner for his first Super League try. Mantellato again converted and it was 22-18 and the game was on.

Winger Chris Riley put paid to that with a hat trick in 10 minutes to push the game beyond Rovers – prop Ryan Bailey got a consolation try on his debut, before Miller completed his hat trick near the end to give the Wildcats a convincing 44-24 victory, with Rovers still looking for their first points and pondering two woeful defensive performances.

NRL watch
Wildcats: Tim Smith had an outstanding game, as did fellow halfback Jacob Miller. Four former NRL players were on the Wildcats bench – Ali Lauitiiti (Warriors), Scott Anderson (Storm and Broncos), Pita Godinet (Warriors) and Lopini Paea (Roosters) all came on and made positive contributions, particularly Lauitiiti and Godinet.

Rovers: Albert Kelly scored his third try of the year and former Eels winger Ken Sio again showed up well including scoring his first try. Former Titan Kelly did make errors, including one that led to Miller’s first try and his halfback partner Terry Campese struggled to gain any foothold in the match. Mitch Allgood (Eels) was part of a well beaten forward pack but Josh Mantellato (Knights) kicked four from four to maintain his 100 per cent Super League kicking record.