The domestic season in the southern hemisphere might be done and dusted, but we’re only just getting to the business end of what has been a bizarre season in the English Super League.
Having begun the season with the hype surrounding the Sonny Bill Williams-led Toronto Wolfpack’s inclusion, the competition has faced considerable obstacles posed by COVID-19, with Toronto and Hull KR unable to complete the season and numerous other fixtures either postponed or cancelled altogether.
Without the considerably deeper financial coffers of the NRL, the Super League hasn’t been able to keep its players inside a bubble for the season and has had to contend with various COVID outbreaks among its sides. This has seen multiple revisions to the finals series, with the COVID outbreak at Hull KR being the final straw, forcing the league’s hand to abandon its final two rounds and expand the playoffs to six teams.
With Leeds and Warrington knocked out in the elimination round, here’s a look at the four that are left.
(Matthew Lewis/Getty Images)
Catalans Dragons
Catalans will make their first appearance in a grand final qualifier since 2014, coincidentally against the victors on that occasion, St Helens. Catalans are perhaps the most unlikely of the final four. Their season has been kept afloat by owner Bernard Guasch digging deep into his own pockets to fund charter flights between England and France for his team.
Having played only 13 matches this season – four fewer than their rivals – and just two in the last five weeks, the Dragons have benefited considerably from the league’s decision to determine the standings on win percentages, particularly after racking up some hefty wins over stragglers Hull KR and Wakefield Trinity to see out the season.
The French side boasts a back line sprinkled with NRL experience with the likes of Israel Folau, James Maloney, David Mead and Sam Tomkins, and they field a monster forward pack headed by human wrecking ball Sam Kasiano. However, they will be sweating over judiciary hearings involving two of its players, with Michael McIlorum and Joel Tomkins both facing eight-game suspensions following incidents in their win over Leeds.
To become the first non-English side to lift the Super League trophy Steve MacNamara’s side will need to find a way to get past competition heavyweights Wigan and St Helens, both of which posted comfortable wins over Catalans during the season.
(Raymond Roig/AFP via Getty Images)
Hull FC
Meanwhile, Hull FC secured a semi-finals spot after surprising the more-fancied Warrington Wolves in their elimination final 27-14 off the back of a masterclass from halfback Marc Sneyd, who ended the night with three try assists. Hull FC has had a mixed season, starting the competition with high expectations which they only sporadically lived up to, eventually leading to coach Lee Radford being unceremoniously dumped minutes after a drubbing at the hands of Leeds just before the season shut down.
Hull FC continued their hot and cold run after the resumption of the competition while contending with a COVID outbreak in August that saw nine players return positive tests. However, Hull managed to string together three straight wins at the tail end of the season to squeak into an elimination playoff in sixth spot.
Wigan Warriors
The Warriors will be desperate to exorcise the ghosts of their 2019 playoffs exit at the hands of Salford when they come up against Hull FC. One of the architects of that defeat, Jackson Hastings, will be lining up this time for Adrian Lam’s side in the halves, having shown some stellar form on the run into the finals. He has been well supported by fellow Australian Bevan French, whose fine form has seen him score ten tries in ten games since the resumption of the competition, along with strike options Liam Marshall, Zak Hardaker and Joe Burgess.
In case the Warriors needed any more motivation, they will be looking to help 457-game veteran Sean O’Loughlin bow out with a championship, returning for the finals after spending much of 2020 on the sidelines.
Wigan find themselves in the box seat coming into the finals after winning eight of their last ten matches to take out the minor premiership, their only major blemish being a 42-0 drubbing at the hands of St Helens, which was atoned for in the return clash last month 18-6.
The Warriors will fancy their chances against Hull FC after comfortably knocking them out of the Challenge Cup 36-4 in September.
St Helens
St Helens, the 2019 champions, will be entering the playoffs aiming to be the first Saints outfit to go back to back since 2000 and will also be seeking to send favourite son James Graham out a winner following a midseason return from the NRL. Should St Helens reach the final, Graham will be desperate not to add to his horror streak in Super League deciders, having tasted defeat in the last five that he’s played in.
The Saints come into the finals in second position on the ladder. Kristian Woolf’s side resumed the competition after the COVID-enforced break by winning ten of their first 11 matches, but they were brought back to earth with consecutive losses to Wigan and Salford to see out the regular season.
Friday’s clash with Catalans will mark their first outing in three weeks, which could well leave them ripe for an ambush from a Dragons side coming off a confidence-boosting win over Leeds. Saints will be wary of this, having been shocked before by Catalans at their last elimination clash at the semi-final stage of the 2018 Challenge Cup, defeated 35-16.
History and the form guide would suggest a Wigan vs St Helens decider, but after such a disrupted and unpredictable season, another twist at the final hurdle would hardly surprise.
Walter Black
Guest
OK, Thanks, My mistake, Apologies.
Nico
Roar Rookie
I think Nat might have been referring to Joel Tomkins who attempted the John Hopoate impersonation. Sam Tomkins has been in fine touch all season
Walter Black
Guest
"Catalans played well, except Tomkins" Tomkins was the architect of the win over Leeds that got them to the Semi Finals. He got MOM for his efforts. I reckon Les Cats wouldn't mind Tomkins not playing well like that every week.
Nat
Roar Rookie
I haven't seen too much ESL this year but I did enjoying watching those two semi's. Hull were strong, a little bullish in fact. That Snyed has a great boot and a lot of range. The wingers are a couple of power houses. Good to see Jimmy has kept his defensive specialty of getting bumped off. It's got me how Rhyse Martin is playing SL, he is NRL quality everyday. Catalans played well, except Tomkins - WTF? As mentioned, I don't know that much about the others but if Catalans play that well next week, they'll give the trophy a shot.
Albo
Roar Rookie
Based on the Super League games I have watched this season, I would be very surprised if there is an upset this week, and the Final should end up being Wigan v St Helens. I can't see the Catalan forwards holding out the St Helens pack, especially without Michael McIlorum and Joel Tomkins who will surely be suspended . They have Sam Tomkins, Jimmy & Izzy who may work something in attack but it looks like they will be doing it off their own line. St Helens for mine. It would be a major upset if Hull were to beat Wigan at DW Stadium, but it might be a lot closer than expected as Hull have some hard heads like Manu Ma'u, Jake Connor, Danny Houghton and some unpredictable types like Mahe Fonua and Albert Kelly. Though the Warriors pack is pretty dominant and halves Beven French and Tommy Leuluai are in good form. Wigan for mine. St Helens v Wigan final.
Walter Black
Guest
Thanks Nico, it about time that Superleague got some mention on these pages. Both Catalan and Wigan seem to be peaking at the right time with the Cats having some serious fire power in their ranks, I can see them going all the way. On the other side of the coin, Saints have been struggling a bit these last few weeks and their dream of a three peat like the Roosters looking a little unlikely. Hull for me are the weakest of this quartet. They can have flashes of brilliance but they also seem to get dominated far too often. I reckon it will be a Wigan v Catalans GF. As for Toronto, what happened there was sad. They were a beacon of hope for RL tragics everywhere. A chance to meaningfully push the Rugby League boundaries. Whilst I think that Superleague have made the right decision under the circumstances, I do hope that Toronto can find a way to bounce back.