Warriors v Leeds
Now here’s a head-to-head that’s been one of the premier fixtures in the northern hemisphere over the past twenty-five years, except for a brief lull in the early Super League days when Graham Holroyd was the Yorkshire side’s answer to Shaun Edwards.  Whilst Holroyd may have given Edwards a run for his money in the beauty stakes he was also a metaphor for Leeds’ aspirations pre-Graeme Murray i.e. he hadn’t a clue.  Anyway, how civilisations rise and fall.  Gone is Augustus Mo replaced by Augustus Moe.  Even when the pillars finally crumbled over a decade ago there remained a strong garrison that has continued to compete with the Rhinos even when their own ingredients have been a bit fruity.  This week it’s likely the visitors will be significantly under-strength, creating a remarkable opportunity for Noble to not only turnover the current kings but to get that locomotion of form going.  You have to fancy that the legends of Central Park, Gary Connolly and Andy Platt, would have relished a crack at the champions in their current state.  Their current state?  Hang on a second, I’m not saying that Leeds are flailing about on the ropes but their form is a bit indifferent, which is something that could also be said about the Warriors form since round one.  Why does it make a difference this time around?  Well we all know about the previous games between these two this year and so we all assume that those results lend themselves to being an influence on this one and who would argue with that?  A great win for the Warriors hopes if they get it and I fancy that they might just.  SL Factoid – the Warriors won three out of four games between the teams last year and have won the last four league meetings.  Warriors by 2. 

Harlequins RL v Saints
A must-read for Gutterfax and Lister as their beloved Harlequins RL play host to Super League’s form side.  No one will give Harlequins RL that much of a chance and those that don’t will highlight that when Leeds arrived at The Stoop they were more in a cabbage patch than a purple patch.  Saints arrive having dismantled the champions on their own ground and appear to have the most effective gameplan in the league.  At Huddersfield last week the visitors competed well, in physical terms, during the first half of the game, but Saints took advantage of the Giants indiscipline to storm clear.  A lot has been made recently of the penalty counts that Saints have received, leading to claims of bias and even suggestions that the Saints coach has manipulated the system so as to almost pick and choose the match official.  Wild conspiracies or plain old truthiness?  Whatever your opinion you have to recognise that teams with penalty counts in their favour, usually have it because the other side is struggling to compete with them.  It’s a common reality in many team sports.  SL Factoid - from 2006, Saints’ penalty count has decreased year-on-year.  Can Harlequins RL, a notoriously disruptive team that can play right at the edge of the law, contain this Saints side?  Very difficult.  Harlequins RL have overturned the form book many times but not very often against Saints and with the visitors strong run of form this could shape up into one of those old Broncos-Saints clashes were the home team pushes all the way, only to lose to some fluky piece of play or decision.  Alternatively it could just turn into a more recent contest with Saints controlling the game in a professional manner from start to finish.  Come on McDermott, get these guys fired up and give us that old rivalry back.  Saints by 8.

Castleford v Hull KR
SL Factoid - Castleford need to win six of their remaining eight fixtures to record the same number of points that they did in the year they were relegated.  In light of recent discussions about expansion and concern that some people have lodged, including me, about this competition being able to sustain a league of similar standard I think that’s very telling evidence that these concerns are not just with substance but actually right.  Castleford have found this year hard, their fans I’m sure have found it even harder and although their side will be better off for the experience, it raises big questions about what another two sides are going to do in this league.  So whilst Castleford’s poor showing this year (which, let’s not forget, can also be put down to the standard of the competition as a whole increasing too) has left their fans with not unsurprising disappointment, Rovers fans must be forlorn by their own side’s failure to progress in the second half of the season.  Justin Morgan had acquired some good personnel and his side responded, moving Rovers away from the bottom of the table, putting them in the playoff hunt until they just ran out of consistency.  Recent defeats to fellow playoff contenders means that Rovers will remain at least five points off six place should they beat the Tigers, lose and it’s a seven point gap and effectively goodbye to the playoffs for this year.  It’s difficult to ascertain exactly where things have gone wrong but it’s simple to generalise and it is the consistency.  An overused word but completely appropriate for teams that have mixed it with the best this year, however you can see from any of the games that these teams have lost, from winning positions, that it’s been down to playing the 80 minutes in patches.  I don’t think that there’s a side I’ve seen this year where it’s been more evident than with Rovers.  Rovers can’t afford to lose this one.  Rovers by 4.

Huddersfield v Bradford
I’m not sure that this is one that would have me queuing up for tickets despite being two of the more attractive teams to watch in recent years.  This season it’s less Going For Gold and more The Weakest Link.  Despite the reservations I have about the quality of fare that may be served up on Sunday it’s still an interesting prospect.  The Bulls are involved in a barging match at the lower end of the playoff spots and the Giants have freed themselves from the shackles of conservative football now that their season is reduced to completing the fixture list.  Last week the Giants showed glimpses of their power against Saints, battling hard until indiscipline caught up with them but it was enough for me to suggest, like as has happened with Wire, that these aren’t bad players, just players in need of some inspirational coaching.  Jon Sharp’s departure I’m not as sure about as the world was about Cullen’s but it’s done now and last week’s showing at Saints could have been a good foundation for this game.  Unfortunately as the game progressed the Giants found themselves out of the game and unable to build some sort of structure that could be used to help improve future performances.  SL Factoid – the Giants brought more fans to Knowsley Road last week than the Bulls did in their recent visit, obviously keen Time Team fans.  Bulls by 6.

Hull v Catalans Dragons
Is it possible to back against Catalans Dragons anymore?  They’ve just stuffed Warrington, turned the tables on Wakefield and now face a side that is still having difficulty stringing passes together.  You know how these games work, the Dragons are winning with consistency but Hull is a tough place to go.  Catalans have had wins there before and are in great form.  That should be enough for you to put your money on the French.  You can analyse all you want about the technical deficiencies, physical advantages and coaching ability but you cannot do that in isolation from the other intangible factors like venue, vocal support and previous records.  In fact, I read recently that including such intangibles doesn’t really provide any revealing insight into how events may pan out.  I don’t think you can say that.  If you had a team that’s lost their last ten away games you’d have to be silly to not believe that has no bearing on the next time that they play a game away from home even if they were in good form at home.  Still, like Hull playing at Wembley, I’m not going to win on that one so I abandoned reason and logic by playing Russian roulette with Brigitte Bardot’s castrated donkey.  I won.   Catalans by 6.

Warrington v Wakefield
Tuesday night’s game did more for our understanding of this year’s competition than any other result in recent weeks because it put three teams into perspective.  Victory for Catalans reinforced their Grand Final credentials (and the fact that we’re talking Grand Final and not just playoff credentials is incredible, after just three seasons) and it also gave us a context for both these teams.  Warrington more than just folded, over in Perpignan, whereas Wakefield just couldn’t hang on to the top three bound Dragons.  Defeat at the hands of the French franchise now means something different and those two losses put these teams firmly out of the upper reaches of the competition but well within the playoff hunt.  By all accounts last week’s episode in Wolfwatch had a cliff-hanger finale after a fairly poor game, which any fan will take from a road trip.  Warrington may have dropped off the pace over the past couple of months but they’ve continued to put points on the board which gives them a gambler’s chance in any shoot out.  Against Wakefield there’s every likelihood that this game could develop into one of those climaxes with some fine footballers on both sides.  If this was a football match you’re thinking Ossie Ardiles’ Tottingham against Keegan’s Toon Army, 5-4, 4-3 or 48-32 in RL terms.  If the showers come down you usually lose some points off the board but in essence these are similar teams with Wire’s threequarter strength tipping things in their balance.  Wire by 6.

Last week's predictions;

Warriors by 10 (won by 18 )
Leeds by 4 (won by 6)
Bulls by 8 (won by 20)
Hull by 4 (lost by 2)
Saints by 2 (won by 30)
Wildcats by 2 (lost by 16)

Not bad, four from six, keeping the overall percentage fairly steady at 71-44 (62%)

Talking about television and I was relegated to watching the Leeds-Saints game on a small screen, in a pub, in Gretna last Friday and managed to watch the entire game without football interruptions (that was on the big screen).  Nothing exciting in that I know, except me watching the RL prompted a guy to come over and chat (these arseless leather chaps are hot man).  This guy was from Middlesbrough but was a Hull KR fan and we had a good discussion about the game and I'm sure that everyone finds it fascinating that you can go somewhere completely different and have a great reaction with any committed RL fan.  If you ever end up somewhere off the beaten track and see somebody watching RL or with a RL shirt on you have to go over and say something.  I know it gets tiring talking about RL as if it's the world's greatest secret sport (which it is!) but that friendliness knows no bounds and because of the nature of our sport it generates that kind of loyalty, trust and respect between fans. 

Onto this week's previews...

Warriors v Harlequins RL (+10)
There was plenty of RL logic applied in predicting Harlequins RL loss to the Giants last week, the trouble is that RL logic, like most sports, encompasses the importance of the mental location of teams and I think that sometimes people overlook that.  This game throws up a very interesting battle of wills with both teams likely to be coming from a negative position from where they’ll be looking to build themselves a platform for the playoffs.  Thanks to equalling disappointing runs of results for the two teams above them, Harlequins RL are still in there hanging in the hunt for sixth and with Saints visiting The Stoop next week they’ll be happy taking something out of either of these next two fixtures.  Next week might just present a better opportunity for Harlequins RL because the Warriors will be exceptionally keen to get their forthcoming JJB residence off to a flyer, the momentum possible from the home stretch of games can push them beyond their current position.  That incentive courted with Harlequins RL being in a bit of a rut on the road is usually all the RL logic that you need to suggest a home win.  I expect Harlequins RL to give a more honest performance this week against a pack that can be brushed aside but the return of Hock should be enough for the Warriors particularly because Paleaaesina usually turns up against the little boys of London.  Warriors by 10.

Leeds v Castleford (+14)
When I saw that the time and date of this fixture I was concerned that it was going to be the Saturday night SKY game.  Who wants to watch a big guy beat up on the little guy?  Nobody really so it makes you wonder if there’s any coincidence that this game was placed in this round because it was always likely that Leeds would have several players backing up from the night before.  Does anybody read that much into games?  Even if they did I’m sure you’d have the kind of fringe lunatic, that inhabits every set of fans, coming up and saying that this isn’t a mismatch because we’ve already beaten them at home.  Here’s the thing.  Shock results can happen, but when you start basing your entire belief system on that sort of outcome you are Talking Heads.  Orville bemoaned his side’s inability to convert chances last week against the Warriors and had they, the Tigers would have had another impressive win to go alongside several spectacular scalps and disappointing defeats.  This weekend’s game is different though with strong possibilities that the champions will not be letting their international players backup from the day before.  Even if they do there’s still question marks about how competitive the Rhinos will be.  Apply your RL logic now.  Leeds by 4.

Bradford v Hull KR (+8 )
Texas hold ‘em put paid to Rovers last week as they folded on the turn when in control and now they face a difficult task in getting back into the playoff picture.  It’s one thing losing, it’s another losing to a side that you believe to be of similar ability to yourself that’s ahead in the table.  I don’t think I’m underestimating the importance of that result to Rovers and defeat this weekend will put them five points behind sixth spot.  Meanwhile, the Bulls returned to winning ways against Hull and the margin of victory is enough for you to side with the home side again and a couple of weeks ago I pointed out that their fixtures would assist them in keeping touch with the teams above.  This game is very winnable for the Bulls and I believe that they’re strong enough at home to get a grip on this game with the way that Rovers just haven’t kicked on in the second part of the year, not that Webster’s absence has anything to do with that either.  Bulls by 8.

Hull v Warrington (Scr)
Battle of the former assistants and a match that means a lot more to the visitor’s prospects than it does the hosts.  That doesn’t really make much difference to how determined either side will be, with both sets of players having something to prove, no matter how different they are.  For Hull it’s places up for grabs next year and a willingness to demonstrate that this coach and side are worthy of discussion when it comes to trophy contenders in Super League XIV.  The Wire troops on the other hand are still in with a shout of a decent playoff position and when they’re in that mix anything can happen, unless they get an away trip to Saints.  The similarities continue by looking back at last week’s games when I imagine both sets of fans might have had a sneaking feeling that their side could cause an upset and I wouldn’t decry them for that (I even tipped Warrington).  Unfortunately harsh reality entered the fray and focus shifts towards this interesting game.  If there were any growing positive attitudes towards Lowes, defeat in Perpignan will have pushed several floaters into my pragmatic approach to Wire’s coaching appointment, which is a good thing for the club and can only serve to highlight the uncertainty that Agar’s appointment has.  Whatever your position on the coaching appointment situation at either club, Agar is talking tough, defending his side and has the fish wives providing the vocal support so although I look at those line ups and see Warrington’s attacking prowess, the KC is usually the kind of place where you’re more likely to get Numberwanged than be part of it.  Hull by 4.

St Helens v Huddersfield (+14)
Like Leeds, Saints have several players expected to play a part in Friday’s international which could make this Sunday tussle more interesting that it should be.  Huddersfield appear to have rediscovered their feel for the game which is attributable to the departure of Jon Sharp and subsequent ‘new coach’ factor.  Can they take advantage of the strain Friday’s international could put on Saints?  I would imagine that the Giants temporary coaching team will be plainly aware of that and will use it as a motivation tool at a time when confidence is on the rise.  Any advantage gained from last week’s tremendous victory over the champions can quickly disappear down the drain if Saints slip up here and there is certainly scope to do that.  You’d probably have to go back to the days of Harold Wagstaff, or as far back as when the Giants last had a five figure attendance, to when the Giants last won at Knowsley Road so this threatens to be a tight game.  As Daniel Anderson is reported to only be deciding on the morning of the game on who will be playing for Saints this is a tricky one and like the Leeds-Cas game even if the internationals are selected the exertions from tonight are likely to distort this match-up from what it would normally be.  Saints by 2.

Wakefield v Catalans Dragons
Game of the round presents a chance for the Wildcats to stake a serious claim to a playoff spot.  Is it a feasible win given Catalans consistency this year?  Well one of the pundits stated last week that people haven’t been sure about what to make of the Dragons and last week’s walloping of Wire pushed their credentials into the serious contenders sect.  As impressive as that scoreline was, the way in which the Wildcats chased the game and won was symptomatic of a team that is playing with confidence and a belief that has eluded more star-studded sides.  I think that Kear knows that if his side is in a similar situation on Tuesday they’re unlikely to be able to produce that sort of comeback against the Dragons.  At Belle Vue only Leeds find it easy to come here and claim victory amongst the heckles and with a few of the French players backing up from tonight this could be a great win for Wakefield.  I say great win because if they do it’ll be nose bleed time for their fans who haven’t been as high since their old 70s glue heydays.  Despite a win pushing the Wildcats closer to Catalans it’s unlikely to give them more breathing space from those behind.  Does that make any difference?  It could take a bit of pressure off, knowing that victory doesn’t cement their position, and it could add some which is why you consider the internal strengths of the two sides.  Catalans have grown into a confident side, whereas I think that Wakefield are still growing into that and it’ll be a focus on a fascinating tussle between the winning professionalism of the Catalans Australian contingent and this new found Rhubarb Triangle Zen mysticism that John Kear has built into his team.  Wildcats by 2.

Last week’s predictions.

Leeds by 8 (lost by 14)
Wolves by 4 (lost by Numberwang)
Rovers by 8 (lost by 8 )
Bulls by 6 (won by 14)
Warriors by 10 (draw)
Giants by 2 (won by 10)

Ouch!  Tough week last week thanks to a couple of great away performances and a disappointing one making the overall total 67-42 (62%).

But I do feel that the penalty count has gone crazy this year.  In the Bradford v st Helen's match on Friday the penalty count was 19 -6 in St Helen's favour.  I'm not sure that was fair in itself, but the fact is there were 25 penalties in the game, which slows the game and makes it frustrating and irritating for players and spectators.  Sometimes there have been as many as 28 penalties in a game. Obviously there are occasions when players try to milk a penalty, and occasions when there should be a penalty and it is missed, but on the whole surely it would be better for the game if the referees could be slightly less picky and the game could flow more readily.

The favourite infringement this year seems to be defenders in front of the referee when they are waiting for play to recommence after a tackle is completed.  Apparently they are supposed to have both feet behind the official.  We are now x rounds into the competition, and the penalty count for that transgression has not reduced at all.  Surely it is time to take a more relaxed view of that particular rule?  I watched a game recently (was it the challenge cup quarter final between Bradford and Hull FC) where the referee (Richard Silverwood) seemed to decide to take a hard line from the first minute on the offside rule, and play was continually stopped, with the inevitable sin-binning of a player from each side.  It meant that there was no free-flowing play, and the first half was consequently the worst half of a rugby league match I have ever seen. The Guardian  comments on this year's stringent enforcement of the rules, and subsequent reduction in enjoyment of the game, in a recent article.

I do believe, however, that it is vital for the referee to ensure there is discipline on the field.  For instance, I'm certainly not in favour of players talking back to the referee.  Chris Thorman was sin-binned on Sunday for back chat, and Luke Robinson was sent off for using foul language, and that's fair enough, it's supposed to be a family sport, and whatever we think of the refs, they have to be in charge and be seen to take a firm line.  But there is a difference between a firm line and being officious, and I think that referees often confuse the two. This weekend we have seen two full-on battles in rugby league matches, at Leeds v Harlequins and Wakefield v Huddersfield. I know it's a high-octane sport and players get very pumped up, but it's the referee's job to ensure discipline on the field, and fights occur when players get frustrated, often with the decisions of the referee.

Refereeing must be a very difficult job, you are always in the wrong with both sets of fans, and it must take someone pretty thick-skinned to do it.  They do need to be supported even if their decisions are wrong, and on the whole the six full-time refs seem to do a pretty good job of getting it right most of the time.  But if only they could do their job without being quite so whistle-happy, I would be much more satisfied with their performance.

Malauradament, el XV de Perpinyà no va poder superar el primer classificat de la lliga, i van caure clarament per 21-7.

A la mateixa hora (les cinc), a l'estadi Gilbert Brutus de la capital del Rosselló començava una marató de XIII memorable. D'entrada, la joveníssima selecció catalana (que es va estrenar tot just al gener) va encarar-se a un potent rival com és el Marroc, amb jugadors com els germans de Khatabi i Fakir. El resultat (12-62) ja diu prou de la diferència física i tècnica, però cal valorar la progressió evident dels catalans quant a comprensió del joc a XIII (la majoria provenen del XV) i la bona primera part. També són destacables les dues marques obtingudes davant el Marroc.

Tot seguit, a les vuit del vespre, el mateix estadi va ser l'escenari d'una nova jornada de la SuperLeague, amb un partit important per a les aspiracions dels Catalans Dragons de ficar-se a les semifinals de la competició. Al davant tenia els perseguidors, els Warrington Wolves, necessitats de punts per situar-se a la part altra de la classificació. Però els nord-catalans, liderats per Moog i McGuire, juntament amb la potència física de Fakir, van deixar ben clar que enguany aspiren a molt.

El resultat gairebé va ser d'escàndol, 52-14, amb una primera part que va ser tot un recital de joc.

Per mi va ser, sens dubte, el partit més complet de tota la temporada. I, millor encara, som a un punt del segon (Saint Helens) i a tres del primer (Leeds).

Leeds v Saints
Game of the round opens up the weekend’s action as first plays host to second in an eagerly anticipated contest of the team’s that have been at the forefront of the competition for the last three years.  During that time there has been a gradual shift from one power base to the other as Leeds Grand Final crescendo moved them to the top of the pile without criticism.  The champions had become champions on merit and not by default, reflecting a teamwork ethic that had enabled them to manhandle the favourites in that game and begin their own overdue era of dominance.  Halfway through the season and there’s reason to believe that this new era is one that can be sustained with youngsters coming through the Leeds ranks that appear to have more to them than their predecessors.  Is that relevant to Friday’s game?  To an extent it’s looking that way with the Leeds bench looking like it’s going to be a lot stronger than the visitors, which is important because you know for both these teams that a good portion of their strength comes from the interchanges.  Saints will be looking to a step up from Bryn Hargreaves with Fa’asavalu a doubt and that’s a lot to ask.  At Bradford, earlier in the season, the visitors overcame front row absences so there is capacity in the side to win, however that wasn’t against a defence as good as Leeds.  This is game of the round because it’s first against second but I’m not sure it’s going to shape us as good as recent Leeds-Saints encounters have.  Leeds by 8.

Catalans Dragons v Warrington
In any other week this would probably be my selection of game of the week as third welcomes fourth with both teams registering good home wins last time out.  By beating the Warriors the Dragons put five points between themselves and the team below them although it’s likely that the Warriors will claw back two points with their game in hand.  Nevertheless, nobody outside of Michael Potter would have suggested that the French side would have been in this position when predicting, either at the start of the year or a couple of years ago, when the franchise first came to life.  Victory at home against Warrington gives the Dragons hope of holding onto the top two with tricky away trips to Wakefield and Hull to follow, whereas a win for the Wolves builds momentum for Lowes’ appointment and keeps them in the battle for third.   Given that there was another Numberwang epic in Perpignan last week the chances have to be good for the Wolves this week with their own defence tightening up and though Catalans usually don’t break they was a lot of bend in there.  Common sense says that consistency lies with the Dragons, however I’m going to go with the momentum and confidence that goes with a couple of quick wins and a new coach to further confirm that this isn’t a set of half-arsed players, just poorly coached ones.  Wolves by 4.

Hull KR v Wakefield
Saturday night’s SKY dust-up looks to be everything that the weekend’s second televised game should be.  Two teams battling for a playoff spot with the homers having more on the line that the visitor.  Here this means that a Wakefield win pushes Rovers five points away from the bottom of those playoff positions.  That isn’t a nightmare scenario but given the way that Rovers started off the year it would be a disappointment at this stage.  For the Wildcats there’s more to think about than just Rovers with the Bulls and Harlequins RL sat two points behind and you’d fancy that at least one of those two will leapfrog Wakefield should results go against Kear’s men.  It was a two point game earlier this season with Wakefield holding on for the win and it’s the Wildcats that have impressed the most out of the two since then.  I don’t think they’ve improved enough to go to Rovers and go home with the win.  The intimidating atmosphere, Rovers’ solid pack, Paul Cooke’s nocturnal driving habits and the snowballing Luke Sykes For Mod campaign are a lot for Kear’s Kernels to shift aside.  Throw in an away record that says Wakefield can win away from home, providing it’s against a bottom two side, and you imagine that this will be a game of errors for the visitors.  That plays right into Paul Cooke’s murderous mind.  Rovers by 8.

Bradford v Hull
Indiscipline and poor decision making are the two main criticisms for the Bulls arising from last week, but it wasn’t a performance devoid of positives and in true coaching fashion, Steve McNamara will be heralding those as foundations for future progress.  Despite missing several regulars the Bulls more than matched Saints in parts and it wasn’t until their persistent indiscipline came to the forefront that the game went away from them.  The visit of Hull presents a testing opportunity for the Bulls and they’ll be confident of returning to winning ways even if Hull will feel there isn’t a better time to visit Odsal, especially having won there in the cup.  Much will depend on the mental fragility of the Bulls for this game.  Hull have been through their pitiful moments and are playing out their season with gay abandon and the comfort of knowing that from here on in it’s mainly preparation for next season and World Cup spots.  It’s a fascinating period for Bulls watchers which their supporters won’t be able to appreciate and it’s also a period that appears to be a true transition for the side.  It’s unusual for sides that aren’t in the top two or three in the league to register back-to-back away wins against the same side and it’s on that basis that I’m siding with the Bulls.  Fragile their mental state may be (who knows what another home defeat would do here) and fragile it may remain after this game.  Whatever the case, the Bulls can struggle here and still come up with a result, which might be crucial if the two teams above them harness victories on the road.  Bulls by 6.

Castleford v Warriors
Aside from being a place where the top two have been ambushed, The Jungle plays host to the Warriors last away game before they hit a stretch of five home games out of the next six and it’s probably the easiest away trip you can ask for this season.  I’m not sure you can say much more about this game than that.  Yes, Castleford have sprung three surprises this year and when you look at the relatively modest points for that the visitors have, you can make a case for this game being a banana skin for Brian Noble’s men.  Sadly for the Tigers that banana skin is purely metaphorical, preventing an unfair meal deal temptation for Gareth Hock that could have things swinging the Tigers way.  In many ways confrontations involving creatures like Tigers and Hock bring you back to the bare necessities of life and if you examine them you’ll find that a better side on paper usually equates to a better side on the pitch.  Warriors by 10.

Huddersfield v Harlequins RL
My run of form with Harlequins RL continues and donations have come in by the half a sixpence load to get me to tip a home win in the final game of the round.  I’m quite happy to do that usually but the Giants don’t really have the kind of form that lends itself to predicting a win for them.  Where does that leave this match-up?  It has to be Harlequins RL for this game doesn’t it?  How can anyone back against a side that’s come off the biggest win of their coach’s career?  Well let’s just hold it a moment.  We are talking about the Harlequins RL side that grabs hold of the opposition and hangs on until the mistakes fall their way, the same side that is as capable of exploding defensively as it is offensively and the same Harlequins RL that seems to play better when not at full strength.  Too much thinking about this match and you’ll end up at the same point.  Logic says Harlequins RL but league wisdom says the Giants are the exact type of underperforming goofballs that spoil the party for Brian McDermott and having folded on their trip to The Stoop earlier in the year there’s just too much going for the Spivs.  It’s a grave mistake for my Harlequins brethren if I tip them for a victory so I’m going to side with the fact that Harlequins RL haven’t won away in the league since visiting the Halliwell Jones and the Giants only lost by two at Wakefield, simple as that.  Giants by 2.

Last week’s predictions;

Saints by 10 (won by 38 )
Catalans by 1 (won by 7)
Leeds by 12 (lost by 4)
Hull by 12 (won by 26)
Wakefield by 10 (won by 2)
Wolves by 8 (won by 18 )

A good week wherein only one result against the odds making it 65-38 overall (64%).

Això vol dir que entrar a les semifinals és cada vegada menys un somni i més un simple càlcul matemàtic! I la setmana que ve, abans de Sant Joan, encara podem ser més a prop de les matemàtiques: rebrem a Perpinyà el Warrington (quart), en una jornada especial en què abans dels Catalans podrem veure la selecció catalana contra el Marroc. Jo no m'ho perdo!

Amb autocar des de Barcelona i Girona, la jornada promet i molt! D'entrada, a les 17.00, hi haurà partit entre dues seleccions joves a l'estadi Gilbert Brutus: la catalana i la marroquina. I a les 20.00, al mateix escenari, partit de SuperLeague entre Catalans i Warrington Wolves.

Gent, no se m'acut una millor manera de descobrir un esport com aquest!

Informació d'horaris i preu (35 euros), aquí.

Catalans Dragons v Warriors (+2)
Unfortunately this week’s game of the round was never in contention for being on SKY which is a disappointment because this promises to be an excellent match.  Three points separate the sides with a game in hand for the Warriors so it’s a big head-to-head and one in which an away win will shift this into a three-way race for second.  This threatens to be a tight contest and both teams have triumphed in close run games already thise year, in fact Catalans appear to have a habit of making games close.  How that will pan out is difficult to tell because a lot will rest on discipline because these are defences that can knuckle down in the red zone, but repeated pressure via penalties is usually too much eventually.  With Catalans being almost at full strength the visitors will hope that this is one of those games where the opposing forwards aren’t able to get on top too easily which is a concern that’s been fuelled by the Warrior’s ball retention difficulties.  Fortunately for the Warriors their top penalty machine and error maker, O’Loughlin, has been ruled out for several weeks which should increase their statistical chances of winning.  It’s been suggested that I’ve overestimated the Warriors this season and yet here they are, in the hunt for not just the top six but second and with seven of their last ten at home you fancy that they will finish strong.  I think that this is as tight as you can get before a match and the exertions at Odsal bring the two sides even closer with a lot dependent upon Gareth Hock’s fitness.  If he plays, the Warriors will have their second most destructive runner on the field and they will need that because Catalans will make you work for any victory.  Catalans by 1.

(+14) Harlequins RL v Leeds
Are Harlequins RL running out of steam?  Two rounds ago I placed a lot of emphasis on how important it was for Hull KR to beat Harlequins RL because of their following trip to Saints.  Had I looked at the following fixtures for Harlequins RL I probably wouldn’t have made much noise about them with the way that Warrington were playing but a loss last week has McDermott’s side staring at a three, possibly four, point gap between them and sixth place.  There’s a trip to Huddersfield next week, which could go either way, followed by a trip to the Warriors before facing Saints at home.  Winning some of these next four games might now be critical to making the top sixth because you expect at least one of Wakefield, Rovers and Warrington are going to continue collecting points.  I’m not so sure we’re at that stage though yet because those other three don’t have easy games over the same period and there are two head-to-heads in there as well.  Can Harlequins RL stop this Leeds machine though?  Against the Bulls and Hull the difference between the relative attacks was like that between a machine gun and revolver.  McDermott’s military experience probably doesn’t extend far enough to overwheleming Blitzkriegs but his side have stood up to the Rhinos in patches this year.  Can his side manage that for eighty minutes?  Can McDermott get his side to respond to losses in the manner that they were doing earlier in the year?  I’m sure he can, I’m just not crazy enough to suggest that a force like the Rhinos are going to allow his side to do that.  Oh and before we forget, Jamie Peacock is back for the champions as well.  Leeds by 12. 

Hull v Castleford (+12)
Whilst Warrington and Huddersfield appear to be taking a considered approach to appointing their new coach, Hull FC ploughed straight in, dumping their news in amidst football promotion excitement.  Was there time for fans’ comments?  Time to get some sort of reaction?  Does it really matter?  Agar has settled things down with solid outings in defeat to the top two either side of a heroic battle at Bradford.  For his first pressured game he’s got the relatively tame Tigers to play with, a good start you might say.  A good start it will be if Hull manage to take the two points with something resembling a professional display, a shaky win or less will push the focus towards the next opponents, Bradford and Warrington and as up and down as those two have been I wouldn’t want to chance snake eyes on either.  Castleford wilted last week and sadly for their fans the £1m derby is looking as one-sided as other more glamorous ones are.  Once Wakefield got in front there didn’t appear to be any way back into the game for Cas despite a propensity for promoting the ball that shames teams higher up in the table.  However, this trip does offer an opportunity for Clive Anderson if only on the basis of his counterpart, Agar, being an unknown quantity at this stage.  The earlier meeting between these two teams though saw Hull’s conservatism win through and you expect that to be repeated here because no matter how positive Castleford are with the ball they can’t hide those defensive weaknesses.  Hull by 12.

Wakefield v Huddersfield (+6)
This marks the Giants first game post-Sharp and I doubt there’s much irony lost as their former coach, John Kear, sails forward and becomes one of the most respected coaches of his generation.  Although those Giants fans were happy at the time to see him go, I suspect that there’s some envy emanating from them at how Wakefield appear to have managed some consistency under Kear.  Sunday’s game should see an interesting encounter with the Giants all but out of the playoff picture, little in the way of pressure on the side and hidden promises that they might be about to let the ball take to the air.  Earlier in the year it was mentioned that the Giants have some talent in their side but it’s something that’s rarely been present at the same time as a good pack outing.  This is where the two teams differ.  Wakefield have managed to put up a good show in the forwards and maintain a positive, expansive game which is reaping rewards.  There isn’t much for the Giants to lose now and that week off they’ve just had would have been useful for them, however this is a must-win for Wakefield with victory likely to push them into the top six.  More importantly for the Wildcats, with Harlequins RL hosting Leeds and Rovers taking a ride to Warrington, they could be looking at giving themselves a three point cushion from the team in eighth.  Wakefield by 10.

Warrington v Hull KR (+10)
Great result for Wire last week and it’ll be more of the same this week.  Rovers will be hoping for a better performance than the drubbing at Saints but there’s every chance that the home side will have gained enough mental strength to continue where they left off.  Although the Wolves started as favourites last week there were still questions as to how much of an impact Cullen’s departure would have.  Lowes states that he wants the job, he’s getting the chance to audition and victory here will strengthen his claims.  In the last preview I said that a good winning run wouldn’t change my mind on Lowes and I haven’t changed on that.  For a team of Warrington’s quality and aspirations there’s too much risk associated with giving a fresh coach the appointment.  Rovers’ penalty count costly them dearly last week and a similar approach puts this Warrington attack in prime position to play to their strengths.  Had this been at Rovers I could see their workmanlike pack pushing them to the win but a combination of Lowes’ honeymoon period and the fact that the Wolves have been underperforming means that it’s two in a row for the home side.  Wolves by 8.

Last week’s predictions;

Leeds by 10 (won by 16)
Saints by 12 (won by 42)
Wakefield by 4 (won by 16)
Bulls by 8 (lost by 8 )
Harlequins RL by 6 (lost by 16)

Mixed week with the two away wins making an overall figure of 60-37 (62%). 

Al Principat, el rugbi a XIII ha continuat fent els seus petits però esperançadors passos. Concretament, amb la segona actuació de la selecció nacional, dissabte, a Girona. En el marc del Dia de les Seleccions, que organitza la Plataforma Pro Seleccions, Catalunya es va enfrontar contra un senyor equip, França amateur. L'experiència explica el resultat, 18-64. Però fer marques amb un rival d'aquest nivell és esperançador. Com també ho és la participació de dos jugadors algueresos en el combinat català.

I avui, diumenge, els Catalans Dragons han tornat a sumar fora de casa en SuperLeague. A casa del Bradford, els perpinyanesos han capgirat el marcador als minuts finals (18-24), en una nova demostració que són on són per joc, ganes i qualitat. Podem continuar somniant!

Saints v Hull KR
Isn’t it weird how often you get teams playing each other the week before or after they face each other in another competition?  Rovers would love another crack at Saints although the change of venue probably undermines their chances of revenge.  That incredible cup tie and round one’s victory means that Rovers won’t be intimidated by Saints like last year, however in their last four home games against the Warriors, Leeds, Harlequins RL and Catalans Saints haven’t conceded more than two tries.  As tough as Hull KR can be Saints can be light on the mercy if they stop you scoring.  Saints by 12.

Castleford v Wakefield
The £1m derby hasn’t been kind to the Tigers this year with the Cardiff thrashing springing instantly to mind when considering who’ll win this time around.  Progressing to the next round of the cup won’t have taken as much out of Wakefield as it might have and Kear’s side have turned in some very good displays this year.  You expect a continuation of that form because the gap between the two has appeared too great to overcome without some wins behind the Tigers.  Can the home side make it consecutive wins?  It’s a tricky game to call with the win over the Wolves lingering long enough for you to believe that the Tigers can handle the visitors pack.  I think there’s a lot of merit in using that to back Castleford but I’m struggling to picture their defence remaining strong in front of Wakefield’s prop rotations.  Wakefield by 4.

Bradford v Catalans Dragons
As Steve McNamara battles recent academy neglect his side struggle to protect him from the savaging that can bring a coaching career to an abrupt end, the cup defeat to Hull being a perfect example in a season of them.  The visit of the Dragons presents an opportunity for the Bulls to exorcise those doubts having beaten them already this year in France.  A loss to the Dragons could see the Bulls lose touch with the second place spot so there should be some positive effect from that possibility.  In a lot of the games that I’ve seen the home side in they’ve not looked like a side that’s capable of scoring from outside the opposition’s 20, which was painfully obvious against Leeds.  Although the Bulls have been up and down they’ve usually managed to remain strong at home and home advantage should prove enough to take the two points.  Bulls by 8.

Harlequins RL v Warrington
My game of the round features two teams that are starting to jostle for sixth when they have been in stronger positions this year.  For both sides it’s a familiar situation, it’s also one in which the home side’s fans will be happier with.  My feelings on the Warrington coaching job is that the Wolves need to look overseas if they are looking to break into the trophy mix and I don’t think that a winning run conducted by Lowes would convince me otherwise.  When he first moved to Salford Lowes appeared to have an influence on their defence and this is the aspect that’s been the failing of Cullen with regular Numberwang style scorelines.  Victory should push the winners into that top six and if you expect the usual boost for a newly coached team this could be a new Wolves team, one with a new determination to address their poor form.  McDermott though has emerged as a front runner for the Wolves job.  His side definitely have the character that’s been lacking at the HJ and I would say that it’s his side’s win there that was the real start of the end for Cullen.  Improvement expected for Wire but it’s McDermott’s passion and commitment that’s got me going for them.  Harlequins RL by 6.
 
Last round’s predictions;

Leeds by 16 (won by 16)
Dragons by 6 (won by 48 )
Saints by 4 (won by 8 )
Rovers by 6 (won by 14)
Wildcats by 2 (lost by 8 )
Wolves by 14 (lost by 8 )

Ooh as rare as a Lee Radford tackle bust, an exact prediction helps to push the overall score to 57-35 (62%)

Last year Huddersfield got off to a really bad start, losing their first seven matches, without even injuries to blame. But the Board kept faith with the coach Jon Sharp and the club recovered and even made the playoffs for the first time. In that case patience was certainly the best policy.

John Kear took Hull to a Challenge Cup victory in 2005, yet he was sacked in 2006 because the club was not doing as well as had been hoped. Now he is hailed as doing a brilliant job at Wakefield, saving them from relegation in 2006 and getting them to a point where they are hovering outside the top 6 now, and still in with a chance of a Challenge Cup victory too. Did he suddenly become a different, more effective coach when he arrived at Wakefield? Similarly, Wigan got rid of Ian Millward in 2006 due to the club's poor performance. But surely this losing streak was due to the glut of injured players rather than Millward having become a poor coach after leaving St Helen's. Brian Noble then came in and "saved" Wigan, but wasn't that more because he was lucky enough to get players back from injury than because of any miraculous coaching skills.

Karl Harrison was hit by a large number of injuries at Salford last year, and their poor performance led to him getting the sack. But even when players came back from injury, the new coach Sean McRae couldn't save Salford from relegation.

Now despite no relegation, two coaches have gone this season. Hull FC have sacked Peter Sharp after the team have under-performed so far this year, after winning the Challenge Cup in 2005 and reaching the Grand Final two years ago. But the start of their season was blighted by injuries, and it's hard to see what any other coach could have done differently. And Paul Cullen has resigned - presumably before he was pushed. And I think maybe he is the exception in what I feel to be a rather unfair way of dealing with coaches when the club is failing to achieve. In Warrington's caese, although they have had their fair share of injuries, especially recently, they have a very strong team and they should really have done better this season. Capitulating to Castleford last Monday was definitely a low point, and it seems as if Cullen's resignation was the only possible outcome. Lee Briers admits to being "gutted" in the Sun (30 May) that Cullen has gone, and maybe the players have to shoulder some of the blame, but perhaps also he was just not a good enough coach. Astonishingly, since I wrote the rest of this, Jon Sharpe has now been sacked at Huddersfield. That's a quarter of the superleague coaches gone in a little over two weeks. Are there more to come?

How much can a team's performance rely on the coach's words of wisdom and coaching tips? Can they really have such influence - is it all mind games?

I suppose when things are going badly for a club, a new coach has the benefit of being able to start again without feeling the sword hanging over his head, and that must give him the ability to instil belief into the players without them getting the whiff of desperation that a coach at risk of losing his job must inevitably give off. But if players are still injured there is only a certain amount that a new broom can achieve, and what an intense, nerve-wracking job it must be. The reward is obviously in the achievement of the team, and there must be little to beat the feeling of seeing your team lift the Grand Final trophy, the Challenge Cup or even the League Leaders' Shield. But sometimes it seems like a very small step from coach of the month to ex-coach.

On another note, having watched a miserable Bradford Bulls display yesterday which saw them crashing out of the Challenge Cup to Hull, I now withdraw unreservedly my defence of the Bulls in my last post. In this form and with this attitude they don't deserve to be in the top six let alone get to the Grand Final. Jamie Langley says in the Telegraph and Argus today that the players blame themselves. But why don't they do something about it? Maybe they need a new coach?

La notícia, a L'Indépendant.

I ja en teníem ganes, de tornar a veure en acció els Catalans a casa! El partit de dissabte, a més, prometia, perquè els perpinyanesos no podien permetre's una derrota a casa i perdre la tercera posició a la SuperLeague. Rebien els Giants, força més avall a la classificació, i això a priori implicava confiar-se en la victòria.

Però així com la temporada passada un partit d'aquestes característiques podia tenir un resultat obert i inesperat, aquest any els Catalans demostren amb escreix a cada matx per què són a la part alta de la classificació: perquè són un equip d'elit. El 48-0 final (que podia haver arribat a 50-0 si l'infal·lible xutador Bosc no hagués fallat una transformació) diu molt dels Catalans. Com bé em comentava el bon amic Enric (ànim!), fa tres anys rebíem nosaltres aquests resultats, i ara són els rivals.

El recital de joc i de marques i transformacions (en vam poder veure de tota mena, totes precioses) va alegrar els més grans...

...i els més petits:

I, també, els jugadors:

Deixeu-me dir el tòpic: un partit, en definitiva, que crea afició (ja l'he dit!).

Leeds v Bradford
If I was going to write up my dream team of previews it’s unlikely that this game would feature in it and to have it as an opening fixture on this bank holiday weekend just kills what minute creativity I have.  How do you dress up a rivalry that is going through a heavy transition period?  Can SKY continue to remind us that this is a huge tussle?  Of course they can, of course they will and of course tension will be as tight as ever, going into the match for Bulls fans.  Facing up to your main rival, anticipating defeat but paradoxically duping yourself into believing that you can do it is a feeling that many RL fans have had and will continue to have.  Fortunately the Bulls are able to welcome back both Vagana and Hape but it’s probably too early for them to make a big enough impact to swing the game in their favour.  Earlier in the season most people noticed the quality of the play that Leeds were showing us and in particular the issue of supporting the ball, which has been highlighted recently by many.  If Bradford are to surprise us all it will take monumental games from several individuals with us looking to Sam Burgess to as the player most likely to dent that Rhinos defence.  I think that the difficulty he has is that McClennan is no mug and he’ll know that Burgess is not only a big threat but a player who does things that can mentally lift a team so you have to expect that Leeds will place a lot of emphasis on physically confronting him en masse to negate his impact.  Without a significant Burgess contribution you question if the Bulls have the zip in their backs to get involved in any sort of shoot-out.  Leeds by 16.

Catalans v Huddersfield
Huddersfield on the way back to the playoffs?  Last week I mentioned that if Huddersfield are able to link up with their creative players they could be onto something and they thumped Rovers with Michael Lawrence garnering rave reviews for tucking up Jake Webster and putting him not in his pocket, but you now that little square pocket you have in jeans?  In there, folded up.  Perpignan is one of those places where teams at the lower end of the table can get a result even when struggling so the vibrant win last week is a good base from which the Giants can attack the Dragons.  A day before the Giants played, Catalans were competing like they haven’t before at Knowsley Road and although the penalty count was heavily against them they showed enough to let everyone know that they are a playoff team.  Thomas Bosc has a real air of a RU fly half dropping his passes off and utilising his kicking game to move his side around.  With Aaron Gorrell missing at hooker Catalans will need a strong game from Bosc because you’d expect some reduction in yardage from the forwards without strong direction from dummy half, throw in a consistent defensive display from the Giants six and it’s a tight game guaranteed.  A hard game to call though I think despite recent losses the Dragons are a bend-not-break outfit and if the Giants don’t carry on from last week the Dragons should have enough to scrape home.  Dragons by 6.

Hull v Saints
Peter Sharp has gone.  Is anyone surprised after Hull threw away a good lead at Harlequins RL?  Sharp’s one redeeming feature was that his sides knew how to defend but the problem was that they also couldn’t score.  In round one’s game at Warrington the lack of attacking prowess of Hull was highlighted and it’s relevance when it came to assessing the Wolves defence.  Richard Agar isn’t the man to take over the hot seat at Hull FC when there are names like Folkes and Murrary being mentioned which won’t undermine his side’s efforts on Sunday.  The question of how a team responds to a coaching departure is usually dependent upon the relationship that coach had with the playing staff, the regard they have for the interim coach and the quality of those players.  Hull have players that are all first graders through merit therefore you can say that they have not only been underperforming, they have improvement in them.  Those players will be taking on a Saints side that has put plenty of points on the board since losing at The Jungle and a half-hearted showing by the home side would see similar happening here.  In leaving, Sharp has given Hull FC an artificial lift that Agar can convert into enthusiasm and competitiveness.  Form suggests an away win but Saints have lost at the Giants and Tigers already and that new found fight will make this closer than expected.  Against a fired up side going through the forwards is a stiff challenge, it’s here though that Saints have an advantage that should tell if injuries don’t play a part.  Saints by 4.

Hull KR v Harlequins RL
Two matches against Saints are next up after this for Rovers and with this game there’s a lot riding on these three weeks for them.  With no cup game for Harlequins RL they will feel that they can give a lot more than Rovers can, assuming there will be one eye on the quarter final tie.  At the same time Justin Morgan will not want to go into next week on the back of two defeats.  How much do you expect the cup tie to play on the minds of the players?  Quite probably not that much because of the fact that they’ll be aware of the importance of getting the win both for league points and form.  One thing that these teams have in common is their ability to really open up the play which is something of a contrast to their normal game plans.  Another close game expected and it could be a forty plus points game but you expect that Harlequins RL are going to have to put up a show that’s more above their norm than Rovers will to win this.  Although Rovers’ cup tie can be an influence, there’s also a need for them to keep in touch with the sixth place spot so it’s a timely home win.  Rovers by 6.

Wakefield v Wigoon
What a second half performance last week by the Warriors or was it a case of Warrington’s battle-weary troops just not being able to compete?  Whatever the case there has to be some credit for the way in which the Warriors overcame the Wolves who looked so much sharper and effective with the ball in that first forty.  Glossing over the victory and proclaiming it as a step forward can be dangerous although the victory should be a welcome boost to a pack that will need such confidence to do battle against a surprisingly competitive Wakefield one.  If you take that performance against Warrington as being a true reflection of the Warriors ability then you can foresee a successful trip for them and that boost in confidence is worth a score or two.  Bearing in mind that there are still questions about the Warriors this shapes up as a potential thriller with both teams and fans expecting to win.  Danny Brough continues to push his side around the pitch and consequently up the table and a win here will not only keep the Wildcats in playoff contention, it will give them some room with Hull KR and Harlequins RL facing each other.  Undermining Wakefield’s chances are injuries to a couple of props and if there is one thing that the Warriors are susceptible to it’s a big four prop rotation so this is an even game for me and the game of the round.  Wildcats by 2.

Warrington v Castleford
Plenty of criticism directed towards Paul Cullen after last week’s ejection by the Warriors with some ill feeling towards the players.  Against Saints I think the criticism of Cullen was fully justified yet I don’t feel the same after last week.  The injuries to Westwood and Morley’s knock took a lot out of a side that were successfully battling a very determined home team who they could have beaten if those injuries hadn’t destroyed the energy reserves that the Wolves had.  In defeat I think several players showed they were up for a good fight with the increasingly impressive Morley and King putting more in than they’ve been given credit for.  After that loss the Wolves probably need this game, which should be a comfortable win, because with a week off following this they can get a much needed rest for a unwelcome journey to The Stoop.  From here on in it is continual learning opportunities for the Tigers so perhaps an away trip to a side that’s physically under pressure presents a realistic first away win.  At The Jungle this was a thrilling gunfight finished by a bloodthirsty Wolves side that retains the same scoring power which is likely to prove decisive in front of some disillusioned supporters.  Wolves by 14.

Last week’s predictions;

Leeds by 14 (won by 46)
Warriors by 10 (won by 24)
Saints by 12 (won by 18 )
Bulls by 10 (won by20)
Harlequins RL by 2 (won by 8 )
Huddersfield by 4 (won by 34)

Six of six last week lifting the overall total to 53-33 (62%) but this week is a one of the trickier weeks.

Mirar fotos, quina bona manera d'oblidar la contundent derrota de dissabte amb el Saint Helens! :)

Halfway through the season now and here's the latest previews that were actually written before the matches were broadcast.

Leeds v Wakefield

Who would have thought that halfway through the season Wakefield would be sitting in a playoff spot on merit and not default?  By the same token, who would have thought that the champions would have lost to Castleford and the Warriors?  Prior to the start of the season both teams and their fans would gladly have taken their current league positions and form, no question.  Moving into the second half of the season the aim for both will be to maintain and, if possible, improve their form and league position which I don’t think is beyond either side.  With the Bulls and Hull following this game Leeds have a chance to relax and enjoy their football a bit in these next three league games because, at the moment, they quite simply have these opponents in their back pocket when it comes to Super League tussles.  Wakefield most notably have a terrible record against the Rhinos although I think they’ll push them closer tonight than most expect with Brad Drew, Danny Sculthorpe and most importantly, pack-wrecker Ricky Bibey back in contention for the Wildcats.  Unfortunately Brent Webb, Lauititi and Ryan Bailey’s return just about negates the return of Bibey so it’s a home win for me.  Leeds by 14. 

Wigoon v Warrington

In recent seasons the Wolves have made this a very competitive fixture albeit one where the home team grabs the spoils and this weekend is likely to have the same outcome.  The increasingly small band of deluded Warrington fans will tell you that last week they were unlucky to not overturn Saints in the cup, those Wolves fans that have had enough of their former player at the helm will tell you that scoring 34 points away from home and not winning is further proof of a coach who hasn’t managed any period of consistently tough defence during his tenure.  Since these two teams last met, at the beginning of March, when Warrington asserted their playoff credentials, the Wolves have won three games, twice against Huddersfield (second from bottom) and once at Cas (via loan of a Saints GOOJF card).  That’s all you really need to know about the brick wall that Warrington have hit and now it’s a brick wall with injuries, the kind that end long-term season hopes and sometimes buy coaches a stay of execution.  A heavy defeat against a Warriors side that has lifted itself by drubbing Cullen’s former club isn’t going to be even the first nail of the coffin for Cullen because despite their poor results over the past two months, his side still sits level on points with Noble’s.  With no full back and Kevin Penny you expect that Trent Barrett will rejuvenate his side for a comfortable victory thanks to Warrington’s leaky defence and the devastating firepower of George ‘I Will Embarrass You Even Further’ Carmont.  There’s no reason why Warrington can’t win this game and with Clarke and Martin ‘Dr Zhivago’ Gleeson back they’re in with a good chance, however they’re not in top six form and six points in two months means that they need to face a side that’s stuttering worse that the Warriors to build some momentum.  Warriors by 10.

Saints v Catalans

Second away to third makes this the game of the round, I think with expectations for all that this match may have come just at the wrong time for Catalans.  Had this been two to three weeks ago Mick Potter’s side would rightly fancy springing an upset on the back of a great series of results, including good wins away from home.  Frustratingly this tough road trip comes after a disappointing cup defeat at Odsal so even though the Dragons still have an unbeaten record that goes all the way back to round 5 you expect a win for the home side.  Catalans are second only to the champions in getting league points when on their travels, however all four of their wins have been against sides currently nestling in the bottom half of the table.  Being in good shape away from Perpignan and notching up those wins is essential for any side with top six aspirations and it is against the lower placed clubs where you pick up your points for getting into the playoffs with results against the other playoff clubs usually determining your position in that pecking order.  Here though the Dragons face the league’s most potent home performers and at a time when they’ve rattled up an average of 51 points in their last three home games, two of which have been in local derbies.  In three visits to Saints the Dragons have shown that they can throw the ball around behind the probing of Stacey Jones, unfortunately they have also conceded more than fifty points in each of those tussles.  The home side are hovering about near the top and are still lacking the consistency that has underpinned the last three years so we are looking at two teams that aren’t as far apart at the moment as previous results imply.  After this match Potter wheels his team back home for the first of three home matches in the space of the month, all three of which are perfectly winnable, so despite the fact this game is against the team breathing down their necks, the Dragons quest for a top six place really begins with the visit of Huddersfield next week.  Saints by 12.

Castleford v Bradford

In the absence of El Cordobés' the Tigers are going to have to rely on the tactical nous of El Tel if there’s going to be any Casa Doble action at Big Fella’s on Sunday night.  You have to go back six years to find the last time the Tigers beat the Bulls at The Jungle, which is a brilliant record for any visiting side but with wins over both last year’s Grand Finalists, the more superstitious amongst us will latch onto that to perceive this game as being more competitive than the league standings indicate.  They might have a point though.  Away from home this year, the Bulls have notched up just two victories, at Catalans in the last minute and relatively comfortably at Hull, so this result is no foregone conclusion.  Similarly, Castleford at home could easily have picked up one or two more victories with a bit more fortune and El Tel is sure to have had his side training hard for this match after a weekend off.  How much improvement can we expect to see from his side?  Is it going to be enough to blank out the mauling that the Wildcats gave them or will we see that kind of dismal front up again?  If it’s the latter the Bulls will show the same kind of disdain as Wakefield did and we could be looking at another big score.  Conceding fifty at Odsal is no disgrace for a side destined to finish bottom this year and I think that the Tigers will use their recent savagings by Wakefield and Bradford to keep this closer with a little help from the visitors inconsistency.  Bulls by 10.

Harlequins RL v Hull FC

Poor Harlequins RL.  Watching their refreshing combative attitude and occasionally mesmerising brand of rugby league you have to feel a certain sympathy for Brian McDermott who must be desperate to bring both together for a full eighty minutes because when they do they, I believe, could beat anybody.  In recent weeks Harlequins RL have been on television more than usual and it’s allowed those of us who don’t get the opportunity to watch them regularly to look at not just their play but the growth of former academy players into genuine first graders.  None of the three players that have caught my attention over the past month are players that I thought would progress to the extent that they have, those players being Clubb, Worrincy and the oft-travelled Mbu.  It is a credit to McDermott that these three are in the process of shaking off their tags of mediocrity, progressing into good solid, first grade players which is what the minimum aim of every academy set up should be.  In contrast, Peter Sharp doesn’t appear to be extracting the same sort of response from the likes of Graeme Horne, Washbrook or Tommy Lee.  Whether that’s an unfair comment or not, I think Hull fans are probably better situated to assess that than me, however it’s not a suggestion that these three guys have or will fail, more a reflection on how good an impact McDermott has made with his personnel.  I’m tempted to go for the away team in this match, primarily because Harlequins RL have gone from surprising everyone with their positive results to doing the same by losing and here’s a game that sits comfortably in the expected win column.  Will it be that?  Hull have pulled off a few late wins this year which sets them as the perfect foil to Harlequins RL who can’t haul a last minute win from anywhere at the moment, but surely the home side can’t let their deserving fans down again?  Harlequins RL by 2.

Huddersfield v Hull KR

A reversal of last week’s cup tie that might also provide a reversal in score as well.  How much can we take from then to ascertain the outcome this weekend?   Well Rovers have managed just two wins on the road this season, at Catalans and the Magic weekend game (which was technically neutral) and Huddersfield’s wins have all been at home.  Given that both Rovers away wins were late ones you can expect them to commit themselves for the full eighty with the closeness of their games reflecting that irrespective of the venue (three of their six defeats have been by 1, 2 and 6 points) so they should be confident that they can challenge the Giants for the two points.  For the Giants we’re not in last chance saloon because a strong run between now and the final round could propel them into a playoff spot, it’s just that this league is so competitive this year that whereas in previous years you could expect other teams to fade away this year there are too many good sides in the mix to expect a parting of the waves for Sharp’s men to rise up the table.  From a start that should have been the foundation for victory last week, the Giants didn’t really collapse, as the score indicated, it was Rovers who came back at them and there was no response.  Why was that?  Where was the leadership on the field during the tougher passages in play?  I’m not putting that loss down to captaincy but there was no forty-storey capitulation, it just felt like Rovers forced the game a bit more and the Giants dozed off a bit or became complacent.  Like I said, this isn’t the end if the Giants lose, it’s just another huge set back if they do so it’s time to throw out the conservative football and let the ball handlers give the forwards something to run onto.  As good as the Huddersfield forward can be at the one out stuff, why can’t Sharp get his men to link up with the Brown et al too?  If they can do that it’s on.  Huddersfield by 4.

Last round predictions;

Warrington by 8 (won by 2)

Wakefield by 6 (won by 38)

Leeds by 12 (won by 14)

Harlequins by 8 (lost by 2)

Hull by 2 (lost by 5)

Saints by 4 (won by 41)

So four out of six last weekend, making it an overall 47-33 (59%). 

L'eliminació, segons el meu parer, no és gens greu, atès que l'anomalia va ser l'accés l'any passat a la final. A més, considero des de principi de temporada que enguany, l'objectiu màxim, és entrar a la fase final de la lliga, de setembre a octubre, entre els sis primers classificats de la SuperLeague. I aquí és on l'equip treballa de valent, ara mateix segon a la classificació. Només espero que la derrota contra Bradford a la Copa no desconcentri uns Catalans que, dissabte vinent, hauran de defensar aquesta segona plaça a la lliga contra el potent Saint Helens, just per sota a la classificació.

Amunt que encara ens queda Old Trafford!

PS: Els paral·lelismes entre la temporada actual dels Catalans (XIII) i la USAP (XV) de Perpinyà no em deixen de sorprendre: van començar malament tots dos equips; van començar a enllaçar victòries consecutives el mateix dia, i han aturat la ratxa (momentàniament) aquest cap de setmana. Ben curiós.

I'm very happy with the comeback but the other team looked better than us for most of the game and probably deserved to win.

Però dues marques consecutives, juntament amb la infal·libilitat demostrada aquesta temporada per Bosc en les transformacions, han consolidat l'equip a la segona plaça de la SuperLeague i han permès als Catalans estrenar-se amb victòria al cap de setmana del Millennium Magic de Caerdydd. I, sobretot, han mostrat la confiança en la victòria i en l'equip. I això, actualment, no té preu.

Per cert: divendres ja anava en aquest sentit i to una notícia a l'Avui sobre els Catalans...

PS: també vull fer un esment en aquesta entrada a la progressió espectacular de l'altre equip d'elit de Perpinyà, l'USAP, que encadena una molt bona sèrie de victòries al Top 14. Que duri, també!

(+8 ) Huddersfield v Warrington
Here’s a thriller for you to start your Millennium Magic weekend, arguably the two teams that are in the poorest form to open up a festival of rugby league.  Hopefully most of the first-time attendees will still be in the bar so they’re not put off our great sport by what is likely to be a procession of incomplete sets, lazy tackles and Lee Briers.  Of course only part of that is true because it is an intriguing head-to-head between two increasingly desperate teams.  I expect this to be a highly committed match, one that both will view as well within their grasp and it’ll be interesting to see if it becomes two teams throwing everything at each other or two trying not to lose the game.  In a shoot out you have to fancy Warrington and with the way that Huddersfield are playing I can’t see them being able to convert chances that come their way should this descend into a calamity-clash.  This brings everything back to those questions of ball control and field position so when you look at that you see that, of the two, Warrington have demonstrated they can do that, it’s an issue of form with them.  Huddersfield haven’t done that and haven’t had any consistency this year and they need it and need it quickly.  Warrington by 8.

(+8 ) Castleford v Wakefield
Castleford would prefer this to be at home obviously, but playing on a neutral ground is significantly better for them than going to Wakefield.  Sadly for Cas, Wakefield are on a mini-roll and although they were very lucky to come away with the win on Saturday they did more than plug away at Harlequins RL lead, forcing the visitors into submitting to their swell.  You expect that Castleford will come out and give the game some tempo, like Harlequins RL did,  whereas Wakefield will seek to overpower their opponents over the course of the eighty with their composure and willingness to let Castleford’s attacking game trip itself up.  How will the game shape up?  It’s difficult for me to see this Wakefield side allow themselves to let the Tigers get a hold on the game however I can see the derby rivalry keeping the game close until the Wildcats halves get a hold of the game.  Wakefield by 6.

(+6) Bradford v Leeds
The Bulls continue to get results that keep them up amongst the top two hunt whilst Leeds survive the worst casualty list since Rambo to stay at the top.  Reviewing form for this game doesn’t usually work, we’ve found that one team is usually in the ascendancy with Leeds being the boss now.  Can the Bulls overcome the vogue?  They will be happy with the physical confrontation in the forwards fearing more the strike capabilities and ball in hand play of the Rhinos.  I would love to see the kind of running, hitting and drama that these two can produce against each other but you look at the Bulls results and the thrills are limited so it’s probably wishful thinking to hope for a game as great as last year’s.  Like the men of Bastogne, Leeds heroics separates them from the pack and they remain titans amongst men, albeit heavily injured titans, leading this competition from the front.  In the face of such battle hardened walking wounded we can only expect the Bulls to wilt, dropping down on their knees to worship in front of these grandiose icons.  Leeds by 12.

Catalans v Harlequins RL (+2)
My game of the weekend and one that I’m disappointed that those not going to Cardiff won’t be able to watch live.  Catalans unbeaten run continues whereas Harlequins RL managed to put a great eighty minutes in recently, unfortunately spread out across two matches.  I’m finding it difficult though to see this Dragons run trundling along according to form and that middle eighty for Harlequins RL sets up what I think will be a bit of an ambush, inspiring the Spivs to an unlikely if not unsurprising win.  Some of the rugby that has been on show in those two halves was as good as you will have seen all season so it must be disappointing for them to have not capitalised on that last week.  Catalans are a side that haven’t been watched often by many so they remain a mystery to most even if the highlight reels show imagination in attack.  In thinking about a lot of these fixtures my thoughts turn more towards the mindset of teams going into the game and whilst Potter will have Catalans focussed, McDermott will have a lot more to call upon as motivation in this match from recent performances and the Easter game.  Harlequins RL by 8.

Hull v Hull KR (+4)
Biff!  Bash!  Bosh!  All on the menu on Sunday afternoon as Lee Radford leads his men against Paul Cooke, only this time it’s personal.  No doubt Gail Tylesley’s chin-a-like, Cooke, will be aiming to dictate things from behind his pack to avoid any confrontations with the Hull skipper, who is suitably enthusiastic about this match-up.  I don’t think there’s been an on screen match up that’s promised more fireworks since “What’s Love Got To Do With It?” and we could be in for a humdinger.  Rovers appear to have the upper hand in meetings between the two and with just two points between them they’re teams fighting for the same position and anticipated season.  On Good Friday Rovers started off the better side, Hull came back strong before the home side sealed the win by a point.  During the second half I felt that Hull were significantly better than Rovers were in the first half and really should have been able to use their momentum to claim the victory, that they didn’t owes more to homefield advantage than any shortcomings on the day.  Of course it’s easy to say the neutral venue shifts the balance in Hull’s favour though it’s more than that.  These appear to be teams that are crawling in opposite directions with no clear impetus for either side but Hull appear to breathing with a bit more gusto which I think is just enough to bring them home.  Hull by 2.

Saints v Wigoon (+8 )
Sunday night’s football headliner has some potential in it.  Potential, is what it will probably stay.  Neither side gives me hope that this will be a 100% full frontal assault at the moment despite being level on points.  However this should be a considerably closer game than Good Friday’s mauling.  Had Gareth Hock been eligible to play in this game that closeness would likely have tipped things in Wigoon’s favour with Saints returning to two front line props but his absence is a big loss for the Warriors.  In spite of having a couple of poor seasons, characterised by poor discipline and ball control, Hock remains the most damaging forward runner that Brian Noble can call upon and there doesn’t appear to be anybody who can step into that role for him.  At the moment you have to discriminate against Wigoon because of their recent form against Saints but it’s certainly not a foregone conclusion and both sides have shown that they can step up and compete even if it’s not been for a sustained run.  If Saints find that last week’s game has emptied their tank or the minor injuries picked up last week resurface there’s every reason to believe that the Warriors can give their success starved fans some internet bragging rights.  Still if they are to do that it is going to require them to play to their best ability defensively, stop the unforced errors, Saints to underperform and for Derren Brown to remove that mental block that remains more than a vestige in their mind.  I’ve got a feeling that this game is going to be closer than people think but it’s unlikely to be a classic with probably too many neutrals supporting the Warriors.  Saints by 4.

Last week's predictions;

Leeds by 8 (won by 14)
Saints by 4 (won by 8 )
Catalans by 6 (won by 8 )
Wakefield by 4 (won by 4)
Wigoon by 4 (lost by 14)
Hull by 6 (won by 8 )

So a good week last week with five out of six with one full correct prediction and three very close ones, making the running total now 43-31 (58%).

Però tant és: segons o tercers, ens plantarem a l'espectacular jornada del cap de setmana vinent al Millennium Stadium de Cardiff (s'hi jugaran tots els sis partits de la SuperLeague en dos dies) com l'equip revelació de l'any, sens cap mena de dubte.

Hull KR v Leeds
Now here’s a chance for a team to make a name for themselves.  After the pushing the champions all the way in Super League XIII’s opening game, Hull KR are faced with living up to that performance and a degree of expectation will be in the air.  Rovers have slid out of view in eighth position, despite lying just one point off third, so the pressure is off them delivering top six results week in week out which their opening form suggested.  Now they find themselves in the mix at the bottom end of the playoffs table with a competitive points difference and forthcoming matches with fellow post season contenders, Harlequins RL and the Giants.   An interesting few weeks for Rovers and they can start it with a win tonight that would be payback for that first round defeat.  Again it’s a tricky game to call, Leeds start as favourites and I expect them to win, however we’re not looking at Leeds with the same awe as we were a few weeks back.  The post-party loss to Castleford has been akin to buckling your wheel with the champs still heading in the right direction but on some hills they’ve been caught and on one overtaken.  Okay so there’s niggling injuries and a slight loss of form going against Leeds which narrows the gap between the two without giving Rovers a head start because even with those factors Leeds remain an excellent sight, competitive until the last minute and sometimes electric before then.  First hit out Hull KR were on a reasonably level footing, form was still to be found so ball handling wasn’t as smooth and such surprises have a tendency to decrease in frequency as the season goes along.  I’m holding out hope that Hull KR can dominate the Leeds pack, which I don’t think is beyond them as a side, control the football and more importantly defend well.  They should be able to force the Rhinos to break into a sweat and the Warriors have shown that if you compete with them physically and don’t allow them to settle, Leeds can be beaten.  Hull KR can raise their game so their fans are right to expect a good showing, I just think that the cup weekend will have allowed Leeds to recharge when they probably need it.  Leeds by 8.

Warrington v Saints
Amidst a week of game of the week contenders this is my selection because it’s a fixture that carries with it more than just a local rivalry in the frontier towns of Earlestown and Newton-le-Willows.  This is a game that has produced the most one-sided head-to-head result in Super League and now has the added drama of a team in crisis looking to overcome that hoodoo against all odds.  I’m not sure it could get that much worse for fans of the heavily tipped slumping side.  Following some good performances and results at the start of the season, inconsistency, poor defence and disappointing attitude has crept into their play and in conjunction with shock losses to Harlequins RL and at Wakefield they found themselves looking to arrest that slide with trips to Leeds and a homer against Saints.  There are no eyes of envy on Warrington over these two weekends.  Can the home team rock up and throw everything into this game to show us they’re not going to fade from view in the playoff picture?  I don’t think anybody really knows.  Early in the season confidence was good, results were and flashes of brilliance were on show but that loss to McDermott’s men has really flattened them leading them to face their least favourite opponents at a time when they’re struggling to inspire themselves to victory.  Okay, you can look at the players, their ability and the gameplans, usually managing to see how things are going to work out but league is as much about mental strength as it is skill and ability with this being one of those times where Warrington need to apply determination and resilience.  Warrington have to be more committed, more enthusiastic and more physical if they are to win this game because I don’t think they can wait around to see if the passes stick or whether Briers’ latest Airbus pass hits its target or not.  At times like this when things aren’t connecting you need to hustle and bustle to make something happen to give you that confidence, which is something that Harlequins RL do well so its no coincidence that Wire’s poor run of form happened then.  It was a theory designed to test the coaching credentials of Paul Cullen.  Can Cullen lift his men?  Is this the time that Warrington lift themselves above their rivals?  I don’t think you will find one statistic that will support that they can.  The odds have been better before and worse results have followed so whilst the two teams are level on points and Saints are hardly in blistering form themselves the weight of historical results plays a part in this fixture even though coach after coach will tell you they don’t.  For me, Saints at Warrington is normally a keenly-fought, entertaining encounter full of drama and excitement.  Warrington might not be in that run of form that would have you fancying them for the win yet I still expect Cullen’s dictionary diatribe to rouse a competitive display from his troops that puts them in the running for at least sixty minutes of the game, after that history suggests Saints will take the two points which is difficult to go against.  Saints by 4.

Catalans v Castleford
Who can stop the Dragons?  The form team of the competition can recognise the contribution their Saints-bound coach has made by propelling themselves to second in the table, if only for a day.  At the beginning of the season there wouldn’t have been many people who would have said that the Dragons would be so high up the table at any point in the season but they are and although this middle act presents them with some tough away games at Saints, Bradford and Hull they should still be in the playoff hunt come the final third of the season.  Castleford unfortunately capitulated at The Stoop last week as Harlequins RL just ran through them in a very disappointing second half for the Tigers.  Can they hope to push the Dragons close on their own turf?  People say that Catalans are strong at home but I don’t see them as being stronger at home than most other teams and I think the defeats and draw support that so it stands that they must have improved away from home.  What does this mean for the Tigers chances?  I’d say not much which isn’t to undermine Castleford but is to fold my opinion up and tuck it in behind the Dragons form.  Castleford have certainly played in spurts this year and them performing at a level that can compete with the third placed side is something that I fancy might happen on Saturday, however I can’t see that Potter will let his side undo the good work they’ve done away from home with defeat here.  Catalans by 6.

Wakefield v Harlequins
Regular SKY Saturday night viewers will remember the mess that the first game between these two was and will be hoping for no repeat this weekend.  That night Wakefield turned on the Kear gears in the first half only to find their handling dawdling behind their creativity, consequently allowing Harlequins to regroup at the break and exploit the loss of Jason The Argonaut to good effect.  How is this one going to work out?  Well Wakefield banished their zero away wins column at Huddersfield, following that up with Sunday’s cup win and now they should feel quite confident that, at home, they can turn over Harlequins, who lie above them by one point in the table.  Just how close is this competition so far?  Wakefield who have stuttered along this year, fighting against key personnel losses, are within immediate striking distance of the playoffs and that’s something that won’t have escaped Kear’s attention.  How is this one going to pan out?  Difficult to say because these are two different football teams, Wakefield mixing the more traditional expansive game with the modern needs of collision competency whereas Harlequins revel in that physical contest which is something that we’ve not been able to say since the days of Peter Gill.  Away from home utilising the ball in the manner that Wakefield do can prove a problem against fired up hosting sides, but at home there’s usually some scope for error without punishment on the scoreboard.  Harlequins’ RL tight game can be a perfect counter to that and their second half against Castleford was great for their burgeoning confidence, another win here and I think they can talk seriously of a playoff place.  As it happens, I’ve gone against Harlequins RL when I’ve been right to and they’ve overturned my prediction so my standard prediction of a Harlequins RL loss goes in here and I think that because Wakefield are a bit more intelligent in their use of the ball this is a top six pressurising victory for Wakefield.  Wakefield by 4.

Bradford v Wigoon
Fifth hosts second in my backup game of the week, a match-up that has lost some of the pizzazz of earlier Super League years as both teams attempt to get back in amongst the trophies.  Saddened by the news that Trent Barrett may well be putting his villa in Whelley up for sale, I don’t think the visitors’ fans will be looking at this game with any fear.  In the last meeting the ball was on the floor more times than Didier Drogba and the Warriors reluctantly accepted control of the game forging out an important and relatively safe win.  Steve McNamara has his side tucked nicely in behind the leaders, within striking range moreover his side’s loss at Hull KR is not as big a surprise as it would have been twelve months ago so the Bulls are considered to be a side in better form than most.  Are they really though?  Just look at those victories that they’ve had in recent weeks, at Hull and two home games against Castleford and an injured ruptured Harlequins RL side, hardly turned-the-corner stuff.  I’m sure Brian Noble will be aware of that fact and there’ll be some mention of it in his preparation because good results can create the impression of mental toughness when really there’s none there.  Now I’m not dismissing the Bulls or their league position I’m saying that after that drubbing Leeds gave them they’ve won three out of the next four league games with the one they lost being the not only the most recent but probably most challenging.  This to me suggests that the Bulls had done what was expected of them in their three wins and nothing more.  Who do you go for?  Both are coming off loses in the last round of Super League matches but because there’s a cup game between them does that mean losing two games in a row is now out of the window?  If it does that alters things dramatically.  If it doesn’t, that record the Warriors have of not losing two games in a row since August is looking good for pushing them to another win here and I think that this Wigoon team, welcoming back several regulars, has  more resilience and spirit in them than their receding opponents.  Wigoon by 4.

Hull v Huddersfield
Two teams fighting for scraps and coattails of those above, hoping to not fall out of the playoff race.  Losing here does not mean that you’re out of the picture for some knockout football with things so close up above, however the way that the competition is playing out this year, coupled with each team demonstrating that they can compete at higher levels than before, it’s going to be hard to get back up the table with so many ahead of you.  One thing that these two teams have shown though is that they can count amongst their accomplishments second half of the season surges going into that postseason and I see no reason why that kind of effort can’t be repeated.  Huddersfield took the two points at home and the expectation is here that the home team will be able to secure the points again this time.  I can’t really disagree with that.  At Castleford I was expecting the Tigers to be fired up enough to unnerve Hull still Hull showed poise in traversing The Jungle, hacking through a pretty lame defence.  Huddersfield are unlikely to give Peter Sharp relaxing thoughts and he will point to them putting on a couple of good shows this year.  Sadly for Giants fans though that regularity hasn’t appeared, leaving them to look forward to another surge which will gradually moves towards the status of miracle as each loss comes along.  Numerous times this year I’ve made reference to the Giants pack and I’m on the verge of giving up talking about it if they lose here.  It’s more than good on paper, I’ve seen it perform in the flesh so my constant harping on about it is getting as stale as Warrington’s Brasso.  Hull are a team that I’ve not backed often this year, here though I see this as a good test of them, one that they can pass and give themselves some belief that they can get back into contention.  What a good way to prepare for a derby match.  Hull by 6.

Last round’s predictions;

Tigers by 4 (lost by 20)
Leeds by 10 (won by 20)
Saints by 6 (won by 46)
Wigoon by 10 (lost by 2)
Giants by 8 (lost by 2)
Bulls by 6 (lost by 2)

Another stinker there with only two correct predictions although only three of those results were as the bookies predicted and there's three two-point games in there as well.  You've got to love this competition this year.  Overall it’s 38-30 (56%), mid-table mediocrity for me.