Super League play-offs – Team previews
Old Trafford will host the 2010 Super League Grand Final on Saturday October 2nd, where the title will be contested by the two teams who come through the thrills and spills off the play-offs which kick-off this weekend.
We look at each of the eight teams’ chances;
Wigan Warriors
Wigan have been made deserving favourites to lift the Super League trophy on finals nights due to their sparkling league performances which saw them finish top and pick up the League Shield. They amassed 44 points, losing only five games all season and go into their qualifying semi-final clash with Leeds Rhinos at the DW Stadium brimming with confidence. If Michael Maguire’s side are victorious at Old Trafford it will be their first major title since 1998, and it could be the start of another era where the Warriors dominate rugby league - like in the mid-1990’s where they won five league championships and six Challenge Cups.
Key player – Pat Richards: Last weekend he equalled the Super League record for the most points scored in a season (388) and was also named RLWA player of the year.
Prediction – May find it tough against Leeds this weekend, but possess enough quality in attacking areas to make the Grand Final.
St Helens
It could be said that St Helens have been the bridesmaid of the Super League play-offs for too many years now. Beaten finalists in the last three seasons, Mick Potter’s side will be looking to make it fourth-time lucky this time around. They finished the season strongly, winning their last six matches and finishing in second place. Along with Huddersfield they come into the play-offs with the best recent form, highlighted by their memorable late comeback last weekend to beat Castleford 40-30 in the last ever game to be played at Knowsley Road. Warrington await the Saints in the first play-off match, which is unbelievably the first time the two rivals have met in a play-off fixture.
Key player –Jonny Lomax: With star man Leon Pryce ruled out for the play-offs with a neck injury, huge emphasis will be on his replacement Jonny Lomax to fill the void.
Prediction – Are missing key players through injury, Saints fans could be left heartbroken once again.
Warrington Wolves
The Challenge Cup winners, who regained their title two weeks ago at Wembley, go into the play-offs with their highest-ever finish in a league season under their belt. Tony Smith has done a sterling job with what was classed at the start of the season as a mediocre squad to guide them to third place, playing easy on the eye, attacking rugby in the process.
Key Player – Adrian Morley: The experienced, tough tackling skipper is a force to be reckoned with.
Prediction – Never made it past the elimination stages in the play-offs, and it took a huge effort to beat Leeds at Wembley two weeks ago. The Wolves may just run out of gas.
Leeds Rhinos
It’s been a season of underachievement up until now for the Rhinos, who have struggled to find a consistent run of form in the league resulting in a disappointing fourth placed finish and being embarrassingly beaten 30-6 by Warrington in the Challenge Cup final. But you would be a fool to discount the team that have won the Super League for the past three seasons and who thrive on pressure-filled knock-out rugby. Their trip to the DW Stadium on Friday is sure to be a cracker.
Key player - Danny McGuire: The stand-off has the ability to dictate the pace of a game and pull strings from midfield.
Prediction – Have to be respected but aren’t playing at the same level as the past few seasons, may just find one or two teams too good.
Huddersfield Giants
Huddersfield have made it to the play-offs twice previously, in 2007 and 2009, but on both occasions came up short with defeats to Catalans and Hull FC. They will be hoping to reverse their fortunes this year and despite having to take the harder route to the final by finishing fifth, the Giants look to be the only team from outside the top four that can have realistic dreams of making the Grand Final. Nathan Brown’s side have had an extraordinary second half to the season which has seen them rise from wooden spoon no-hopers to title challengers. They go into their qualification game against Catalans on Saturday off the back of five straight wins and the Giants will be huge favourites to progress to face one of the big boys.
Key Player – Leroy Cudjoe: The fleet footed winger has pace to burn and is one of the best finishers in the league.
Prediction – Have a great record against the sides at the top of the league, and seem to raise their game for the big occasion. Momentum is key in play-offs, and the Giants have that in abundance – could be the dark horses.
Hull FC
Not many people at the start of the season would have predicted Hull FC finishing in the play-offs, they have really struggled to stamp their authority on the Super League in recent years, finishing in the bottom three for the last four seasons. But a change in tactics has resulted in a successful season - finishing fifth in the table and setting up a mouth-watering knock-out match against Hull KR. The local authorities’ palms will be sweating at the thought of the two sides meeting in what is the biggest match between the two sides in over thirty years as crowd trouble has marred a handful of Hull matches this season. The Black and Whites have already beaten their rivals on three separate occasions this term and the return of Sean Long and Richard Horne to the side should breathe more confidence into the squad.
Key Player – Sean Long: Missed a huge chunk of the season through injury but is world-class on his day, showed signs of his old magic against Leeds last weekend.
Prediction – Saturday’s local derby is going to be fiery encounter which will no doubt take a lot out of the players. Wouldn’t fancy either side to progress much further after the battle at the KC Stadium.
Hull KR
It’s been 26 years since Rovers were crowned league champions, and it is hard to see them ending that barren spell in this year’s play-offs. Justin Morgan has made his side incredibly hard to beat but they lack the real attacking firepower to kill teams off, which has been their main problem this season. However a sixth-place finish is a great achievement for a side that have struggled over the past few seasons and the prospect of playing their local rivals on Saturday will be an occasion that the fans aren’t going to forget in a hurry.
Key player – Mick Vella: The Australian skipper is a powerful force in the Rovers backline and his aggression will play a huge part in Saturday’s derby.
Prediction – In many ways this Saturday is their final, any other success will be seen as a bonus.
Crusaders RL
Brian Noble is seen as the king of the play-offs. The current Crusaders coach led Bradford to victory in three Grand Finals at the turn of the century and he is back to have another shot with his new side. The eighth placed finishers will have to do it the hard way though.
Key Player – Gareth Thomas: The legendary Welsh rugby union star can still cut the mustard at this level and will need to be best watched by the Giants defence on Saturday.
Prediction - The Welsh club have a daunting trip to the Galpharm to face in-form Huddersfield and unless Noble can conjure up a minor miracle, the Crusaders season should be over by that evening.
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