12 Sep 2019

THE CHALKBOARD: FRIDAY THE 13TH SPECIAL

All the tactics from all the games ahead of the deciding weekend of the season.

Shades of horror surrounded our trip to St. Helens last week, but it is on Friday the 13th, the true horror show really begins for one club. Huddersfield join Wakefield, Hull KR and London in a 4-way relegation dog fight that ends on the final day of the season. Here we are going to delve into the game breakers in all three of the big fixtures.

Giants V Dragons

The Giants will look to slay the Dragons at home to secure our Super League status. With results elsewhere already a factor to potentially send Huddersfield down, the boys will look to not let the fates decide by wrapping up a final home victory of the season.

In previous weeks we have delved into lots of areas that have affected results but this week, it may be as simple as stopping the Dragons up the middle. Catalans large and ferocious pack have been a vocal point of their style of play since their entrance into Super League, and Huddersfield must cope with the men up the middle, something we were unable to do at St. Helens.

It took all of five minutes for problems in the middle to start at the totally wicked stadium, and it’s not a problem we can afford to see repeat. Matagi the culprit this time, but there were numerous errors up the middle throughout. Some trust in the line moving as a whole would prevent this Thompson try, and it’s a patience we must have Friday.

Going forward the shape is good, and the execution needs to reflect that. At Hull we had our two halves firing and we need the same against a tough Dragons defence, headed by Michael Mcilorum. Work from the middle to give Frawley/Gaskell space to manoeuvre will be vital, and once in that space Frawley and Gaskell will be key to the success of the Giants outfit.

Getting defenders off movement like we see with Connor, is key, meaning outside defenders have to make calls and with Senior and McGillvary patrolling, we hope to see many tries down the outside.

Salford v Hull KR

Salford’s miraculous season could go as far as 2nd in the league come the end of play, and a win is the only way that Salford can secure a top three place. With the knowledge that Warrington are facing Leeds at Headingly, the Salford side will be pushing hard to close out a struggling Hull KR side.

The Ashes has been a long one for the English, with one Australian in particular causing all sorts of trouble, and Salford have another such Aussie causing havoc in Super League. BUT if Jackson Hastings is the Steve Smith, I want to focus on the Pat Cummins for the Salford Red Devils. Cummins equally, albeit less obviously, has been key to Australia’s success, and in Joey Lussick Salford have an equally less obvious but important Australian. We have seen the importance of his runs from half, no more so than against Warrington two weeks ago.

Off-balance defenders and Lussick is away, Hull KR will have to be vigilant because every slip in concentration to focus on Hastings will give the Salford no. 14 and chance to slip away himself.

Hull KR on the other hand have experience of big games in spades, and last weeks try-scorer Danny McGuire is as good as they come on the big occasion. The away side will need him at his primal best to get amongst this Salford side who will be hunting red robins all night.

Wakefield v London

All the talk of tactics and pressure for Huddersfield and Hull KR may well not be needed however, as a Wakefield win in this tie means that it is the team from the capital that will face an immediate return to the Championship, despite the best season by any promoted team, in the history of the competition.

So what do London have to do to beat the Wakefield side? In recent weeks, Wakefield have looked a lot better but have had the hardest run in, with close losses to Wigan and Warrington being tough to take for the Trinity fans but it has been big time plays by the big sides that have taken games away from them. London will have to find some of that big play magic to win this one, but newest signing Brock Lamb, may just provide that for the Broncos.

Two stunning efforts from Lamb set up and early 12-point lead for London in last weeks game against Hull KR and you can’t help but feel the hopes of a capital rest on the Aussie’s shoulders.

One excellent tip on, and an excellent dummy sent London away and Pitts’ last gasp winner kept everyone on the edge of their seats for one more week.

Wakefield will be relying on a new recruit themselves, along with the ever reliable half partnership of Danny Brough and Jacob Miller. The ex-Giant tends to receive first to bring in Miller, who then brings in the game-changer, or so he has been in recent weeks for Trinity.

Morgan Escare, on loan from Wigan has been directly involved in most, if not all, of the good things coming out of Wakefield’s attack and the speedy little back will be looking to say au revoir to the country’s capital this Friday.

This game, as expected, is the Sky selection and it is here where all four teams will have vested interest, but each side will look to do their job one more time.

It will be a pulsating final week, as good as any we've ever seen in the Super League, and all of our belief will be firmly with the Giants as they push for that final win in a tough season.

THE POSSIBLE OUTCOMES.

For each team to be relegated, the following needs to happen.

Huddersfield

Catalans beat Huddersfield

London beat Wakefield

Hull KR beat Salford OR lose by 13 less than Huddersfield.

Wakefield

London beat Wakefield

Huddersfield beat Catalans

Hull KR beat Salford

Hull KR

London beat Wakefield