Rugby

[sporting sam]

Superleague round 2
Salford v Toronto
Toronto were given a grilling by Castleford at the weekend before the Northerners eased off the gas.
They bring a bit of exotic to the table and have an interesting future if they can get through their first year at the top.
Toronto though have a tiny squad and have under recruited not realising how tough day to day Rugby League really.
I reckon they need four more quality signings from the NRL plus four more from Union and Superleague and a squad of over 30.
They have just 23 and have injuries already.
Salford have played St Helens in the season opener so should be spot on.
A 20 point winning margin is not beyond them.
A season of struggle for the Wolfpack unless they are allowed to strengthen their squad.
Salford-8pts Evens

[sporting sam]

Salford could only manage an eight points winning margin.
They had more than enough chances to win comfortably, spilling the ball over the try line more than once.
Toronto put in a gritty display,
they actually led at one stage but didn’t have enough about them to take charge of an out of sorts Salford team.
They look certain to finish bottom.
Only Wakefield and Leeds look like struggling this year and both of those sides are stronger than Toronto.
I would not be suprised to see no relegation from Superleague this time round, and two championship teams
(including London Broncos) promoted next year.
Next up for Toronto
Wigan!!!

[sporting sam]

Tonight’s match.
Hull Kingston Rovers at home to Castleford.
Hull have had an indifferent start to the season, Castleford are going well and can go top if they avoid defeat.

Defence has been an issue for both sides and the specials market interests me.
Ben Crooks scored four tries in one match at the start of the campaign and a hat trick is not beyond him depending on the service.
Crooks to score a hattick 80/1
Betfair

Olipherts to score a hattrick 28/1
Covering bets
Oliperts/Crooks to score a try at anytime

[sporting sam]

Tight game, but Castleford pulled clear in the second half and are top of the league.
No multiple try scorer.
Crooks scored a try.

[sporting sam]

Superleague has returned and the landscape has changed dramatically in the sport.
As expected the money and players ran out and Toronto Wolfpack collapsed unable to play home matches or recruit new players thus they could not fulfil fixtures.
Lots of finiancial irregularities coming to light after alarm bells set ringing over last two years with lots of late wages and unpaid bills.

The game has returned and scrums have been abolished in Superleague not sure why as contact is also intense in tackling.
This sets a new precedent as the NRL have continued to play with scrums and there are two different types of Rugby League being played now.
Another rule change has been the six again rule offered to teams instead of a penalty. This means teams may face multiple sets of plays without regaining the ball leading to some high scoring one sided games.
Another aspect to the new order is several games have beem called off due to outbreaks of covid 19.
Players and team groups are not operating in bubbles hence players will always pick up covid and games will be called off.
NRL and Superleague are almost unrecognisable from each other. One is average, the other high quality and entertaining.

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