Super League Round 27 Video Verdict - what's on the line for Hull Kr and Leeds Rhinos - video Dailymotion

Yorkshire Post

The YP's rugby league writer James O'Brien looks ahead to the final weekend of Super League regular season action and what Hull Kr and Leeds Rhinos need to happen

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00:00We're joined by James O'Brien, the Yorkshire Post's Rugby League writer, as we delve into

00:11the final week and final round of games in Super League. Lots of permutations, lots that

00:18involve two Yorkshire clubs in particular, Paul K.R. and Leeds Rhinos. We'll get onto

00:24Leeds Rhinos in a bit. Their situation is a bit more complicated, not helped by the

00:28fact that games in this final round are, in a strange way, being spread over three nights,

00:34over three days, whereas I think, James, you've stated in one of your pieces earlier this week

00:39that it used to be all the games were on the same night in previous years, or they have been

00:44from time to time. But anyway, that's by the by. We'll start with Paul K.R. Two points behind

00:49Wigan going into the last game. They face Leeds on Friday, obviously, Paul K.R. Wigan play Salford

00:58on Thursday, which is what is the main kind of one of the main talking points that sprung from

01:04this week in the sense that Salford have, some would say, have picked a below strength side,

01:11knowing they're already sort of in the playoffs. And it hasn't gone down well in some quarters,

01:16most notably, most likely, obviously, with the Hawkeye fans. Willie Peters has played it with

01:21a straight back, as it were, to coin a phrase from another sport and not got involved in it,

01:25said it's up to other people to do what they want to do. But I think in one of your pieces

01:31earlier this week, you kind of said it's almost single handedly, effectively handed the league

01:36leadership to Wigan in theory. Yeah, well, it has. I mean, I can't see a reserve side going

01:42to the champions and winning. The only hope they had was maybe Wigan resting a few as well, but

01:48it doesn't look like they will. They might pull a few star players off once they get well in front,

01:54give them a rest, but they've got a week off anyway. So it's disappointing that the season's

01:59not going to have the finale that a lot of people would like. It's been a really good battle all

02:04the way through. It was three teams, including Warrington, but then it came down to Hawkeye,

02:09Wigan. And basically the match that's decided it is the one at Wigan the other week where Hawkeye

02:14just came out on the wrong side. So that's the one. That's why they lost it. Not this week.

02:19Salford can do what they like. They secured the player place last week.

02:24They're guaranteed to play next week. It's just where they play and who they play.

02:28But Paul Rowley evidently isn't bothered. He's backing his players as long as they're

02:32fit and healthy, which they should be after having a rest this week.

02:37Obviously, the business end of the season is to come after this week. Essentially,

02:40this is where the main target is for everyone up at the top of the table.

02:44But regardless of what happens after this week,

02:48it still has to be viewed as a very good season for Hawkeye, doesn't it?

02:51Oh, absolutely. There will be some disappointment that they've not

02:55ended the long wait for Silverware. Hull FC fans love to remind them they haven't won anything

03:00of note since 1985. So that wait goes on. But hopefully for them, only a few more weeks.

03:07They've got a lot to look forward to. If they win this week, they get the home

03:10semi-final. Then they'll be 80 minutes away from the first Old Trafford appearance

03:16for a grand final anyway. And they've got home advantage, which is massive for them.

03:21And they'll have the week off as well because they've had a really demanding

03:23run and they've played all the top sides. So if any side needs a week off, it's Hull

03:28KR. So fingers crossed for them that they can get the result on Friday. They can have that

03:32week off and then we can gear up for the biggest game at Craven Park, the new Craven Park that

03:38there's ever been, I think.

03:40Talking of Friday, obviously they're playing against Leeds. Leeds have plenty to play for,

03:44but as we sort of alluded to earlier, there are lots of permutations. Obviously,

03:50Lee and St Helens play on Friday as well. Leeds need a St Helens win. But then you've got the

03:57complication of Catalan's playing on Saturday, knowing if Leeds manage to get the win, Catalan's

04:05will know how many points they need in order to get that last playoff place, won't they?

04:11Only in Rugby League, as Rugby League fans would say. You won't have it in any other sport,

04:17well, particularly football. Look at those, they all kick off at the same time, don't they?

04:23I know the Football League, it's like half 12 and we've got the stopwatches ready and they don't go

04:30a minute or a second too early or too late. But in Rugby League, they do what they want.

04:35So, there is a scenario where Catalan go to Hull on Saturday and they'll know exactly how many

04:40points if they say they need 50, 60 points, which is not beyond the realms against this Hull side.

04:46No disrespect, that's what the numbers say. So, they could put the ball up the jumper for the

04:51last 20 minutes and not attack as they probably would if they knew they needed more points. So,

04:56yeah, it's not great integrity-wise, but we'll see how it plays out. It might be a dead rubber.

05:02We'll see how it goes.

05:05you

Super League Round 27 Video Verdict - what's on the line for Hull Kr and Leeds Rhinos

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