THE Super 8s format I was getting a social media kicking on Thursday night when Widnes capitulated tamely against Hull, and although I’m writing this ahead of the Wakefield-Warrington result, I’m expecting a bit more of same there too.
Just a minute, folks. There’s a reason Widnes and Wakefield finished seventh and eighth in the league – because in performance levels they were a long way behind the top sides over a full 23 rounds of competition.
As news goes, it’s hardly Watergate.
I’m not even going to indulge the ‘wipe the board clean and all start on zero points’ brigade other than to inquire what the hell the point of the previous 23 rounds would be, in that case?
Some people think the format is already too contrived but there comes a point when the competition has to be left to its own devices, and this is exactly that.
Cas have been a revelation with little prospect of actually hauling themselves into the semis, while that top four has absolutely everything to play for, not least the old Silver Hubcap.
It is, however, squeaky bum time over at Salford following what has to be considered a legitimate shock defeat to Leigh, notwithstanding the Centurions’ dominant league campaign.
They had a horrible time of The Qualifiers last season, but appear to have learned some valuable lessons this time round.
It makes Neil Jukes’s relief at sneaking past the Broncos in round one palpable.
A place in the Million Pound game already looks assured (no offence intended to the other Championship clubs) but one fixture smacks you in the chops like a Gareth Hock elbow – Leigh at home to the Huddersfield Giants on September 10.
It’s difficult to see the Giants not having got a win on the board yesterday (Sunday) against a Featherstone side overwhelmed by Leeds last time out, but something has been seriously wrong at the John Smith’s Stadium this season.
However the nature of the Giants’ 34-12 thumping last week at the Red Devils puts a certain focus on things.
If they don’t take their ‘A’ game to a Leigh Sports Village I expect to be jumping for that match, then what price on a Million Pound Game almost unthinkably featuring the Huddersfield Giants and Salford?
That would give the critics writing off the 12s and 8s format as a meaningless exercise something to chew on.
*Can I apologise tor a numbskull moment committed on this page last week? My brain was saying Josh Hodgson and Elliott Whitehead of Canberra, my fingers typed Penrith. Senior moment. Sorry (although you can bet your bottom dollar Penrith wish they had our dynamic duo).
I blame the fact that it feels like hail of Super League is playing in the NRL at times. That and the senility obviously.
