2019 Super League Round Eight Review

Round eight began with Leeds Rhinos ending their losing streak in spectacular style on Thursday night with a 21-20 Golden Point win over Castleford Tigers. The first televised GP victory in Super League began with the Rhinos racing into a 4-0 lead inside three minutes as Konrad Hurrell crossed. Liam Watts drew the Tigers level with a 22nd minute try before Ash Handley's effort and a late Liam Sutcliffe penalty goal saw the hosts lead 10-4 into the interval.

The Rhinos took control with Sutcliffe and Trent Merrin both crossing before the hour with Cameron Smith converting the latter for 20-4. Cas fought back superbly with three scores in 11 minutes, Greg Minkin, ex-Rhinos forward Chris Clarkson and Alex Foster all touching down with Callum Turner converting all but the latter for 20 all. Both sides attempted match-winning drop goals with Jake Trueman and Sutcliffe wide of the target before an epic 40 yard one-pointer in the first minute of extra time from Brad Dwyer sealed the win for the Rhinos.

St Helens survived a scare as they maintained their 100% record with a 36-24 win over Hull Kingston Rovers. A self-converted try from Lachlan Coote put the hosts 6-0 ahead before Jack Welsby and Luke Thompson crossed with Coote's conversion making it 6-0 after the first quarter. KR responded with a brace from Kane Linnett either side of Will Oakes' try and with Ryan Shaw converting the lot, they led 18-16 into the interval.

A Coote penalty goal within five minutes of the restart levelled at 18 all before Shaun Lunt's try and a Shaw conversion restored KR's lead at 24-18. The sides were level again on the hour as Kyle Amor crossed and Coote kicked for 24-24. Saints went ahead for the first time in the second half just two minutes later as Aaron Smith (Coote conv) touched down for 30-24. The win was sealed so minutes from the end as Regan Grace went over with Coote successful for the sixth time with the boot for 36-24.

Friday's televised action saw Warrington Wolves ease to a 63-12 hammering of Hull FC at the KCOM Stadium. The Wolves raced out of the blocks with braces from Blake Austin and Josh Charnley coupled with a Daryl Clark try and four conversions from Stefan Ratchford for a 28-0 lead inside 23 minutes. Austin completed his hat-trick on the half hour with Ratchford kicking for 34-0 before FC ended the Wolves spree just before half-time as Albert Kelly touched down with Marc Sneyd converting for 34-6.

Warrington took just two minutes of the second half to resume control as Ben Murdoch Masila crossed and Ratchford kicking for 40-6. A fourth score from Austin (Ratchford conv) and try from Ex-FC winger Tom Lineham made it 48-6 before the hour but with Charnley claiming his hat-trick try and Ratchford converting, the lead became 54-6. FC reached double figures three minutes later as Jordan Lane went over with Sneyd converting for 54-12. The last meeting between the sides saw Wire reach 80 and in the final ten minutes then breached 60 with Lineham scoring his second try with a ninth Ratchford conversion and late Austin drop goal completing the rout.

In attendance at the DW on Sunday as Wigan Warriors eased to a 42-0 win over Catalans Dragons. A tight first half saw Joe Burgess open the scoring and Zak Hardaker convert for 6-0 on 22 minutes before Hardaker kicked a penalty goal on the hooter for 8-0 into the interval. A second for Burgess within nine minutes of the restart and Hardaker penalty goal made it 14-0 before Wigan ran in three tries in eight minutes as Oliver Gildart and Hardaker crossed either side of Burgess' hat-trick score with Hardaker adding two conversions for 36-0. The rout was completed late on by Jarrod Sammut's spectacular score with Hardaker kicking a seventh conversion of the afternoon for 42-0.

Wakefield Trinity continued their good start to the season with a 33-22 win over Salford Red Devils. The hosts struck first as David Fifita touched down inside four minutes with Danny Brough converting for 6-0 which soon became 6-6 as Niall Evalds crossed and Ed Chamberlain converted for Salford. Two scores in six minutes put Trinity back ahead, Ryan Hampshire and Reece Lyne crossing with Brough improving both for 18-6. Kris Welham went in to cut the gap to 18-10 before Pauli Pauli's try (Brough conv) made it 24-10 into the interval.

Jacob Miller (Brough conv) crossed to increase the lead to 30-10 before two scores in as many minutes for Salford saw Derrell Olpherts and Jackson Hastings touch down with Chamberlain improving both for 30-22. Trinity wrapped up the win with a penalty and drop goal from Brough for 33-22.

The round ended with Huddersfield Giants continuing their recent revival with a 38-26 win at London Broncos. The Giants flew out of the blocks with Joe Wardle and Jordan Turner crossing either side of an Alex Walker score for the hosts with Lee Gaskell and Kieran Dixon improving the tries for 12-6. Akuila Uate extended the lead to 16-6 on 13 minutes before a frantic final ten minutes of the half saw Jermaine McGillvary and Sebastien Ikahihifo going in with Gaskell kicking twice for 28-6. The hosts cut the gap just before the interval through Jay Pitts with Dixon kicking for 28-12.

London cut the gap further within four minutes of the restart through Rhys Williams (Dixon conv) for 28-18 but Hudds responded with Uate's second (Gaskell conv) for 34-18. The hosts remained in the hunt with Dixon crossing on the hour to make it 34-22 but Alex Mellor's try five minutes later looked to seal the points for the Giants. London did have the final say though with Dixon crossing for his second try late on for 38-26