2019 Super League Round 23 Review

In attendance as round 23 began on Thursday night as Wigan Warriors extended Wakefield Trinity's losing streak with a 36-16 win. Wigan raced into an 18-0 lead inside 14 minutes with tries from Liam Farrell, Zak Hardaker and Willie Isa with Hardaker converting the lot. Trinity had no answer and went into the interval with a huge 34-0 deficit to overturn after Farrell crossed for his second try ahead of Jake Shorrocks score straight after the restart and intercept try by Jarrod Sammut. 

Wakefield got off the mark with ex-Warriors back Ryan Hampshire crossing and Brough converting for 34-6 before a full length score from Oliver Gildart saw Hardaker kick for 40-6. Hampshire collected a long range kick to claim his second try with Brough converting for 40-12 before a rare hat-trick try from Farrell saw Hardaker reach seven successes with the boot at 46-12. Wakefield had the final say late on as Max Jowitt crossed for 46-16.

Friday night saw a battle near the bottom as Huddersfield Giants claimed an 18-12 win at Hull Kingston Rovers. Rovers opened the scoring inside eight minutes through Kane Linnett with Craig Hall converting for 6-0, Matty English replied for the Giants who were level after Darnell McIntosh converted. 

The sides remained level into the interval with the equality broken seven minutes after the restart by Alex Mellor's try before McIntosh added two penalty goals on 51 and 60 minutes for 14-6. KR cut the gap with six minutes to go as Hall touched down and converted for 14-12 but it was to be joy for the Giants as Jermaine McGillvary went over in the 78th minute to seal the 18-12 win. 

Sunday's quarter of games begins with Hull FC maintaining third spot with a narrow 26-24 win at Leeds Rhinos. FC led 6-0 inside six minutes with a Sika Manu and Marc Sneyd conversion before Sneyd improved an effort from Faraimo for 12-0. Leeds cut the gap into the interval with Konrad Hurrell touching down and Rhyse Martin converting for 12-6. 

FC restored their two score advantage within four minutes of the restart, Jamie Shaul crossing and Sneyd converting for 18-6 with Sneyd adding a penalty goal for 20-6. Leeds closed the gap with a brace from Tom Briscoe either side of Ash Handley touching down and with Martin converting the lot, the Rhinos led 24-20. Their comeback was to be cancelled out though as FC snatched the win nine minutes from the end with Ratu Naulago crossing out wide and Sneyd kicking his fifth success for 26-24. 

London Broncos completed a home double over leaders St Helens with a comfortable 32-12 win. London opened the scoring on 11 minutes as Matty Fleming crossed for a try which Kieran Dixon converted for 6-0. Saints levelled on 22 minutes with Aaron Smith touching down and Danny Richardson converting before they fell behind five minutes later to a Luke Yates try which Dixon improved for 12-6. Dixon added a penalty goal to extend the lead to 14-6 into the interval.

Saints cut the deficit with a self-converted effort from Richardson before London took control with tries from Alex Walker and Matty Gee before Fleming claimed his second try, Dixon added three conversions for a total of six successes as the Broncos wrapped up the 32-12 win. 

Salford Red Devils boosted their top five hopes with a comfortable 40-14 win over Catalans Dragons. Catalans opened the scoring with a Sam Tomkins penalty goal for 2-0 before Salford hit back on 27 minutes through Greg Johnson with Krisnan Inu converting for 6-2. Catalans regained the lead with a Sam Kasiano try which Tomkins converted for 8-6 but Salford would lead into the interval as Derrell Olpherts and Kris Welham crossed and Inu converted the latter for 16-8.

Catalans took just three minutes of the second half to rely with Brayden Wiliame touching down and Tomkins converting for 16-14 but for the Dragons that was were their joy ended as Salford took control with Tui Lolohea, Niall Evalds and Mark Flanagan crossing while Welham claimed his second and after Inu converted the first, Lolohea converted the other three scores to complete the 40-14 victory.

The round ended with Castleford Tigers claiming a 27-18 over Warrington Wolves at the Mend-A-Hose Jungle. The Wolves struck first with a Declan Patton penalty goal after just six minutes for 2-0 before James Clare crossed for the Tigers inside nine minutes with Peter Mata'utia converting for a 6-2 lead that became 10-2 with two penalty goals from Mata'utia. Warrington cut the gap with a Jake Mamo try which Patton converted for 10-8 but the lead at the interval would be 12-8 for the hosts after another Mata'utia penalty goal.

Tom Lineham crossed to put the Wolves ahead, Patton kicking for 14-12 but the Tigers fought back with scores from Greg Minkin, Jake Trueman and Tuoyo Egodo in the space of ten minutes with a single Mata'utia conversion taking the score to 26-14. Warrington cut the gap late on with a Toby King try but the Tigers were to have the final say as Trueman swept over a last minute drop goal for 27-18.