Sat 17 Oct: Challenge Cup Final: Leeds Rhinos v Salford Red Devils KO 3pm (BBC)

[Scubby]

Just now, Man of Kent said:

No spoof.

Good for him. Can’t imagine Jeremy Corbyn doing that. Or Boris for that matter.

I believe Corbyn was a fan of Martin Offiah, the ultimate left winger.

[Chris Taylor]

I think the big game breaker was the pass from Watkins to Williams.

If it would have been a more accurate pass / caught the ball, then I think we'd have been congratulating Salford.

This is the first final in a long time, that I've genuinely been excited by it, and it was a wonderful contest. 

Thank you for a wonderful spectacle.

[Futtocks]

Looks like Starmer's angling for a ticket to next year's final...

[Scubby]

Watson should be so proud  of that team. It is obvious he would strengthen if he could. He basically has moulded a team of SL squad players into a very competitive outfit. Not only that but they also play some very entertaining football. He has reached a GF and Challenge Cup final with zero resources. They were just missing a touch of fortune today and a bit of composure. Well done Salford!!

 

[Hammerless Nail]

12 minutes ago, Scubby said:

First Challenge Cup final thread not going off about empty seats.

First "match involving Salford" thread not going off about empty seats.

[Hammerless Nail]

28 minutes ago, Scubby said:

The game hinged on control and composure in the end. Leeds created two clear drop goal opportunities - Gale missed the first but nailed the second. Salford got in the 20 and threw it from side to side and ultimately blew it. Shame for them as the game was there to level up.

From memory, Salford have managed just one successful drop goal in the past two years. Even in the cup match against Catalans, they ran it in golden point extra time (resulting in the winning try) rather than going for the drop goal. I'm not sure Salford have anyone in the squad who could successfully kick one, so I wasn't too surprised to see them run it at the end there

 

[Tommygilf]

27 minutes ago, Scubby said:

He did live in Leeds to be fair to him, but was Labouring the point somewhat!

He was a uni student here

[Padge]

26 minutes ago, Chrispmartha said:

There’s a simple solution, don’t talk about the ref then.

Every game should have two threads pinned as they come up, the game thread and a seperate ref thread.

[Chrispmartha]

2 minutes ago, Padge said:

Every game should have two threads pinned as they come up, the game thread and a seperate ref thread.

Just have a sticky thread at the top - general moaning thread.

[Padge]

Just now, Chrispmartha said:

Just have a sticky thread at the top - general moaning thread.

All the others would become superfluous.

[Rupert Prince]

35 minutes ago, Scubby said:

First Challenge Cup final thread not going off about empty seats.

I think that both sides should be forced to pay a bond for next season.  And Saints for not trying hard enough against Warrington.

[Oxford]

Well done Rhinos just earned that one, what a great final!

[doc]

It was a rubbish play the ball. The ref reacted as he's been trained to do. Move on.

[Chris22]

Really entertaining game, if not the highest quality.

Typical Salford in that they hung on and struck back. The difference here was Leeds had time to come back where Catalans and Warrington did not.

The difference was composure. If Leeds had found themselves in Salford's position in that last 2 minutes, I have no doubt they would have looked to level it. 

To go for it all was a big risk and indicative of a team without a drop goal kicked in it.

Feel for Salford, you sense that was *the* chance to win a trophy and they may not get a better chance.

For Leeds, thought they were strong in the first half. It was to their credit that they didn't panic when they fell behind and had the composure to win it. That's why they signed Gale.

I thought Leeds just deserved it in the end, but couldn't have argued if it went thr other way.

[Scubby]

The Rhys Williams try should go alongside the great Wembley tries. Amazing effort. 

[DavidM]

Entertaining game , good show for the beeb audience . Congrats to Leeds , hard luck Salford great effort . 

[Dave T]

1 hour ago, Scubby said:

I believe Corbyn was a fan of Martin Offiah, the ultimate left winger.

That's enough now. 

[Hela Wigmen]

1 hour ago, Rupert Prince said:

Ha ha...  How despetate is that man.  But surely it has to be a spoof!

His PR team will have been behind it. 

[M j M]

 

[GeordieSaint]

1 hour ago, Hammerless Nail said:

I’m not sure Salford have anyone in the squad who could successfully kick one, so I wasn't too surprised to see them run it at the end there

If Inu had a bit more pace and better execution, they should have been celebrating a winning try... 

[paul hicks]

well at least with the reduced capacity  we can be assured it as a full house 

[paul hicks]

26 minutes ago, GeordieSaint said:

If Inu had a bit more pace and better execution, they should have been celebrating a winning try... 

ah the great if 

[THE RED ROOSTER]

Tough loss for Salford, I only hope someone was watching this and puts money into the club without repeating the mistakes that the Good Doctor made.

[GUBRATS]

3 hours ago, Click said:

Haven't read the rest of the thread - but I got annoyed at the commentators lack of knowledge as to why the knock on was given against Pauli Pauli - He has to get up, play the ball, and stay on his feet - he can't fall over as he plays it - hence the knock on. The exact same thing happened earlier with Donaldson, and the ref blew a knock on and the commentators didn't comment on it.

It's been a rule for about 2 seasons now, it isn't new. 

Except there were 2 Leeds players leaning on him , penalty to Salford , they win 

[GUBRATS]

3 hours ago, Click said:

You should learn the rules of RL, and then you would know it wasn't a pedantic decision - He knocked the ball on, he is 6ft10 or however much of a giant he is - He shouldn't have to fall over because a hand is on top of him. 

One of the key parts of the PTB is to have balance and not fall over.

The ref had a good game I felt, pretty anonymous generally, and ref'd with a smile on his face which was good to see.

A hand on top of him is a foul ,end of