Eye on Rugby League by Tony Williams

Are Toulouse the only exception

Do the RFL Operational Rules make Toulouse an exception to the on-field criteria that Championship clubs must fulfill to apply for a Super League license?

Magic Weekend could reinvigorate season's start

The RFL’s decision to move the Magic Weekend back to Cardiff has, as you would expect, divided opinion among rugby league fans.

Castleford fine isn't just for Thomas' benefit

Castleford's punishment isn’t just for Gareth Thomas’ benefit, it’s for others who may be more vulnerable. It's hardly likely that Thomas is the only rugby league player who isn’t straight.

Is Cas-Fev-Wakefield merger the only option

Do not assume that because the arguments in favour of a merger are logical then the arguments against are somehow illogical

Challenge Cup talking points

When and where should the semi-finals be staged? Why did the draw have to take place at the same time as my exam?

Rearranging World Cup-clash games is only realistic

In rearranging games that clash with England's soccer World Cup fixtures, rugby league clubs may be taking the only realistic option.

Salford's stadium an outlandish promise

Outlandish promises are the norm during a General Election campaign, but none have been quite as outlandish as the promise of Salford's new stadium.

The self-fulfilling prophecy of franchising

Clubs such as Barrow, Halifax and Widnes are merely fooling themselves ... obviously such small fry cannot be compared to the giants of Harlequins, Salford and Wakefield.

Don't mind the credibility gap

Rugby league is trying to bridge that credibility gap from which other sports don't suffer, but do our efforts sometimes backfire?

World Cup needs to be uncomplicated

Perhaps the format of the Rugby League World Cup would benefit from greater simplicity rather than bizzare contortions.

Could 2010 see end to Saints-Leeds dominance

For the last few years Super League has been dominated by Leeds and Saints, so it’s quite pleasing for both to lose unexpectedly at the start of the season.

About the Author

Stats

Wigan	vs	Bradford
Round: 27 Fri 3 Sep 20:00
Harlequins	vs	Warrington
Round: 27 Fri 3 Sep 20:00
Hull FC	vs	Leeds
Round: 27 Sat 4 Sep 16:30
St. Helens	vs	Castleford
Round: 27 Sat 4 Sep 18:45
Crusaders	vs	Hull K R
Round: 27 Sat 4 Sep 18:45
Catalans	vs	Huddersfield
Round: 27 Sat 4 Sep 18:30

Hull K R	18 - 38	Wigan
New Craven Park Sun 22nd August
Huddersfield	52 - 4	Salford
The Galpharm Stadium Sun 22nd August
Bradford	38 - 28	Wakefield
Grattan Stadium Sun 22nd August
Castleford	40 - 28	Harlequins
The Jungle Sun 22nd August
Crusaders	10 - 36	St Helens
Racecourse Sat 21st August
Warrington	36 - 18	Hull
Halliwell Jones Stadium Fri 20th August

Pos	Name	P	W	D	L	Pts
1	Wigan	26	21	0	5	42
2	St Helens	26	19	0	7	38
3	Warrington	26	19	0	7	38
4	Leeds	26	16	1	9	33
5	Hull FC	26	16	0	10	32
6	Huddersfield	26	15	1	10	31
7	Hull K R	26	14	1	11	29
8	Castleford	26	11	0	15	22
9	Crusaders	26	11	0	15	22
10	Bradford	26	9	1	16	19
11	Wakefield	26	9	0	17	18
12	Harlequins	26	7	0	19	14
13	Salford	26	7	0	19	14
14	Catalans	26	6	0	20	12

Leigh	vs	Sheffield
Round: Play Offs Thu 2 Sep 19:30
Barrow	vs	Widnes
Round: Play Offs Sun 5 Sep 15:00
Featherstone	vs	Halifax
Round: Play Offs Thu 9 Sep 19:30
tbc	vs	tbc
Round: Final Sun 26 Sep

Whitehaven	26 - 12	Batley
Recreation Ground Sun 22nd August
Keighley	24 - 32	Widnes
Cougar Park Sun 22nd August
Featherstone	72 - 20	Barrow
Bigfellas Stadium Sun 22nd August
Toulouse	24 - 38	Halifax
Sat 21st August
Sheffield	29 - 28	Leigh
Don Valley Stadium Thu 19th August
Barrow	14 - 32	Widnes
Craven Park Wed 18th August

Pos	Name	P	W	D	L	Pts
1	Featherstone	20	18	0	2	56
2	Halifax	20	16	0	4	50
3	Leigh	20	12	1	7	43
4	Barrow	20	12	1	7	39
5	Widnes	20	11	0	9	38
6	Sheffield	20	10	1	9	35
7	Batley	20	7	0	13	29
8	Toulouse	20	8	0	12	27
9	Dewsbury	20	6	0	14	26
10	Whitehaven	20	4	0	16	16
11	Keighley *	20	4	1	15	10

Blackpool	vs	Workington
Round: Play Offs Sun 5 Sep 15:30
Rochdale	vs	S Wales
Round: Play Offs Sun 5 Sep 15:00
Oldham	vs	York
Round: Play Offs Sun 12 Sep 15:00
tbc	vs	tbc
Round: Final Sun 26 Sep

London	18 - 48	Oldham
New River Stadium Fri 27th August
Hunslet	32 - 24	South
South Leeds Stadium Sun 22nd August
Rochdale	16 - 26	Blackpool
Spotland Stadium Sun 22nd August
Swinton	94 - 0	Gateshead
Sedgley Park Sun 22nd August
Doncaster	46 - 12	Workington
Keepoat Stadium Sun 22nd August
South	16 - 18	York
Sun 15th August

Pos	Name	P	W	D	L	Pts
1	Hunslet	20	18	0	2	55
2	Oldham	20	17	0	3	52
3	York	20	12	0	8	39
4	Blackpool	20	15	0	5	38
5	Rochdale	20	10	0	10	37
6	South	20	9	0	11	34
7	Workington	20	8	1	11	33
8	Swinton	20	9	1	10	33
9	Doncaster	20	8	0	12	28
10	London	20	2	0	18	10
11	Gateshead	20	1	0	19	-2

Batley	25 - 24	Widnes
Bloomfield Road Sun 18th July
Keighley	18 - 48	Widnes
Cougar Park Sun 20th June
Leigh	4 - 25	Batley
Leigh Sports Village Thu 17th June
Hunslet	6 - 42	Leigh
South Leeds Stadium Sun 6th June
Batley	26 - 16	Sheffield
Mount Pleasant Sun 6th June
Keighley	32 - 6	York
Cougar Park Sun 6th June

Pos	Name	P	W	L	Pts
1	Dragons	23	16	7	205
2	Wests	23	15	8	37
3	Panthers	23	14	9	118
4	Titans	23	14	9	19
5	Roosters	23	13	10	39
6	Warriors	23	13	10	39
7	Sea Eagles	23	12	11	41
8	Raiders	23	12	11	4
9	Rabbitohs	23	11	12	31
10	Broncos	23	11	12	-25
11	Knights	23	10	13	-40
12	Eels	23	10	13	-64
13	Bulldogs	23	8	15	-51
14	Sharks	23	7	16	-217
15	Cowboys	23	5	18	-232
16	Storm	23	13	10	96