Eye on Rugby League by Tony Williams

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.

End Super League Show's Northern exile

This week Tanya Arnold is in London, presenting a show that will only be broadcast in the North.

Crusaders move clears space for new start

A new Co-operative Championship 1 side in south Wales could be a step on the road to genuine exapansion.

Lack of league in a northern city

Is rugby league as northern a game as we've always been led to believe?

No worthy winners

If you listen to all the criticism then it seems nothing in rugby league is worth winning.

The distraction of next weekend

Tony Williams wonders how an event as big as the Challenge Cup final can be considered a distraction.

Waking up in Vegas

The Rugby Football League took a huge gamble in handing a Super League franchise to Celtic Crusaders, and it doesn’t look to be paying off.

Challenge Cup is our showpiece

The Challenge Cup semi finals are upon us, and if proof was needed as to the importance of this competition it was provided by the BBC.

An undue influence

Tony Williams looks at how media speculation affects the RFL's license decision-making process.

Refs need respect

Tony Williams discusses why professional players should think twice before speaking out of turn to referees.

About the Author

Stats

Crusaders	vs	Catalans
Round: 7 Fri 19 Mar 20:00
Leeds	vs	Hull K R
Round: 7 Fri 19 Mar 20:00
Hull FC	vs	Bradford
Round: 7 Fri 19 Mar 20:00
St. Helens	vs	Warrington
Round: 7 Fri 19 Mar 20:00
Harlequins	vs	Huddersfield
Round: 7 Sat 20 Mar 17:45
Castleford	vs	Wigan
Round: 7 Sun 21 Mar 15:30

Harlequins	22 - 26	Salford
Twickenham Stoop Sun 14th March
Huddersfield	26 - 20	Leeds
The Galpharm Stadium Sun 14th March
Warrington	33 - 8	Bradford
Halliwell Jones Stadium Sat 13th March
Catalans	16 - 20	Castleford
Stade Gilbert Brutus Sat 13th March
St Helens	37 - 30	Crusaders
GPW Recruitment Stadium Fri 12th March
Hull K R	18 - 31	Wakefield
New Craven Park Fri 12th March

Pos	Name	P	W	L	Pts
1	Wigan	6	5	1	10
2	Warrington	6	5	1	10
3	Huddersfield	6	4	2	8
4	St Helens	6	4	2	8
5	Hull FC	6	4	2	8
6	Wakefield	6	4	2	8
7	Leeds	6	3	3	6
8	Bradford	6	3	3	6
9	Hull K R	6	3	3	6
10	Castleford	6	2	4	4
11	Crusaders	6	2	4	4
12	Salford	6	1	5	2
13	Catalans	6	1	5	2
14	Harlequins	6	1	5	2

Widnes	vs	Halifax
Round: 3 Thu 18 Mar 19:30
Sheffield	vs	Dewsbury
Round: 3 Fri 19 Mar 19:30
Toulouse	vs	Keighley
Round: 3 Sat 20 Mar 19:00
Barrow	vs	Featherstone
Round: 3 Sat 20 Mar 18:30
Leigh	vs	Whitehaven
Round: 3 Sun 21 Mar 15:00
Keighley	vs	Batley
Round: 4 Thu 25 Mar 19:30

Leigh	20 - 20	Barrow
LSV Thu 25th February
Halifax	32 - 26	Sheffield
The Shay Sun 28th February
Featherstone	36 - 10	Batley
Chris Moyles Stadium Sun 28th February
Widnes	72 - 10	Keighley
Stobart Stadium Sun 28th February
Toulouse	26 - 22	Dewsbury
Sun 28th February
Batley	24 - 34	Halifax
Mount Pleasant Thu 11th March

Pos	Name	P	W	D	L	Pts
1	Widnes	2	2	0	0	6
2	Featherstone	2	2	0	0	6
3	Halifax	2	2	0	0	6
4	Leigh	2	1	1	0	5
5	Whitehaven	1	1	0	0	3
6	Toulouse	2	1	0	1	3
7	Barrow	1	0	1	0	2
8	Sheffield	2	0	0	2	1
9	Dewsbury	2	0	0	2	1
10	Batley	2	0	0	2	1
11	Keighley *	2	0	0	2	-9

Oldham	vs	Blackpool
Round: 3 Sat 20 Mar 15:00
Gateshead	vs	London
Round: 3 Sun 21 Mar 14:00
Rochdale	vs	Workington
Round: 3 Sun 21 Mar 15:00
Swinton	vs	Doncaster
Round: 3 Sun 21 Mar 15:00
York	vs	S Wales
Round: 3 Sun 21 Mar 15:00
Blackpool	vs	Swinton
Round: 4 Sun 28 Mar 15:00

Hunslet	40 - 12	Gateshead
South Leeds Stadium Sun 28th February
Swinton	20 - 38	Oldham
Sedgley Park Sun 28th February
Rochdale	56 - 24	Doncaster
Spotland Stadium Sun 28th February
York	36 - 8	London
Huntington Stadium Sun 28th February
South	22 - 20	Workington
Sun 28th February
Hunslet	16 - 29	Oldham
South Leeds Stadium Fri 12th March

Pos	Name	P	W	L	Pts
1	Oldham	2	2	0	6
2	South	2	2	0	6
3	York	2	1	1	4
4	Workington	2	1	1	4
5	Blackpool	1	1	0	3
6	Swinton	2	1	1	3
7	Hunslet	2	1	1	3
8	Rochdale	2	1	1	3
9	Doncaster	2	0	2	1
10	London	2	0	2	0
11	Gateshead	1	0	1	-6

Barrow	vs	Keighley
Round: 4 Wed 10 Mar 18:00
York	vs	London
Round: 4 Wed 10 Mar
Gateshead	vs	Batley
Round: 4 Wed 17 Mar 19:30
Halifax	vs	Hunslet
Round: 4 Sun 21 Mar

York	34 - 12	London
Huntington Stadium Wed 10th March
Barrow	62 - 18	Keighley
Craven Park Wed 10th March
Hunslet	0 - 68	Featherstone
South Leeds Stadium Thu 4th March
Dewsbury	22 - 44	Leigh
Tetley's Stadium Wed 3rd March
Featherstone	56 - 10	Rochdale
Chris Moyles Stadium Tue 23rd February
Oldham	22 - 24	Sheffield
Boundary Park Mon 22nd February

Dragons	vs	Bulldogs
Round 2 Fri, 19 Mar 19:35 WIN Stadium
Rabbitohs	vs	Titans
Round 2 Fri, 19 Mar 20:35 ANZ Stadium
Warriors	vs	Sharks
Round 2 Sat, 20 Mar 19:30 Mt Smart Stadium
Knights	vs	Storm
Round 2 Sat, 20 Mar 19:30 Energy Australia Stadium
Cowboys	vs	Panthers
Round 2 Sat, 20 Mar 20:30 Dairy Farmers Stadium
Eels	vs	Sea Eagles
Round 2 Sun, 21 Mar 14:00 Parramatta Stadium

Pos	Name	P	W	L	Pts
3	Dragons	1	1	0	2
11	Sharks	1	0	1	0
15	Wests	0	0	0	0
6	Broncos	1	1	0	2
8	Bulldogs	1	0	1	0
1	Roosters	1	1	0	2
14	Rabbitohs	1	0	1	0
4	Storm	1	1	0	2
8	Cowboys	1	0	1	0
2	Panthers	1	1	0	2
6	Knights	1	1	0	2
15	Sea Eagles	0	0	0	0
12	Eels	1	0	1	0
13	Raiders	1	0	1	0
10	Warriors	1	0	1	0
5	Titans	1	1	0	2

Dragons	vs	Bulldogs
Round 2 Mar 19 5:20pm WIN Stadium
Rabbitohs	vs	Titans
Round 2 Mar 19 6:20pm ANZ Stadium
Roosters	vs	Wests
Round 2 Mar 20 12:45pm Sydney Football Stadium
Warriors	vs	Sharks
Round 2 Mar 20 5:15pm Mt Smart Stadium
Knights	vs	Storm
Round 2 Mar 20 5:15pm Energy Australia Stadium
Cowboys	vs	Panthers
Round 2 Mar 20 6:15pm Dairy Farmers Stadium