WRAP: 2023 Betfred Super League Round 21

A full wrap of Round 21 Super League thanks to AJ Lucantonio and Rugby League Project.

All listed times are AEST (NSW/QLD/VIC/ACT).

RELATED: See the full list of 2023 Betfred Super League Draw and Results.

Wigan Warriors 64
Hull KR 6

Venue: DW Stadium, Wigan
Crowd: 11464
Date: Saturday 5 August 2023 at 5:00am

Wigan Warriors (64)
Tries: Abbas Miski 4, Jai Field 3, Harry Smith 3, Toby King, Jacob Wardle, Liam Marshall, Patrick Mago
Goals: Harry Smith 8/12

Hull Kingston Rovers (6)
Tries: Jack Walker
Goals: Rowan Milnes 1/1

Wigan: Field, Miski, King, Wardle, Marshall; French, Smith; Dupree, O'Neill, Ellis, Pearce-Paul, Farrell, Smithies. Int: Cust, Mago, Hill, Nsemba.
Hull KR: Walker, Senior, Gorman, Hall, Barley; Laulu-Togaga'e, Milnes; Storton, Rougé, Aydin, Johnson, Keinhorst, Hadley. Int: Ellis, Tennison, Shaw, Thomas.

Wigan have put a much weakened Hull KR to the sword, thrashing Rovers by 64-6. It's easy to look at this game as a blip on the radar, with Rovers resting virtually their entire squad ahead of next week's Challenge Cup final with Leigh.

That being said, Wigan ran absolutely riot and despite Rovers holding out the Warriors for 10 minutes. It wouldn't be long before the floodgates would open to a flurry of four pointers from the home side. Abbas Miski crossed for the first of his four tries in the 12th minute, before adding another in the 22nd and it was 10-0 rather quickly. 

A further three tries in a 6 minute period stun the life out of the rookie Rovers side, with their defence seemingly having no answers for the well drilled Wigan unit. Jacob Wardle crossed in the 28th minute, which was soon followed by Miski collecting his hattrick before Toby King crossed for the home side in what was one way traffic with a 26-0 lead. 

However, as the hooter sounded with the ball in Hull KR hands, a kick through the middle of Wigan's defence was dived upon by Jack Walker to score, with Rowan Milnes' kick making it 26-6 at half-time. 

Despite that brief resistance in the scoring, Wigan ran riot in the second half. Harry Smith finished off a great back-line movement to extend the margin back out to 26. Jai Field was ruthless against the weakened Rovers when he provided a great pass to Miski to cross for his fourth (his seventh in his last two games!). Pat Mago got his first of the year charging over before Field grabbed three tries in the space of six minutes in some champagne rugby league. Liam Marshall finished the scoring route crossing in the final five minutes to bring up the 60 point mark. 

Castleford Tigers 0
Huddersfield Giants 28

Venue: Mend-A-Hose Jungle, Castleford
Crowd: 6452
Date: Saturday 5 August 2023 at 5:00am

Castleford Tigers (0)

Huddersfield Giants (28)
Tries: Sam Halsall 3, Leroy Cudjoe, Chris McQueen, Adam Milner
Goals: Oliver Russell 2/6

Castleford: Widdop, Wallis, Tasipale, Mellor, Eden; Broadbent, Miller; Matagi, Johnstone, Lawler, Edwards, Foster, Westerman. Int: Massey, Hall, Tsikrikas, Horne.
Huddersfield: Connor, Halsall, Bibby, Naiqama, Golding; Russell, Lolohea; Hill, Milner, Wilson, Cudjoe, McQueen, English. Int: Peats, Greenwood, Hewitt, Ikahihifo.

The Huddersfield Giants have won four on the trot after an impressive 28-0 shut-out over the lowly Castleford side away from home. The result was the last straw for Andy Last, who was sacked as Castleford coach post game.

Huddersfield opened the scoring inside the opening ten minutes of play when Sam Halsall crossed for the first of his three tries being on the end of a clever back-line play. Castleford were their own worst enemy with mistakes giving the Giants field position and a second try came nine minutes later when Leroy Cudjoe charged through a gaping hole and it was quickly 10-0.

Some temporary resistance stopped the Giants further adding to their lead, but the hammer blow came two minutes from the main change. Chris McQueen charged over from short range capping off a great week for the now 36 year old. Oliver Russell's kick was just short and it was 14-0 at half-time.

After a tense opening, the Tigers dropped their bundle and went back to the defensive doormat that they've showed in previous matches. Halsall collected his second after a lovely pass from Jake Connor and it was 18-0. The game was long gone at this stage and two quick tries late from the visitors added salt into a wound that's been infecting for some time. Halsall grabbed a hattrick, while Adam Milner crossed with 2 minutes to play.

Warrington Wolves 10
Catalans Dragons 30

Venue: Halliwell Jones Stadium, Warrington
Crowd: 10312
Date: Saturday 5 August 2023 at 5:00am

Warrington Wolves (10)
Tries: Ben Currie, Josh Thewlis
Goals: Stefan Ratchford 1/1, Josh Thewlis 0/1

Catalans Dragons (30)
Tries: Mitchell Pearce, Matt Whitley, Tom Davies, Matt Ikuvalu, Adam Keighran
Goals: Adam Keighran 5/6

Warrington: Dufty, Thewlis, Mata'utia, Ratchford, Wrench; Williams, Drinkwater; Dudson, Walker, Vaughan, Currie, Nicholson, Crowther. Int: Clark, Kasiano, Philbin, Bullock.
Catalans: Tomkins, Davies, Keighran, Ikuvalu, Johnstone; May, Pearce; Bousquet, Da Costa, Navarrete, Whitley, Séguier, Garcia. Int: Goudemand, Chan, Romano, Scimone.

Warrington's week of pain went from bad to worse with a 30-10 defeat to the high flying Catalans Dragons at home. After the departure of coach Daryl Powell, it was expected that the Wolves would show some rare glimpses of consistency that has plagued them in recent weeks. 

However, Catalans continued their good recent run of form and opened the scoring in the 13th minute. Adam Keighran crossed after a clever cross-field kick from Mitchell Pearce which found the future Wigan Warrior to score, he converted his own try for a 6-0 lead. Tom Davies added to the advantage 5 minutes later when he crossed after being on the end of a clever back-line play for 10-0. 

Some poor discipline hurt the Wire in this one and they were made to pay when Matt Dufty stole the ball illegally. Keighran added the two points to extend the margin out to 12-0. Pearce put the exclamation mark on a great first half with a superb effort to cross for his second try of the season and an 18-0 lead. Wolves did cross before the break when George Williams found Ben Currie with a lovely pass to score. The goal was added and it was 18-6 at the break.

14 minutes into the second half and Catalans continued to add to their 12 point half-time lead. A clever grubber from Tyrone May sat up perfectly for Matt Whitley to chase down and place it down for his sixth try of the season. Keighran converted for a 24-6 lead. 

After being denied on the hour mark, Matt Ikuvalu got the green lights with his second effort in as many minutes scoring off another May grubber. Josh Thewlis grabbed a consolation try for the home side, but it was in vain as they slump to their 7th straight loss in all competitions. 

Salford Red Devils 15
St Helens 18

Venue: Salford Stadium, Barton-upon-Irwell
Crowd: 6515
Date: Monday 7 August 2023 at 12:00am

Salford Red Devils (15)
Tries: Kallum Watkins, Ryan Brierley
Goals: Marc Sneyd 3/3
Field Goals: Marc Sneyd 1

St Helens (18)
Tries: Thomas Makinson, Matty Lees, Jack Welsby
Goals: Mark Percival 3/4

Salford: Brierley, Sio, Cross, Lafai, Burgess; Croft, Sneyd; Singleton, Ackers, Partington, Watkins, Stone, Addy. Int: Ormondroyd, Vuniyayawa, Atkin, Hellewell.
St Helens: Welsby, Makinson, Percival, Davies, Ritson; Lomax, Dodd; Lees, Roby, Delaney, Royle, Bell, Knowles. Int: Sironen, Norman, Baxter, Mbye.

St Helens have overturned a 15-0 half-time deficit to overcome the Salford Red Devils in an enthralling Super League clash. 

The home side dominated early proceedings and it looked as if Saints had their minds on other things, this was put to a side for a brief moment when Mark Percival knocked over a penalty goal. Salford made the Saints pay for their early lapse in concentration, Kallum Watkins crossed on his return to the side as he powered across, Marc Sneyd added the extras for a 6-2 lead.

Salford added a second five minutes later. Salford got the ball by the halfway line and then shifted to the right-hand side, they kicked behind the defence with space and Ryan Brierley grounded it. Sneyd added the extras for a commanding 12-2 lead. Saints were called inside the 10m after 23 minutes and that gave an extra shot at penalty goal, Sneyd added the gift two points for before adding a field goal on the break for a 15-2 half-time lead.

Straight after the break, the tide turned. Deon Cross was given a yellow card for a professional foul on Tee Ritson and they immediately capitalised on the one man advantage. Some second phase play was catching the home side off guard and Matty Lees crossed.

Percival added the extras and it was 15-8. Just after the hour mark, Tommy Makinson scored in the corner and with another conversion from Percival, they were within one point. With just 11 minutes to go, Jack Welsby caused more defensive misery and he caused the Salford defence to fall in a heap as he crossed to give the Saints an 18-15 lead. The scores remained the same and St Helens get their second straight victory.

Hull FC 42
Wakefield Trinity 4

Venue: MKM Stadium, Hull
Crowd: 11956
Date: Monday 7 August 2023 at 12:00am

Hull FC (42)
Tries: Darnell McIntosh 2, Adam Swift, Carlos Tuimavave, Joe Lovodua, Jordan Lane, Cameron Scott
Goals: Jake Clifford 7/7

Wakefield Trinity (4)
Tries: Innes Senior

Hull FC: Litten, McIntosh, Tuimavave, Scott, Swift; Trueman, Clifford; Fash, Houghton, Taylor, Lane, Savelio, Cator. Int: Satae, Lovodua, Brown, Dwyer.
Wakefield (Trinity): Jowitt, Lineham, Lyne, Langi, Senior; Gale, Lino; Bowden, Hood, Proctor, Pitts, Ashurst, Kay. Int: Battye, Atoni, Dagger, Fifita.

Hull FC have kept their slender finals hopes alive with a 42-4 slaughter of Wakefield Trinity.

Hull quickly got the first try on the board after just 10 minutes of action. Jake Clifford made a break beating some would-be tacklers before linking up with Adam Swift to score in the corner. Clifford converted.

After a tight struggle, the game turned on some bad fortune. Wakefield ran the ball on what they believed was tackle 4, only for referee Chris Kendall to rule a turnover on halfway and the Black and Whites wasted no time in converting the field position. Darnell McIntosh streaking away down the right before finding Carlos Tuimavave in support for a converted try. Clifford nailed the conversion which put Hull two scores ahead at the break.

Hull went on a scoring bonanza in the opening 10 of the second half, scoring two quick tries blowing Wakefield's chances up in smoke. Cam Scott and Jordan Lane were the beneficiaries of the end of some slick back-line play. Clifford converted both tries and it was quickly 24-0. Wakefield got a late consolation try when Innes Senior was on the end of some slick back-line hands for their lone try of the contest.

However, that was as good as it got for Wakefield as Hull dominated the final quarter. Adding a double for McIntosh, before Andre Savelio put the perfect chip over the top for Joe Lovodua to score under the posts and rubber-stamp an impressive win for Hull. This 38 point victory keeps their finals chances alive, and Wakefield's for-and-against took a tumble in the race to avoid relegation.

Leeds Rhinos 6
Leigh Leopards 13

Venue: Headingley Stadium, Leeds
Crowd: 12785
Date: Monday 7 August 2023 at 12:00am

Leeds Rhinos (6)
Tries: Jarrod O'Connor
Goals: Rhyse Martin 1/1

Leigh Leopards (13)
Tries: Tom Amone, Edwin Ipape
Goals: Ben Reynolds 2/3
Field Goals: Gareth O'Brien

Leeds: Hooley, Macdonald, Roberts, Martin, Handley; Johnson, Sezer; Holroyd, O'Connor, Oledzki, McDonnell, Bentley, Smith. Int: Lisone, Sangaré, Donaldson, Sinfield.
Leigh: O'Brien, Briscoe, Chamberlain, Gildart, Nisbet; Reynolds, Lam; Amone, Ipape, Mulhern, O'Donnell, Hughes, Asiata. Int: Davis, Wardle, Seumanufagai, Mellor.

Leigh have bounced back from a disastrous trip to Wigan to win 13-6 against a Leeds side desperate to keep their play-off hopes alive.

After a determined start which saw both sides jostle for possession, the Leigh side crossed for the first try of the contest in the 23^rd minute. Edwin Ipape crashed over from dummy half, and after an extensive video referee process, the try was given to the PNG hooker. Ben Reynolds missed the conversion and it was 4-0 to Leigh.

Leigh's margin was taken away moments before the break. Jarrod O'Connor sparked Leeds with a burst from dummy half and he crashed over for the try. Rhyse Martin added the extras and it was 6-4 at the change of ends going into an important half-time break.

Straight after the break, Leigh came out hungry and determined. This saw the score-line quickly change hands once more. Tom Amone stepped through some sloppy easy to score between the sticks.Reynolds made no mistake for a 10-6 score-line.

Sam Lisone was given 10 minutes for a trip, but Leeds held firm and only gave up a Gareth O'Brien penalty goal for a converted try. O'Connor thought he had a second, but the video referee took the try away and the game was quickly gone. O'Brien added a field goal and Leigh escaped Leeds with a narrow victory.

Table after Round 21

RELATED: Click here to view the current Betfred Super League table.

Top Tryscorer

Tom Johnstone (24)

Top Pointscorer

Harry Smith (165)