WRAP: 2024 Betfred Super League Round 5

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A full wrap-up of Round 5 of the Super League thanks to RLP and Rob McHugh!

RELATED: See the full list of 2024 Betfred Super League Draw and Results.

Wigan 22 (B. French, L. Marshall, A. Miski, J. Wardle tries; A. Keighran 2, H. Smith goals) defeated Salford 12 (T. Lafai, S. Stone tries; M. Sneyd 2 goals) at Salford Stadium.

Date: Thu, 14th March.   Kickoff: 8:00 PM.   Halftime: Wigan 4-0.   Penalties: Wigan 7-6.   Referee: Chris Kendall.   Crowd: 6,087.

Salford: Brierley, Nofoaluma, Macdonald, Lafai, Cross; Atkin, Sneyd; Dixon, Bourouh, Vuniyayawa, Stone, Watkins, Shorrocks. Int: Ryan, Wright, Foster, Dudson.
Wigan: Field, Miski, Keighran, Wardle, Marshall; French, Smith; Thompson, O'Neill, Byrne, Isa, Farrell, Ellis. Int: Dupree, Mago, Hill, Forber.

Defending champions, Wigan Warriors, continued their unbeaten start to the Super League season, but were made to work hard by a results Salford Red Devils side, who continue to pre-season predictions of doom.

Late tries from Jake Wardle and Bevan French eventually sealed a win for Wigan, but this does no justice to the late drama that unfolded.

The game started in gruelling fashion, with Salford applying early pressure, but remained scoreless for the first 39 minutes, until Liam Marshall opened the scoring for Wigan the last play before half time. Wigan worked the ball to Jai Field 20 metres out, who threaded a deft grubber kick through for Marshall to collect and touch down in the corner. 

Wigan then extended their lead early in the second half, a score which looked like it may end Salford's chances. Another flowing passing move, this time from left to right, saw the ball worked out to Abbas Miski, who dived in for a simple finish in the corner. Harry Smith kicked the conversion from the touchline to extend to score to 0-10.

But Paul Rowley's Salford side have demonstrated their fighting spirit, and they refused to give up in this game, boosted by a shock win against St Helens the previous weekend. Marc Sneyd has been instrumental in their good early form, and it was through his boot that they grabbed a lifeline in this game. Salford worked their way to 20 metres from goal, which gave Sneyd an excellent position to kick through for Sam Stone to gather and score under the posts, with Sneyd making no mistake with the conversion.

Salford then took an unexpected lead, threatening another famous upset. Another Sneyd kick, this time hoisted into the air near the left touchline, saw Abbas Miski spill the ball, under pressure from Ethan Ryan. The ball dropped into the grateful hands of Tim Lafai, who touched down to level the scores, with Sneyd's conversion putting Salford 12-10 ahead.

Salford appeared set for victory, when Smith received a yellow card, reducing Wigan to 12 men for the closing stages, taking out Ryan Brierley off the ball as Salford threatened to extend their lead. 

But after inspiring Salford, it was Sneyd who played a hand in their defeat. Under the face of Wigan pressure, Sneyd attempted a short drop out, which David Nofoaluma dropped. Jake Wardle scooped up the loose ball and ran in unopposed to score the decisive try, which was converted by Adam Keighran. 

Bevan French scored a late try, which Keighran converted, to extend Wigan's final margin of victory to 12-22, but it was Sneyd's moment of madness in the 76th minute which finally swung the game in their favour.

St Helens 18 (J. Bennison, W. Blake, M. Mbye tries; J. Lomax 3 goals) defeated Leeds 8 (L. Roberts try; R. Martin 2 goals) at AMT Headingley Stadium.

Date: Fri, 15th March.   Kickoff: 8:00 PM.   Halftime: Leeds 8-6.   Penalties: Leeds 8-4.   Referee: Jack Smith.   Crowd: 15,284.

Leeds: Miller, Handley, Martin, Newman, Roberts; Croft, Frawley; Oledzki, Ackers, Sangaré, McDonnell, Bentley, Smith. Int: Holroyd, Edgell, O'Connor, Goudemand.
St Helens: Welsby, Makinson, Hurrell, Blake, Bennison; Lomax, Dodd; Walmsley, Clark, Lees, Whitley, Mata'utia, Knowles. Int: Batchelor, Mbye, Bell, Wingfield.

A second half blitz from St Helens was enough for them to take the points in a pulsating encounter at AMT Headingley, in which the Rhinos demonstrated, simultaneously, how far they have come, and how far they still have to go if they wish to challenge for honours this season.

Leeds started the game fast, showing the best of what Rohan Smith is trying to build, displaying their speed, agility, and handling skills, as well as a defensive intensity which put the Saints on the back foot. Lachie Miller, in particular, impressed, dodging several tackles, and giving Leeds momentum with his runs from full back.

Leeds nearly took the lead in the opening minutes, with a try saving tackle from Lewis Dodd denying Harry Newman, after a flowing Rhinos move. But Leeds did open the scoring in the 10th minute, through rookie winger Luis Roberts. 

A good passing move from left to right ended with a looping pass from the influential Brodie Croft out to winger Roberts. St Helens appeared to have numbers on hand, but Roberts' inside step against the grain took three defenders out of the game, allowing him to open the scoring, with Rhyse Martin adding the conversion.

Leeds then extended their lead to 8-0, through the boot of Martin, who kicked a simple penalty from 35 metres out. But the introduction of James Bell from the bench for St Helens swung the momentum in their favour, and Saints scored in the 35th minute to give themselves a lifeline. 

After a passage of play in which St Helens won the arm wrestle and became increasingly dominant, the Leeds defence did not deal with a high kick to the left corner from Lewis Dodd. The ball found its way into the hands of Waqa Blake, who burrowed his way over to score. Jonny Lomax's conversion from the touchline meant Leeds went in 8-6 ahead at half-time, but it was the Saints who had the momentum.

The two sides traded spells of pressure at the beginning of the second half, but it was Saints who eventually added the first score of the second half. This time it was St Helens' turn to move the ball from left to right, with slick passing and a brilliant final cut pass from Lomax exploited a gap in the Leeds defence, which allowed Jon Bennison to score in the corner after 57 minutes, with Lomax again converting from the touchline.

The Rhinos then compounded this score with back-to-back errors. Lachie Miller, who had been so impressive in the first half, put too much on his kick off and the ball sailed out on the full.

The Saints took full advantage of the field position through replacement hooker, Moses Mbye. With the Leeds defence scrambling, he picked up the ball at dummy half and threw an outrageous dummy, which opposite number Jarrod O'Connor bought hook, line, and sinker, creating a gap for him to dive over, under the posts. Lomax made mistake with the extras, extending Saints' lead to an unassailable 8-18.

Hull KR 24 (P. Hiku 2, J. Burgess, R. Hall, J. Litten tries; J. Litten 2 goals) defeated Huddersfield 12 (K. Naiqama, A. Swift tries; J. Connor 2 goals) at John Smith's Stadium.

Date: Sat, 16th March.   Kickoff: 3:00 PM.   Halftime: Hull KR 8-0.   Penalties: Hull KR 7-4.   Referee: Tom Grant.   Crowd: 5,428.

Huddersfield: Connor, Swift, Marsters, Naiqama, Halsall; Russell, Clune; Hill, Milner, Ikahihifo, Murchie, Hewitt, Cudjoe. Int: Lolohea, Yates, Rushton, Wilson.
Hull KR: Evalds, Burgess, Hiku, Gildart, Hall; May, Lewis; Sue, Litten, Whitbread, Hadley, Batchelor, Minchella. Int: King, Parcell, Luckley, Tanginoa.

Hull Kingston Rovers got their season back on track, following back-to-back defeats in the earlier rounds, overcoming the Huddersfield Giants, who continue to show signs of improvement despite this defeat.

Hull KR broke the deadlock in the third minute with a move from the base of a scrum 20 metres out. Full back, Niall Evalds, joined the attacking line before quickly moving the ball out to the right wing for Joe Burgess to score in the corner, to give the Robins a 0-4 lead.

They extended their lead in the 23rd minute, but this time it was their defence which earned the try, rather than their flowing attack. With Huddersfield in possession pinned near their own try line, three Hull KR defenders met Sam Halsall and pushed him back behind his own line. Halsall lost the ball in the contact, which allowed Jez Litten to touch the ball down for an opportunistic score, which gave Rovers a 0-8 lead at half time. 

Hull KR threatened to blow the Giants away in the second half, starting with Petr Hiku's try in the 43rd minute. Star man, Mikey Lewis, chipped a kick into the right centre's channel, and Hiku was able to out jump the Huddersfield defence to collect and score, with Litten adding his first conversion of the game.

Hiku then extended KR's lead, largely thanks to Evalds, who broke brilliantly from deep after a slick passing move in Hull KR's own half. Evalds pass inside to Hiku was touched by the flailing hand of Tui Lolohea, who was scrambling back for the Giants, but he could only knock the ball down. Hiku was able to collect the loose ball and score, with Litten adding the extras to extend their lead to 0-20.

When Ryan Hall scored in the 62nd minute, after more excellent play from Niall Evalds, Huddersfield looked like they could sink without a trace, but head coach Ian Watson can take heart from the fact his side did not capitulate. Huddersfield scored their first try from a brilliant Naiqama line, cutting in from the right centre position to exploit a gap in the Hull KR defence to score under the posts in the 66th minute.

Then Adam Swift stepped inside the covering defence to add Huddersfield's second try, in the 76th minute, and whilst it was too late for Hull KR to be worried about throwing away their lead, it showed the resilience in the Huddersfield side. Jake Connor converted both scored to give the scoreline a respectable feel, with Hull KR winning 12-24.

Leigh 54 (O. Holmes 2, R. Leutele 2, J. Charnley, U. Hanley, B. McNamara, M. Moylan, R. Mulhern tries; M. Moylan 9 goals) defeated Hull FC 4 (T. Hoy try) at MKM Stadium.

Date: Sat, 16th March.   Kickoff: 3:00 PM.   Halftime: Leigh 30-4.   Penalties: Leigh 4-1.   Referee: Aaron Moore.   Crowd: 10,227.

Hull FC: Hoy, McIntosh, Tuimavave, Sutcliffe, Tindall; Smith, Brown; Ese'ese, Houghton, Sao, Okunbor, Staveley, Lane. Int: Pele, Scott, Brown, Gardiner.
Leigh: O'Brien, Hanley, Hardaker, Leutele, Charnley; Moylan, McNamara; Norman, Dwyer, Mulhern, O'Donnell, Halton, Hughes. Int: Trout, Nakubuwai, Holmes, Davis.

If Leigh Leopards were guilty of throwing away a lead against Leeds Rhinos in the previous round, they were never in danger of doing so against Hull FC, cruising to an impressive 6-54 victory at the MKM stadium, consigning the Airlie Birds to a fourth defeat of the season.

Leigh wasted no time in opening the scoring, working the ball through hands from left to right, releasing Umyla Hanley to score the first try of the game in the corner in the 4th minute. This was followed by an acrobatic score in the left-hand corner by Josh Charnley, after good work from Ricky Leutele to draw in 2 Hull FC defenders before offloading. Matt Moylan kicked the first of 9 goals to make the score 0-10.

But when Hull FC scored in the 11th minute, it appeared that the game would be a real contest. After a quick play the ball 20 metres from the Leigh line, a Tex Hoy dummy broke the Leigh defensive line, with the Australian going over for FC's first score. 

But Leigh hit back definitively, with back-to-back tries before the 20-minute mark. Ricky Leutele scored his first try of the game, evading the Hull FC covering defence with a smart inside step before touching down. Powerhouse forward, Robbie Mulhern extended Leigh's lead, crashing onto a short pass from hooker Brad Dwyer to score from close range, with Moylan converting both tries.

Leigh scored again before half time, through ex-Hull FC player, Ben McNamara. A neat passing move but second-row Kai O'Donnell into space, who seemed destined to score. A brilliant covering tackle from full-back, Hoy, only delayed the inevitable, with Leigh scoring from the next play, giving them a 4-34 lead at half time, after a Moylan penalty on the stroke of the internal. 

The second half was one to forget for Hull FC, and Oliver Holmes took just eight minutes to open the scoring. Ben McNamara tipped back an offload, into the hands of Holmes, who scored under the posts. Holmes added his second try of the game in the 53rd minute, after Zak Hardaker's smart offload put Ben McNamara through. His inside ball released Holmes, who showed a smart turn of pace to finish off from 30 metres out. 

Moylan scored his first try of the night, capitalising on some passive Hull FC defending to run in unopposed. Moylan then turned provider for Leutele, releasing the centre for his second score of the game to round off a 4-54 win for the Leopards. Hull FC's experienced head coach, Tony Smith, will have serious concerns about his side's lack of fight going into their Challenge Cup game against Huddersfield next weekend.

Catalans 40 (J. Abdull, T. Davies, M. Ikuvalu, T. Johnstone, M. Laguerre, A. Mourgue, C. Rougé tries; A. Mourgue 6 goals) defeated Castleford 14 (J. Simm 2, J. Westerman tries; R. Milnes goal) at Stade Gilbert Brutus.

Date: Sat, 16th March.   Kickoff: 6:30 PM.   Halftime: Catalans 16-6.   Penalties: Catalans 5-4.   Referee: James Vella.   Crowd: 8,159.

Catalans: Mourgue, Davies, Ikuvalu, Laguerre, Johnstone; Abdull, Fages; McMeeken, Garcia, Navarrete, Sims, Séguier, Sironen. Int: Bousquet, Rougé, Dezaria, Maria.
Castleford: Broadbent, Simm, Tasipale, Wood, Senior; Milnes, Miller; Lawler, Horne, Hall, Martin, Mellor, Westerman. Int: Hooley, Robb, Kibula, Vete.

A week after conceding 50 points against Huddersfield - a defeat which Castleford Head Coach, Craig Lingard described as embarrassing - the Tigers produced a creditable, if ultimately fruitless, display in the South of France, losing 40-14 to a superior Catalans Dragons side. 

Realistically, winless Castleford held little hope for a victory, but after Lingard's public criticism of his side, they had to produce a better display in Perpignan. And whilst the Dragons were comfortable winners, there were some signs of fight from Castleford.

Catalans Dragons fullback, Arthur Mourgue opened the scoring for Les Dracs after 15 minutes, throwing a cute dummy before ghosting over the line. Jordan Abdull extended their lead, producing a near carbon copy of Mourgue's try, again dummying on almost the same square of grass and cutting inside to score. Mourgue converted Abdull's try to give Les Dracs a 10-0 lead, the first of six successful conversions. 

Castleford struck back in the 34th minute, through forward Joe Westerman. Westerman took in a pass close to the line and barged through to exploit a hole in the defence, going down to score under the posts, with the extras added by Rowan Milnes. 

Catalans hit back immediately, working the ball wide from a scrum, with the influential Mourgue releasing Tom Johnstone to dive into the corner. Mourgue converted the try to give the Dragons a 16-6 lead at half time.

It did not take the side from Perpignan long to extend their lead in the second half, more slick passing from Les Dracs shifted the ball from right to left, before a smart final pass from Mourgue released centre, Mathieu Laguerre, to score. Another decisive pass from Mourgue put Tom Davies over in the right corner for the fifth Catalans try of the night, both of which were converted by Mourgue, extending the lead to 28-6.

But Castleford refused to lie down, and registered their second try of the night, with another set play from the base of the scrum, working the ball out to Josh Simm, who showed good pace to run in, in the corner in the 55th minute. 

The faint hopes of a Castleford fightback were quickly extinguished, however, when a smart pass from Theo Fages released Matt Ikuvalu to score from close range. Cesar Rouge then got his first try of the game, diving over from dummy half. Mourgue's conversion made the score 40-10.

Castleford registered the final score of the game, Simm collecting a neat kick through from Milnes to make it 40-14, but it was scant consolation in another heavy defeat. Catalans are now joint top of the table, with four wins from five, whilst the Tigers stay winless, saved from the bottom spot only on points difference.

Warrington 58 (M. Dufty 3, J. Thewlis 3, A. Holroyd 2, J. Harrison, S. Ratchford tries; S. Ratchford 9 goals) defeated London 4 (H. Miloudi try) at Cherry Red Records Stadium.

Date: Sun, 17th March.   Kickoff: 3:00 PM.   Halftime: Warrington 24-4.   Penalties: London 3-2.   Referee: Liam Rush.   Crowd: 3,324.

London: Walker, Kershaw, Bassett, Miloudi, Macani; Campagnolo, Meadows; Butler, Butterworth, Rogers, Lovell, Jones, Parata. Int: Williams, Kennedy, Leyland, Stock.
Warrington: Dufty, Thewlis, King, Wrench, Ashton; Ratchford, Hayes; Harrison, Powell, Vaughan, Holroyd, Philbin, Crowther. Int: Musgrove, Bullock, Whitehead, Wood.

Warrington Wolves continued Sam Burgess' impressive start to life as a head coach, running in comfortable 4-58 winners against the league's bottom side, London Broncos.

Matt Dufty's first try was the pick of the scores, as he collected an attempted kick through by Hakim Miloudi, before racing 85 metres to score.

Warrington opened the scoring in this one-sided contest through young forward, Adam Holroyd, his first try for Warrington. Stefan Ratchford added the conversion, before Josh Thewlis dived into the corner to extend Warrington's lead. 

Adam Holroyd scored his second of the game, latching onto a pass from Connor Wrench, with Ratchford kicking the goal to extend the Warrington lead to 0-18. Paul Vaughan was held up over the line as Warrington threatened again, before London opened their account through Hakim Miloudi, who dived over in the corner to score, but was unable to convert his own try.

But Miloudi went from hero to villain shortly after, as his attempted kick through was picked up by Dufty. Dufty showed electric pace to escape the London defence and never looked likely to be caught as he raced home to score from deep within his own half, Ratchford added the conversion to give Warrington a 24-4 lead at half time. 

Things went from bad to worse immediately in the second half for London, who surrendered possession deep in their own half from the restart, allowing Thewlis to go over to score. 

A steady of trickle of tries then became a deluge, as Thewlis crossed for his second try of the game, before going in again in the corner for his hat trick. Ratchford converted both tries to maintain his perfect record of seven from seven.

Prop forward James Harrison got in on the act, picking up a deflected kick through before beating the last defender to score his first try of the game. Matt Dufty then completed his hat trick in the 65th minute, bringing up Warrington's half century in the process, with Ratchford's conversion taking the score to 52-4.

Ratchford grabbed a try for himself in the 72nd minute, picking up the ball after Paul Vaughan's attempted offload hit the deck. Ratchford dummied a pass to the wing, before cutting through the resulting gap to score from close range, adding another conversion to his personal tally of 22 points of Warrington's 58.

London pushed for a late consolation, but Warrington's defence held firm and the Wolves took a comfortable two points. London's wait for a first win continues and based on today's evidence, it could be a long one. Sterner tests lie ahead for Warrington, but Sam Burgess can be happy with his start to life as a coach.   

Table after Round 5

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Stats leaders

Most tries

Most goals

Most points