Leeds are taking all the Super League plaudits at the moment, and for
good reason. But you can't ignore the way St Helens have started the season.
After five weeks, those two sides are the real stand-out performers of
Super League X and they underlined their class and authority at the weekend.
Warrington may have rolled up their sleeves and gone to battle at
Headingley, but it still couldn't stop them being rolled over by the Rhinos
who could spin straw into gold the way they are playing.
A total of 26 unanswered points in the second half was the key to victory for Leeds - plus three disallowed Warrington tries.
But Tony Smith should take great
credit for moulding his side into rugby league's most eye-catching outfit.
St Helens are not far off the pace after another romp against Salford at
Knowsley Road.
Darren Albert and Jamie Lyon were in the most playful mood,
with their wing-centre partnership now developing into something very
special.
It's a measure of how good Saints are in that they scored 36 points in
the first half against a Salford defence that had hitherto looked very tough
and organised.
Leigh would have been grateful that the machinery in Bradford's heavy
duty battering ram wasn't quite as well oiled as it might have been.
The Bulls looked back to their best in beating London last week, but
they were a bit creaky in hammering out a 46-6 win at Hilton Park.
It was only 10-0 at half time, giving Leigh a little hope, but after a second half
in which they conceded 34 points, that's what they are left with - little
hope.
Huddersfield at times looked classy in beating Widnes -
but they were almost caught red-faced as well.
Most of the Giants' good work was done in the first half when Paul White
was an impressive, quick-silver scorer of two fine tries.
But trailing 28-6, Widnes tried to launch a comeback.
With three tries,
including two for the outstanding Aaron Moule, they got back to within 10
points.
If Steve Rowlands had had a better kicking night, it might have been
another freaky Friday fightback, instead the defeat suggests a hard season
ahead for the Vikings.
Super League's newest club, London Broncos 2005, picked up where the old
club - the Liquidated Broncos - left off, in proving what a talented bunch
of footballers they have assembled at Griffin Park.
The Broncos are one of the games most entertaining sides at the moment,
and they were pleasing on the eye in beating Wigan 34-20.
Haumono, Dorn,
McLinden, Leuluai, Sykes - no wonder some clubs voted for their extinction.
Those five plus most of the others wouldn't have been free agents for long.
But the worrying start to the season continues for Wigan.
It's only
two wins from five and they have only Danny Orr and Brian Carney to bring
back in the short term.
At least they have a very astute and unflappable
coach in Denis Betts who should be able to steer them through.
The first 20 minutes of Wakefield's game at Hull gave credence to rumours that all is not well in the Trinity camp.
But the next 60 minutes should have just about buried those rumours for good.
Wakefield were abject, conceding three tries in that opening spell, but for the rest of the game they rediscovered the touch and the passion that has given them the look of a top-six side in these early weeks.
Credit to Hull, who may not have been at their best but who showed good character to battle through for the win.
Things are looking good for them and new coach John Kear.
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