HI, it’s Eorl here – and welcome to the new Super League XX season!
Obviously, the opening two rounds could have gone a lot better, but we know our time will come.
To be honest, we wouldn’t be at all surprised if we opened our account at Leeds Rhinos on Thursday night, because we certainly know that’s what we’re capable of doing.
But what I did find a surprise - no, a massive shock in fact – was the news I’d been charged with making dangerous contact on Wigan’s Liam Farrell last Friday night.
As soon as I received the call I took another look at the incident to see exactly what I’d done wrong, and almost a week later I still don’t know!
At the time, I remember going into contact with Liam and I was aware his head was in a dangerous position, so I immediately did everything I could to make sure the potential danger was averted.
That’s what I thought at the time, and it still looks the same having watched the incident over again.
And that’s a real worry.
I think it’s not right that people who have never played Super League make the decisions on whether individual challenges are legal or illegal. They’ve not experienced first hand what it’s like to be involved in the collisions, and how players end up in the positions they do.
I was fortunate that I had the option of an Early Guilty Plea – although I’m not happy I’ve lost it over this – and could use it to avoid a ban, but I’ll feel really sorry for a player who does pick up a ban for a similar challenge to mine.
Put it this way, there were dozens of challenges during the course of our game at Wigan that were a lot worse than the one I was charged over.
For starters, I can’t remember the last time my long hair was pulled so many times in a game, while Craig Huby was regularly having his beard pulled.
Because it’s our trademarks I can’t see either of us altering our appearances, but we were getting fed-up with it last Friday night.
Having said that, when we’re doing our own club wrestling sessions I have been known to pull his beard a few times, while he’s pulled my hair, although that’s for the banter as much as anything.
And Craig’s certainly one for that banter.
Even though he’s only played a couple of games for us, he’s already definitely one of the boys and enjoys a laugh and a joke.
He’s also someone who’s prepared to stick up for himself and his new teammates during games, which is always something you like to see. He doesn’t stand any nonsense, that’s for sure.
That’s also the case with Jack Hughes. We had respect for him before the Wigan game, but it’s now massive respect for the way he stood up to his Wigan ‘mates’, even though his still officially a Wigan player and on loan for the season.
That didn’t prevent him from giving it 100% against them and coming up with a top performance. He’s also a great lad, too.
And so’s Jamie Ellis, who we know will be another big asset for us.
It has been a tough start for him, although the forwards haven’t done him any favours with the service he’s been given in his opening two games.
It’s been difficult for him to have a positive influence on a game, because we’ve spent too much time so far on the back foot. It’s been tough for Jamie and it’s been equally as tough for Broughy.
We did see at Halifax in our pre-season game, when we were playing on the front foot, just how effective Jamie can be. His time will come.
