Five things: Pass of the season, empty Easter and Leeds fear

Neil Barraclough 20 Apr 2014 7:51 PM

One – Pass of the season

Has there been a better ball than the one thrown by Sean O’Loughlin for Dan Sarginson’s try on Good Friday?

Running at near full pace he launched a perfect left-to-right looping pass as Wigan stunned the Saints.

Nathan Brown said: “Sean O’Loughlin just took us to school. He showed why I think he’s one of the best players in the world. He’s a sensational player.”

Anyone who was beginning to think the title was a two-horse race between Saints and Leeds – guilty, your honour – was forced into a major rethink by Wigan’s first top quality display of the year.

Shaun Wane said: “There’s no doubt about it, we’ve not played well this year – and we’ve still not played really well. But we’ll come good.

“We’re up there at the top end of the comp and we’re still in the Challenge Cup. People can say what they want; I’m just happy with what we do.”

Two – Empty Easter

Saints’ first defeat of the season had Brown reflecting on the year so far.

He said: “If someone said you’d win your first eight, knock Huddersfield out of the Challenge Cup, but lose to Wigan on Good Friday, I’d have put my hand up and taken that.

“A lot of people let the emotion of the Wigan game carry more significance, but to me it’s not (like that). It’s two competition points.”

But are Saints, with one eye on Saturday’s Cup showdown with Leeds, now set to come out of Easter empty-handed?

It will be interesting to see how their youngsters fare against Widnes on Monday.

Three – Eleven into eight doesn’t go

Sounds like a thriller at Craven Park, where Craig Hall’s derby-winning drop goal was rewarded with Craig Sandercock’s first interesting quote in recent memory.

Sandercock said: “We know we’ve got a long way to go, but that’s possibly the best win we’ve had in a couple of years.”

Eleven teams look to have a genuine shout of making the top eight, so Rovers are going to need plenty more wins to see them home.

Four – Fear for Leeds

Seventy miles west along the M62 Leeds were racking up a routine win at Odsal, but Brian McDermott says the Rhinos are living in fear.

Only once in 10 games have Leeds conceded more than 12 points. Six times their opponents haven’t even reached double figures.

They’re conceding, on average, fewer than nine points per game in 2014.

But McDermott said: “It’s very good, but that’s not something to be celebrated, it’s something to be valued. We’re trying to value it and hold on to it, because we’re scared we might lose it.”

Five – Slammin’ Sam Slammed

Finally, have a look at this for a fearless carry from Down Under.

Sam Burgess revs up over 20 metres from a drop out and the collision is incredible.

The sight of Burgess running like that makes brilliant viewing. Enjoy it while you can…