Sunday Social: Super League’s fastest ever try, Hardaker on fire & Englishmen combine in the NRL

James Messenger

It’s time for Love Rugby League’s Sunday Social, your alternative recap of the serious and not so serious talking points from the past seven days. 

There’s only one place to start, and that’s at Craven Park. Hull KR outside back Ben Crooks’ try after just seven seconds, straight from Jordan Abdull’s kick-off, became the quickest four-pointer scored in the competition, surpassing Tim Jonkers’ 14-second effort for St Helens back in 2002. It helped the Robins edge Huddersfield 25-24 in a match littered with controversy. 

Wigan’s Zak Hardaker maintained his outstanding start to 2021 with another magnificent display against Leeds on Thursday night. This solo effort was the pick of the bunch as Adrian Lam’s side ran out 19-6 winners at Headingley.  

In that same match, Kyle Eastmond, formerly of St Helens, made his long-awaited Rhinos debut. He even laid the groundwork for Alex Mellor’s second half score with a wonderful cut-out pass to find Luke Briscoe on the left wing.

READ: Sunday Social: Thompson scores on NRL return, Clive Sullivan remembered & drama at Craven Park

Fouad Yaha joined fellow wingers Regan Grace and Jake Bibby at the top of Super League’s try-scoring charts with a hat-trick against Salford at the Stade Gilbert Brutus. His second half treble helped Catalans ease past the Red Devils on their return to Perpignan.  

Early try of the season contender, perhaps? Jake Trueman finished off a remarkable team move as Castleford swept aside newly-promoted Leigh 52-16 to maintain their unbeaten start.

And finally, how about the link-up between Canberra duo Josh Hodgson and George Williams in NRL action. It didn’t stop the Raiders from suffering a 35-10 defeat at GIO Stadium. 

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