The Morning After: Impressive Paasi, terrific Tomkins & quarter-final ties
Agnatius Paasi put in a man of the match performance for St Helens on Saturday
The Morning After looks at three talking points from the latest Challenge Cup action.
Impressive Paasi
St Helens prop Agnatius Paasi put in a man of the match display to help his side beat Leeds 26-18 in the Challenge Cup third round yesterday.
The 29-year-old gained a lot of metres in the middle of the park and it took three or four players to tackle him to the ground on a number of occasions.
Paasi will be hoping to represent Tonga at the World Cup later this year and Kristian Woolf, coach of Tonga and St Helens, said his front-rower was ‘outstanding’ yesterday. Paasi looks to be a brilliant signing for Saints.
Terrific Tomkins
Catalans full-back Sam Tomkins has started the 2021 campaign incredibly well. He picked up the man of the match award again yesterday as he inspired the Dragons to a 26-6 win over Wakefield.
Tomkins has been selected in Shaun Wane’s latest England squad as they prepare for the World Cup and it is easy to see why he has been picked. He has been tremendous for the Dragons and is one of the best players in Super League.
He is a class act who is worth the ticket money alone. Tomkins has been world class for a long time now and he just continues to shine.
Quarter-final ties
We are in for a treat in the quarter-finals of the Challenge Cup – Hull v Wigan, Castleford v Salford, Catalans v Swinton or Warrington and St Helens v Leigh or Huddersfield.
The Challenge Cup is a special competition and there have been some cracking ties so far, with plenty more to come.
The quarter-finals will be played as two double-headers, each played at neutral venues behind closed doors. Some clubs are now just two wins away from Wembley.
Subscribe to The Final Hooter on Apple Podcasts and get involved with the free-to-play Fantasy Rugby League 2021.
Rugby League Nostalgia is here! Get involved with Love Rugby League’s new group on Facebook to share all your rugby league nostalgia and celebrate the rich heritage of our sport.
