Tuesday 19 May 2015 10:01, UK
We look at the main talking points from last weekend's round of Rugby League fixtures.
Hats off to Chris Chester and his Hull KR players who dumped Wigan out of the Challenge Cup.
A fortnight ago they were humiliated 60-0 in the Super League, but the Robins turned the tables to win 16-12 in a dramatic sixth-round tie at Leigh Sports Village.
"I'm really proud of the effort, desire and commitment,” said Chester after the game. “At times we were under the pump but we found a way to get to the other end and win the game.
"It's a special victory. A lot of people had written us off but my guys thrive on that. The defensive effort was outstanding from minute one to minute 80.”
Leigh overturned a 22-0 deficit to beat Wakefield 36-30 in their Challenge Cup clash on Sunday.
The Championship pacesetters turned the sixth-round tie on its head with five second-half tries, with former Wakefield forward Oliver Wilkes scoring the match-winner eight minutes from the end.
Leigh have now eliminated two Super League teams (Salford and Wakey) in the Challenge Cup and will face Warrington in the last eight. This win firmly underlines Leigh’s Super League ambitions which could well come at the expense of Wakefield who sit at the bottom of the Super League table.
Leeds coach Brian McDermott went to great lengths to play down the recall of Kevin Sinfield but there was no denying his influence on their 48-16 win against Huddersfield. Sinfield had been dropped for the Rhinos' two previous Super League games in favour of Liam Sutcliffe, but revelled on his return as Leeds cruised to a first win in four matches.
Always professional and the ultimate club man, Sinfield also played down his role and said he did not feel that he had a point to prove: “I was just determined to help the team play well, I’m not sure I had a point to prove.
“I know what my strengths are and they’re different to what the other players in my position bring. I just wanted to make sure we were in the hat for the next round.”
Leeds will be taking on Hull in the next round of the Challenge Cup after they romped to a 40-16 win over Castleford. In only his fourth appearance for the Black and Whites, Curtis Naughton roared to life as he scored his first senior hat-trick for his new club.
According to Hull boss Lee Radford, he was warned off signing the 20-year old in the close season from Sydney Roosters but thankfully for Hull fans he ignored that advice.
“It’s a funny one as we got warned off signing Curt when I spoke to some people who knew him and were involved with him,” explained Radford.
“But since he’s been at the club he’s been fantastic. He really likes the surroundings and it’s showing the way he’s playing and training.
“It’s Curt’s shirt to lose now.”
Okay, joint top with Storm, Broncos and Cowboys but it was still a fine performance from the England star. His combination with Benji Marshall is really starting to take shape as he produced a man of the match performance.
"My combination with Benji is building," added Widdop. “We've been working on it all season, since pre-season and we're getting better.
"A few things went our way with kicks but you practice that to hopefully come off in the game."
While it was a great night for Widdop in the NRL, it was not the return that James Graham wanted.
The former St Helens star was making his comeback for Canterbury after serving a four-week ban but suffered a worrying knock after just 30 minutes of play.
The Canterbury captain’s head collided with Roosters Aidan Guerra’s hip and he looked to be out cold before hitting the deck. He was immediately surrounded by concerned players and medical staff treated him on the field before he was helped down the tunnel and thankfully did not return.
The new NRL concussion rules state that if a player loses consciousness’, or falls to the ground without taking protective action, then that player is barred from returning. No doubt James argued all the way down the tunnel that he was fine but it is good to see that these concussion protocols are being taken seriously.
