With one eye on the 2013 World Cup I applaud Smith’s decision to give youth a chance, especially when our so called stars of Super League have failed time and time again at international level. No one should be picked on reputation and omitting players like Pryce, Gleeson and Gardner who have been below par in the season sends out a strong message.  But the decision to drop world class scrum half Rob Burrow to make way for Richie Myler is baffling. There has to be a blend between youth and experience and frankly Myler is no where near good enough to be handed such a pivotal role in the England set up.

His last Super League game was in July and apart from a couple of appearances for England against France and Wales he has no big game experience. He was clueless in England’s warm up match against Wales and was completely outshone by Sam Tomkins and yet Smith reckons he’s the man to link up with McGuire and face the half back parings of Lockyer and Thurston (Australia),  and Marshall and Fien (New Zealand).

If Smith really wants to bring through youth he should move Tomkins to scrum half. Like Myler he has had a fantastic season scooping the young player of the year award. In the Wales game Tomkins scored three tries, put in a man of the match performance and yet this wasn’t enough to convince Smith to include him in the side, he doesn‘t even get a spot on the bench.

It was clear in Smith’s post match interview that he wasn’t ready to give any credit to Tomkins. Smith is determined to play Warrington bound Myler at scrum half for the tournament and he wasn’t going to allow a stellar performance from an outstanding England prospect derail his plans.

Has Smith lost the plot? Far from it. It’s always been part of the plan to give his Warrington player the nod at the expense of England’s Four Nations chances and that is exactly the reason why a club coach should not be a national coach.

Burgess makes a break against the Kiwis

Bradford Bulls powerhouse prop Sam Burgess will be playing in the NRL for the South Sydney Rabbitohs next season.

At 20 years old it’s a major boost for his career and he’s got an exciting four years ahead living in Australia. I’m glad he’ll be developing his game in the NRL because when he pulls on his England jersey he’ll be a much improved player as a result. It’s also nice to see that clubs in the NRL are interested in our Super League stars. It makes me a little more hopeful that the gulf between the two leagues is not as wide as recent international games suggests.

Whilst it’s looking bright for Burgess and on the international front it spells another setback for Bradford Bulls. After coming through the ranks at Bradford, Burgess stormed onto the scene and was 2007’s young player of the year. He is key to the Bulls’ set up and the loss of a player of this calibre is another chapter in the club’s rapid demise.

Bradford 2006 World Club Champions

Just a few years ago they were Grand Final winners and then went on to defeat West Tigers to become World Club Champions in 2006. Bradford were the team to beat and were one of the most successful sides of the Super League era. Now in 2009 they find themselves slumped in 9th spot sitting out the play offs and with plenty of time on their hands to remember the glory of years gone by and wonder where it all went wrong?

There’ll be a new look to the squad for 2010 with Terry Newton, Matt Cook, Glen Morrison, Ben Jeffries and David Solomona all on their way out. Will the disruption to the squad lead to more poor performances on the pitch and a slide further down the table or will it be the turning point when Bradford rebuild and bid to become the mighty force they once were?

Catalans are the surprise success story of the 2009 play-offs after they narrowly pipped Bradford to 8^th position claiming the last play-off spot. They then defied all expectations as they beat Wakefield and Huddersfield in the knockout rounds. Catalans are flying high at the moment but how far can they realistically go? I suspect a semi-final against defending Champions Leeds Rhinos will be a step too far for them and I bet that’s exactly what head coach Brian McCLennan and his team were thinking when they chose to play Catalans in the semi-final.

On paper the club call rightly rewards top placed Leeds Rhinos with the opportunity to select their opponents and so giving them an advantage in their journey to the Grand Final. But the Club Call has actually given Catalans a psychological advantage. In previous years if Leeds had drawn Catalans they could have left it to journalists and fans to label Catalans as the underdogs but through the club call Leeds have signalled that they feel Catalans are the weakest team and it just got personal. Well Catalans certainly won’t need any firing up now, they will have absolutely nothing to lose.

The club call has transformed the play-offs into a soap opera, making villains of Leeds Rhinos and heroes of Catalans. Club call is a poisoned chalice, Leeds are in a lose lose situation because whoever they pick will by vying for revenge. It would be extremely embarrassing if Leeds were to slip up against Catalans now wouldn’t it?e

To be fair the sudden death games of the weekend were filled with drama and excitement but the other two matches were two of the dullest of the season.

Leeds against Hull KR should have been a mouth watering encounter but it was far from it. A few players in the Hull KR team were carrying injuries and so coach Justin Morgan rested them knowing full well he had a second chance next week. If I was in Justin Morgan’s position I would do the same, he has a better chance of progressing to the Grand Final if he has a full strength team. But effectively Hull KR willingly conceded defeat against Leeds. This attitude goes against everything I expected from the play offs and left us with an opening encounter that was about as exciting as a piece of wet lettuce.

Next up St Helens versus Huddersfield and that was equally disappointing. St Helens stormed ahead to an early lead and whilst Huddersfield were never truly out of the game they never looked like mounting a comeback. Both teams knew this wasn’t the end of the road for them and the game was flat as a result. There is not enough at stake in these games. The winner progresses to the semi final and gets a home tie whilst the loser has to play an extra game in their bid to make the final. But neither side have a lot to lose. There just isn’t enough suspense in these games, it’s almost like playing an extra league game. In both the Leeds and St Helens games it felt like both sides were holding back because they knew they had another chance.

I’m a long way from being convinced about this new play-off structure. But I do like the idea that Leeds will pick their opponents for the Semi-Final. Who they pick will send out a strong message of their Grand Final intentions. This is going to get interesting.

Strange isn’t it, how quickly one title can fade out of fashion and is replaced by another trophy, so much for tradition. In years gone by teams were vying to finish top of the table then came the introduction of the Grand Final in 1998 and just 11 short years later every club strives to be crowned Super League Champions.

It’s disappointing that there is so little importance placed on finishing top of the league. The team who finishes the regular rounds of the season in the top spot has been the best team throughout 27 gruelling rounds of rugby, surely this is a much bigger achievement than winning a handful of matches in the playoff tournament?

In the modern competition all teams can beat any team on the day and so the Grand Final structure is not a true reflection of how good a team is. In fact on 5 occasions the winner of the league has failed to go on and win the Grand Final. Think back to 2000 and do you see Wigan celebrating as they won the race to the top spot, or do the iconic images of Chris Joynt and Paul Sculthorpe holding the Super League trophy aloft spring to mind? It’s cruel but history forgets the league winners.

Don’t get me wrong I’m behind the play off structure 100%, the whole of the season is building up to the drama and excitement of the Grand Final. The play off battle at the back end of the year sees out the season with a real bang. In previous years the competition dwindles to a two horse race with the title decided several rounds before the end of the season. The other teams are there to make up the numbers.

The season has a tendency to fizzle out but now with the Grand Final and playoffs there’s still so much to play for. 8 teams are in with a chance of making the Grand Final and this season has been particularly exciting with 11 teams in the running for a play off spot.

I wouldn’t revert back to the old way of deciding the league champions but it’s a shame that the success of the Grand Final has come at the expense of the League Leader’s shield. If a competition can so quickly gain and lose significance I worry that soon the Challenge Cup will also shrink into the shadows of the mighty Grand Final.

St Helens’ hooker Keiron Cunningham is a world class player and a true legend of the modern game. He’s lifted the Challenge Cup 7 times, the Super League trophy 5 times and the World Club Challenge cup twice. He has made the Super League Dream Team no less than 7 times and in 2007 Rugby League World ranked him as the greatest player of the Super League era. Yet Cunningham has never been awarded the Man of Steel trophy.

Keiron Cunningham has devastating raw power and is an intelligent player; a rare mix of qualities in a rugby player.  He is a real danger near the line with his ability to poach tries from dummy half and his kicking game isn’t half bad either. He consistently puts in high performances for St Helens and has often been named man of the match for his game winning efforts. What does he have to do to be recognised as the Man of Steel?

Perhaps because Cunningham so often delivers such high quality rugby we have come to expect that he will turn up and play out of his skin week in week out and because of this he is overlooked for the Man of Steel award. Cunningham’s not the only outstanding player whose achievements haven’t been recognised in the form of a Man of Steel honour, most notably the likes of Kris Radlinski, Kevin Sinfield and Keith Senior deserved winners in their own right.

Will 2009 be Cunningham’s year? It is not year clear whether he will be retiring this year but with increasing medical troubles Cunningham has reached his peak and this is probably the last time he will be in serious contention for the award. In Super League’s most competitive season there are a plethora of potential Man of Steel winners. In the running we have Keith Senior, Luke Robinson, Michael Dobson, Adrian Morley, Brett Hodgson and Eorl Crabtree to name a few. Keiron is up against stiff competition.

Whilst all those in contention are more than deserving of the Man of Steel 2009 Cunningham would be my choice. For him to receive one of the game’s most prestigious awards would be a great way to cap a sensational career.

Danny Tickle committed an illegal and dangerous tackle in a game against Harlequins. The incident was rightly referred to the RFL disciplinary committee who dished out a one match ban. But he didn’t miss a Super League game but a match in the Flood Lit 9 competition.

Don’t get me wrong, it’s a great competition and I in no way mean to belittle it. But it is completely ridiculous that a Super League player can serve his match suspension in a Flood Lit 9 match. How is it appropriate that punishment for an offense committed a Super League game be served in the Flood Lit 9 tournament? He should miss a Super League game.

This is not fair punishment, it’s not a punishment at all but a cop out. If a player is suspended from a Super League match his team may suffer from his absence, lose the game and miss out on picking up two league points. This match ban has real implications for the player and club involved. But for the player who misses the Flootlit Nines match there are no real consequences. As entertaining as the  tournament is it has very little significance in the rugby league calendar. After sitting out the Floot Lit 9 match the player is then available to take part in the vital Super League weekly rounds. I challenge the RFL to explain how this is seen as appropriate and just punishment?

Following the RFL’s lead why don’t we start including the Academy games? It would be the perfect place for Super League players to see out their match suspensions and never actually have to miss a Super League game, what a great way to avoid any real punishment.

Next year let’s have all the Super League clubs registering for the Floodlit Nines tournament so that if any of their players happen to commit an offense in a Super League match they will be able to skip real punishment and serve their ban in the Nines tournament. While we’re at it are there must be an old Sevens competition we can dust off and use for this very purpose.

“It’s going to be dull and boring, what the game needs is a Saints versus Wigan final, who wants to see Huddersfield against Warrington”. These aren’t my views but those of individuals posting on a Challenge Cup message board and I disagree with them completely. It’s going to be a thrilling encounter and shows just how competitive the game has become. For the casual BBC viewer and the neutral fans it’s going to be one of the most exciting, historic and unpredictable finals in years. I cannot wait for this Saturday’s game.

The story of the Challenge Cup run has many twists and turns, but usually follows a similar plot; a big team drops out an early stage and a Championship side knocks out a Super League team causing a real cup upset. Then to the last chapter, the final, and we can usually predict how it’s going to end. But this year the ending really is unwritten. There’s 80 minutes to play and both teams have the chance to write their own story and claim the silverware.

I cannot understand why any rugby league fan would not be eagerly anticipating the final, unless of course it is a case of sour grapes. To suggest that a game involving Saints or Leeds against another team would be any more exciting is ridiculous. We know who’s going to win those encounters because inevitably the underdog is a relative new comer to the final and is overwhelmed by the occasion and chokes it on the big stage. Furthermore to say that the game needs a Saints v Wigan final is absurd. Firstly Wigan are nowhere near as strong a team as they once were and as a result the derbies between Saints and Wigan are no longer as closely fought contests. Secondly to rely on the famous rivalry between St Helens and Wigan to make a compelling match reveals a mindset at outdated as the BBCs coverage of the game itself. It not only promotes a one dimensional view of our game but shows an ignorance of what creates an enthralling encounter. Instead Huddersfield going head to head with Warrington is good for the game because it promotes the unpredictability of our sport. What other sporting contest is so competitive?

I cannot wait for the match and it is impossible to pick a winner. Warrington had a strong start to the season and have an incredibly skilful set of players who have the potential to play at a higher level and there’s no bigger stage than Wembley. Huddersfield on the other hand aren’t as naturally talented as other teams but have performed consistently well this year, they are motivated, well drilled and know how to grind out a win.

Both teams have intelligent game winners; Briers at Warrington and Hodgson at Huddersfield and both can beat any team on the day. It’s perfectly balanced and too close to call. This final has all the ingredients to be an absolute classic.

It will be a historic day for whoever lifts the trophy, Huddersfield haven’t won since 1954 and Warrington last won the cup in 1974. I said it’s a tough one to predict but I’m going to come off the fence and back Huddersfield to win, I think their mental toughness and determined work ethic will get them through.

Eleven of the Giants’ first team regulars would be watching the game from the stands and would be replaced by the reserves. With a Challenge Cup Final just a week away coach Nathan Brown obviously wanted to wrap his star players in cotton wool. I felt sorry for the youngsters; did they know they were up against the mighty Saints?

Everyone had written off the Huddersfield side but the largely reserve team weren’t going to give in so easily. This was their chance to impress at Super League level and the spirited youngsters provided one of the most exciting and surprising games of the season. After taking an unlikely lead in the first half they battled in the second half and only narrowly missed out on the win. Saints managed to claw back a 12-10 victory despite being outplayed for the majority of the match. Games like this show that uncertainty is the only thing certain about rugby league -brilliant.

It was a thrilling contest and was the stuff young player’s dreams are made of but let’s not be distracted by the fairytale, what Nathan Brown did was wrong and must not slip by unnoticed. The rules state you must play your strongest team yet Huddersfield flounced those rules. I know that each of the missing eleven players reported a niggling injury of some kind and so a side of fully fit academy players is technically stronger but it’s convenient that the week before the Challenge Cup Final eleven first team players develop injuries that prevent them from taking to the field and you can bet they will be running out at Wembley on Saturday.

I’m not criticizing Brown for exploiting the loop hole in the rules, if I was a coach I would do exactly the same thing. Danny Kirmond was one of the Huddersfield players who was set to play in the final as set to play in the final next week but unfortunately suffered an injury in the game and is now ruled out of the Challenge Cup final. Watching as Kirmond was stretchered off the field I was reminded just why Brown had rested his players. But it annoyed me that Nathan Brown also took the opportunity to sit this one out and allowed assistant coach Paul Anderson to take the reigns. Why on earth does the head coach need to be rested? Is there a clearer signal that he wasn’t taking this game seriously? There’s no getting away from the fact that the Giants deliberately fielded a weaker side and were prepared to sacrifice two league points and so granted Saints an unfair advantage both in the game and in the race for the top spot in the league.

Shocking news this week that six Celtic Crusaders players are to be deported after the UK Border Agency ruled they are here on incorrect visas.

Tony Duggan, Jace van Dijk, Damien Quinn, Darren Mapp, Mark Dalle Cort and Josh Hannay have to be out the country by 7^th September. It is deeply humiliating for the players involved and the consequences are severe; the players are banned from the UK for 10 years.

In a week where Bloodgate was splashed all over the papers threatening to cast a dark and heavy cloud over the integrity of Rugby Union it is disappointing to see Rugby League hit the national headlines and perhaps take some of the heat with a scandal of our own.

It is a huge embarrassment for Rugby League. Who’s to blame? It’s murky waters for sure. Did the players fiddle their visa paperwork? Or were they completely unaware and simply acting under their club’s guidance? Were the RFL aware that their visas were insufficient to allow them to play in the Super League? Without knowing who to blame Rugby League as a whole is left open to suspicion and criticism.

Celtic Crusaders are a Welsh team and are important club in the expansion of Rugby League. I cannot help but wonder if the RFL were aware of these breaches in visa regulations but chose not to act because they were keen to promote and develop the game in the welsh regions, at any cost.

It makes a farce of our game and of the season. With those six Australians present the Celtic team were undoubtedly a stronger outfit. The Crusaders picked up victories against Bradford, Wigan and Salford this season and I wouldn’t be surprised if those teams feel cheated out of two valuable league points.

You have to wonder if there are a few more international players anxiously waiting to be found out. How many other payers are playing in Super League on an incorrect visa? We may not have seen the end of this yet.