Last Chance Saloon for Castleford, Hull FC and London: Round 28 Preview

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The Race for the Top 5


A lot can happen in rugby league in a matter of seven days. Just ask Hull FC fans. Last Thursday, Salford dispatched Warrington and opened the door for Hull FC to go second with a victory at home against relegation-threatened Huddersfield.


The expected victory did not materialise, that coupled with Wigan’s hard-fought victory against Wakefield meant that Hull FC fell to fifth in the table, just two points ahead of Castleford, who have a superior points difference.


And of course the fixture list fell so that these two sides met each other in the penultimate match of the regular season. Some may say this is hyperbole, but I believe that this is do-or-die for either side’s play off ambitions.


The reason I say that is because Hull FC have the second-worst home record in the competition and a negative points difference. This is unheard for a side that had an opportunity to move second in the league with two weeks to go. It seems strange to say, but their final fixture has the misfortune of being at home to top of the league St Helens, and they would be expected to lose if it goes to form.

Equally for Castleford, they have an unenviable final round fixture away at Wigan, a side who are hitting form at just the right time and will be looking to wrap up second spot.


It is not just me who says that this is a must-win game, Hull FC coach Lee Radford has applied the same label. He will be delighted to welcome back Albert Kelly, Ratu Naulogo and Mark Minichello to the squad, which is a much-needed boost. Meanwhile for Castleford, Matt Cook returns to the squad after the unusual “injury” of having lost his voice for a number of weeks!




The play offs may only start two weeks today, but I believe that they start in earnest this weekend. The pressure is probably more on Hull FC who have occupied a play off spot for the majority of the season compared to Castleford who are seeking to sneak that final spot. How will both sides handle the pressure? It promises to be a tense match!


 The Relegation Battle

If you think Thursday’s battle for the play-offs will be tense, it will be nothing compared to Friday evening’s game between Hull KR and London Broncos.


Last weekend, the relegation battle finally narrowed down, with Leeds all-but securing their safety with a win in the capital. Relegation-threatened Huddersfield and Hull KR also secured much-needed victories.


The significance of Huddersfield’s Friday night victory at Hull FC was thrust into even sharper focus when Hull KR took the points from Catalans. These results left London two points clear at the bottom.


The scenario for them is now simple. They must win both remaining matches, against Hull KR and Wakefield (both away) and hope results go their way to survive. This is not an impossible task, they have beaten both this season, but both matches being away from home does make it a difficult task.


Whoever ultimately gets relegated will do so on a record number of points for a bottom placed side. Each side in Super League has contributed hugely to the competition this year and will be a loss for the 2020 season.


It is easy to forget that this is not how it was meant to be. Everyone foresaw London to be the whipping boys. The most generous predictions said that they would pick up a handful of wins yet still be comfortably relegated.




A cynical view may be that they were underestimated and that is why so many clubs are in a relegation battle. That is unfair in my view. Each side from 11th place upwards has 20 points, a total that would have seen them comfortably safe in any other given season.


But this is not any other season. This is 2019. This was the year that the bottom of the table has confounded everyone. I include myself in that. I have written off London numerous times this year. Just when it looked like they were set to be cut adrift, they have bounced back and kept up the pressure on their rivals above, at times only an inferior points difference has kept them anchored to the bottom of the league.


To survive, they need to raise their game twice more and hope results fall their way. They are far from out of this, but the first challenge in front a partisan, East Hull crowd is unquestionably difficult.


If they were to survive, it would be one of the sport’s greatest fairytale stories. But we all know that sport doesn’t always fall that way.


Whatever the outcome, I make only one prediction. The end of the Super League season promises to be one that leaves fans of all clubs (including neutrals) glued to the edge of their seats, at times watching through their fingers.


For differing reasons, Castleford, Hull FC and London Broncos are drinking in the last chance saloon, and last orders are about to be called…

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