Craven – Million Pound Game needs looking at
● WIDNES star Danny Craven has added his name to the growing list of critics of the Million Pound Game.
The game is played at the end of the Super League Qualifiers to decide which team gets the final place in the top flight the following season.
The Vikings narrowly avoided the MPG by beating Catalans Dragons in Perpignan 12-10 the week before, thanks in no small part to the heroics of man-of-the-match Craven.
Instead it was the Dragons who went head-to-head with Leigh Centurions and saved their Super League skins with a 26-10 victory at Leigh Sports Village a week last Saturday.
The defeat means Leigh will play their Rugby League in the Championship next season. Interviewed immediately after the game, Catalans forward Sam Moa criticised the concept of the MPG and empathised with the predicament in which some Leigh players now find themselves. Moa’s remarks found a supporter in Craven. He said: “I was meant to be at Leigh to watch the Million Pound Game but I couldn’t bring myself to go. It’s a horrible game.
“I watched it at home along with JJ (Jordan Johnstone) and we were both saying we don’t know how people can get themselves up for playing in that game.
“It’s just so stressful, so I was glad that we got the job done a week earlier. I think Sam Moa summed it up well after the game.
“In terms of generating publicity for the game it might be good, but you’re taking players’ jobs away. It’s what the RFL have got in place at the moment but personally I think it needs looking at; it’s not a nice situation.”
As things stand, the Rugby Football League have stated The Qualifiers system, and presumably by extension the Million Pound Game, will stay in place next year. However, a review of the league structure is taking place with a view to making changes for 2019.
Sunday, September 12, 1971 TAKING on the touring New Zealand side, Widnes came very close to the victory they deserved with George Nicholls and Dennis O’Neill outstanding.
Nicholls scored a try in each half, both converted by Ray Dutton, while O’Neill constantly found gaps in the Kiwis’ defence and would have scored himself but for trouble with his left boot.
On two occasions he was in full flight for the line when his boot came off causing him to break stride and be tackled.
Level at the break at 8-8 with Johnny Gaydon also claiming a try, Widnes fell away as the Kiwis hit top form to lead by 10 points, before two goals from Dutton brought the Chemics to within three points of their illustrious opponents. ● WIDNES VIKINGS: On This Day is available now at £9.99 from the Vikings Superstore. ● ●
MAY WIDNES started the month of May on the front foot – for 40 minutes at least!
The Vikings went into their home game against Hull FC as underdogs but rattled up a 22-0 lead. Tries from Chris Houston, Rhys Hanbury and a double from Patrick Ah Van were supplemented by three Tom Gilmore goals and Denis Betts’s men looked set fair.
However, a Janson Turgut try just before the break gave the visitors hope and the second half was a different story as an Albert Kelly-inspired Airlie Birds cruised past the Vikings with fullback Jamie Shaul crossing for two fine scores to complete a 33-22 win.
Widnes’s Ladbrokes Challenge Cup bid fell at the first hurdle as they went down 34-20 at neighbours Warrington Wolves.
It was a hugely committed effort by the understrength Vikings but they were ultimately undone by former skipper Kevin Brown who crossed for a hat-trick of tries for the Wolves to the chagrin of the travelling Widnes fans.
One of the highlights for the Vikings was the performance of teenage hooker Danny Walker who provided threats from dummy-half and showed his fighting spirit by squaring up to Warrington skipper Chris Hill when things got fractious.
Sadly, the positivity did not quite extend to the following week as the Vikings were thrashed 34-12 by Wakefield Trinity at the Magic Weekend at St James’ Park in Newcastle.
The debut of controversial loan signing Rangi Chase did not go according to plan with tries by Hep Cahill and and Ryan Ince a mere consolation.
The next encounter with runaway Super League leaders Castleford Tigers saw Widnes give Daryl Powell’s in-form side a real run for their money.
Tries from Ince, Corey Thompson and a brace from Warrington loanee Jack Johnson gave the Vikings a 22-10 advantage early in the second half.
However, a hat-trick from Super League’s top tryscorer Greg Eden saw the Tigers take the spoils 32-22.
Widnes carried some confidence into their Whit Monday home clash with Leeds Rhinos and produced one of their best performances of the season to seal a 28-20 win.
In a see-saw game, Ince and Thompson registered a pair of tries apiece with Rhys Hanbury and Aaron Heremaia also crossing the whitewash.
JUNE WIDNES prised themselves away from the bottom of the Betfred Super League table with a 26-6 home win over Catalans Dragons.
It was the first time in 2017 the