Set of Six: The main talking points from the world of rugby league
Monday 28 September 2015 16:22, UK
Brilliant Leeds, Hull KR's unbeaten run and Dom Manfredi's four tries feature in this week's Set of Six..
League leader heroes
What can we say about Leeds and their never-say-die attitude?
The Rhinos were heading for a fourth straight defeat - and an away semi-final - after Huddersfield established a 16-8 lead, but the visitors stormed back with 12 points in the last seven minutes to claim an unlikely triumph.
"It was some ending," said Leeds coach Brian McDermott .
"You wonder whether you deserved to win but I have no issues with winning that game whatsoever.
"They're a tough team to play, so to finish in the fashion we have done is pleasing. We didn't play overly well but I thought we deserved it."
And what do the Rhinos get for topping the Super League table? As well as the League Leaders' Shield, they also get a home semi-final against St Helens, live on Sky Sports 1 on Friday.
Phil retracts
A few weeks ago, Phil Clarke asked if Leeds were fading and after losing three on the trot questioned if they could bounce back. Hats off to Phil, who took to Twitter after that amazing Rhinos win to admit that he got it wrong and retract! We look forward to Phil's column this week - look out for it on Wednesday!
Feel for Wigan... and the helicopter pilot
With four teams mathematically still able to win the League Leaders' Shield, the RFL decided to splash out on a helicopter that would carry the trophy. With Wigan's Dom Manfredi running in four tries to help his side beat Castleford 41-12, the helicopter was hovering over the DW Stadium, before the call came in that Leeds had won it on the final whistle and it was full steam ahead to the John Smith's Stadium.
Rovers win to finish unbeaten
Hull KR scored 36 unanswered second-half points to finish the Super 8s Qualifiers unbeaten thanks to their 46-22 victory over Salford.
The visitors to the KC Lightstream Stadium built up a 22-10 lead through tries from Greg Johnson, Harrison Hansen, Lama Tasi and Ryan Lannon, but they crumbled after the break. A six-try second-half blitz saw the Robins claim their seventh win from seven, with Josh Mantellato contributing 16 points with a try and six goals.
Their coach Chris Chester was happy with their win but disappointed that they were playing in the Qualifiers and not competing for the top prize. "I've learnt a lot about this group and we know we've got to be better and more consistent than we have been this year. It's my job to make sure that we're not fighting for survival next year," he said.
"I'm disappointed that we finished off in the middle 8s, we deserve to be fighting for that Super League top-eight.
"We've been on a great journey together, with some good times and bad, but one thing about this group is that we've stuck together when things haven't gone particularly well."
Blow for Wakey?
Wakefield coach Brian Smith will need to pick his side up for their Million-Pound clash with Bradford next Saturday after watching them slip to a surprise 24-10 defeat by Sheffield Eagles at Bramall Lane.
The Eagles produced one of their best performances of the season to gain only the second victory by a Championship club over a Super League team in 16 inter-divisional meetings in the Super 8s.
Wakefield went into the game knowing home advantage in next week's crucial game to determine the 12th and final place in Super League for 2016 was secure following the Bulls' 52-18 home defeat by Halifax 24 hours earlier, and they appeared to lack urgency from the start.
All-Queensland final
North Queensland Cowboys will face Brisbane Broncos in the NRL Grand Final after the Cowboys beat Melbourne Storm 32-12.
It is the first time that the Grand Final will be contested by two Queensland teams but the odds are stacked against the Cowboys. The Broncos have won six previous premierships, while the Cowboys have never won the title and their own previous appearance in the Grand Final was a decade ago, in 2005.
"It's good to see two Queensland sides there at the big dance," said Cowboys half-back Johnathan Thurston.
"Brisbane were impressive last night, we will have to play our best football to beat them."
