Set of Six: Lizzie Jones and the Challenge Cup final dominate our list this week
Monday 7 September 2015 10:27, UK
We look at the main talking points from the Challenge Cup final including Lizzie Jones and record breaker Tom Briscoe.
Set of Six
The Challenge Cup final dominates our Set of Six this week with Lizzie Jones and Tom Briscoe taking centre stage.
Standing ovation for Lizzie Jones
We expect bravery from our league players but the bravest performance of the Challenge Cup final has to go to Lizzie Jones.
The widow of Danny Jones received a standing ovation for her beautiful rendition of 'Abide With Me' which she sang as the traditional final hymn before kick-off.
Danny died after suffering a suspected cardiac arrest playing for Keighley Cougars against London Skolars in May. It was an emotional and haunting rendition as images of Danny and his family were displayed on the big screens.
Brilliant Briscoe
Tom Briscoe deservingly picked up the Lance Todd trophy as he sailed into the record books with five tries in the Challenge Cup final. Briscoe was already in contention for the man of the match award after he equalled the record of four tries scored by Leroy Rivett for Leeds in 1999. However, Briscoe went one better to help the Rhinos secure a record 50-0 win against Hull KR.
"It's a special achievement for myself," said Briscoe after the game.
"I wasn't aware of it until after the game when someone told me I had broken the record and it was four prior to this game. It was a very special moment for me personally.
"When you're doing it, it doesn't feel real but it's starting to sink in now."
No Hollywood ending
If this was a Hollywood movie, the 50-0 loss would have been a first round loss only for Hull KR to overcome the odds to reach the final and then pip the favourites to a memorable win in the last second. Alas, we are a long way from Hollywood and Hull KR were totally outclassed by Leeds – although the Rovers did themselves no favours with far too many errors as they totally froze on the big stage.
"I think some of the boys were overawed on the big stage, but I am proud of the boys for getting us here," said Hull KR coach Chris Chester.
"We've done well putting ourselves in this position and it wasn't a true reflection of the boys today."
"Everything was too quick for us in that first 20 minutes. We got back in the grind, but second half we came out and dropped the ball four times and a champion side like Leeds don't need a leg up."
Up for the treble
While Hull KR were licking their wounds, Leeds were planning rugby league domination by stating that the Challenge Cup trophy was only the beginning.
The Rhinos are determined to add the Super League leaders' shield and Grand Final trophy to the Challenge Cup, for a rare hat-trick.
Reigning Super League champions St Helens were the last team to do the treble in 2006, but Rhinos star Brett Delaney is determined to help Leeds go all the way in 2015.
"We set a goal at the start of the season to win all three trophies and that's one of three," said Delaney.
"But the job's not done yet. We're back in next Friday and we've got to kick on. Last year our form dropped and we don't want to do that again.
"There's a big emphasis on how we finish the season. There's two more trophies to go and we want to win them too."
Legends honoured
Saturday was a day of tributes as five legends of rugby league were immortalised in a bronze statue which was unveiled at Wembley Stadium ahead the Challenge Cup final.
The statue features five all-time greats of the sport in Eric Ashton, Billy Boston, Martin Offiah, Alex Murphy and Gus Risman.
A panel of journalists, coaches, players, MPs, national newspaper editors and fans voted for the quintet.
"This is the pinnacle of my career, without a doubt," said Offiah at the unveiling of the statue.
"I was having a conversation with the sculptor Stephen Winterburn recently and we were in agreement that this is the greatest honour that any sportsman in any sport could ever have.
"To have it at the national stadium, too, is beyond anything you could ever dream of. When you're young, you dream about representing your country or playing at Wembley. But whatever your desire is, you never imagine for a moment that anything like this will be achieved."
NRL wrap
Down under there was plenty going on too. Gareth Widdop and the St George Illawarra Dragons failed to clinch a finals (NRL play-off) spot last weekend after a poor second-half showing against the struggling Gold Coast Titans. The Dragons fell to a 28-26 defeat, having led 20-12 at half-time, with coach Paul McGregor branding their performance as "unacceptable". The Dragons sit eighth, two points ahead of the Manly Sea Eagles, and need to beat West Tigers in the final round of regular season fixtures on Saturday to ensure they extend their season.
And things went from bad to worse for Sam Tomkins and the New Zealand Warriors, who conceded a half century of points for the second successive game. Tomkins was forced off during the second half of their 34-point reverse against Wests Tigers and could miss their final game against James Graham's Canterbury Bulldogs.
