Knock On 4 with Jonny Bell

After I sparked a mass debate last week regarding my tongue in cheek referral to the Moscow Meerkats (a team name I created for a weekly feature) I would like to start by saying the Kingston Koalas won’t be joining Super League (anytime soon) but they are part of my blog.

Anyway, back to the matters at hand, and away we go with possibly the biggest rugby league news of the weekend – Catalans making more shockwaves across Super League.

Shock of the Week – Catalan Dragons

After bringing Warrington back down to earth last weekend the Dragons were at it again, this time showing Wigan that they aren’t just making up the numbers by cruising past the Warriors on their own patch. Following five defeats on the bounce, the French side made it two stunning wins in two games in the North West.

With Scott Dureau leading the assault, Catalans ran in eight tries to move into seventh spot, just two points behind their hosts. It’s Hull FC who travel to France on Saturday and we’ll have to see if Catalans have what it takes to continue their winning streak outside of the North West. Love Rugby League is the home for all your rugby league news.

Widnes’ Super League credentials doubting of the Week

The Super League licence fiasco turned into a bit of a circus really, and it’s still going. The biggest cheer at the Stobart Stadium for many a year was a result of an off-field decision which, although saying more about the game’s bad politics than the club, is a bit of a sad state of affairs.

Anyway, back to the point, and on Thursday the Vikings travelled to Leigh, hoping to avenge the thumping handed to them a week previous and secure their passage to the semi-finals of the Northern Rail Cup. The game began well for Widnes, racing into a lead, much like they did the last time, only they were well-beaten once more.

The humiliating defeat prompts more questions about how they’ve managed to reach Super League. Sure, they meet the credentials and they won the Northern Rail Cup a couple of years ago but how can a team who haven’t even finished in the top three in the Championship since 2007 be given a Super League licence?

JB’s jinx of the Week – Whitehaven

Perusing my previous offerings of ‘Knock On’ I have noticed that I’ve become a bit of a jinx. In week two I suggested that “you’d be a brave man to question the (Warrington) Wolves at the minute” and they were humbled immediately by Catalans. Last week it was Whitehaven who I was full of praise for, only for them to go and get a thumping at the hands of Rochdale.

Who knows why this happened? Maybe it was because our very own John Flanagan was present, or maybe it was because I perhaps overstated their chances of success this season, we’ll never know.

Despite this, they have still made a bright start to the campaign and this is a setback they will hurdle.

Rugby League Franchise name of the week – Kingston Koalas

Following Supreme Ventures Limited’s $100,000 new sponsorship deal to Jamaica rugby league, the country’s 2013 World Cup hopes have been boosted. Read the rugby league news story here.

With this in mind, maybe it’s time to break from the European Super League idea and incorporate global teams. I think the Kingston Koalas has a bit of a ring to it, and I’ve always fancied a trip to the Greater Antilles and the Caribbean Sea.

That said, why stop at one? Portmore Possums, Mandeville Monkeys, Negril Newts. Take your pick.