Sunday Social: Westerman makes headlines, Warrington and Saints deliver a classic, Parcell haunts his parent club

James Messenger

It is time for Love Rugby League’s Sunday Social, your alternative recap of the serious and not so serious talking points from the past seven days. 

The Hull derby, a typically feisty and action-packed affair, made headlines across the World for a very difference reason this weekend. Hull FC’s Joe Westerman appeared to dislocate his knee with three minutes remaining, before knocking it back into place and joining the scrum. However, not even his determination could prevent the Black and Whites from falling to a second defeat of the season against the Robins.

Friday’s clash between Warrington and St Helens certainly lived up to the pre-match hype and proved to be the perfect advertisement for rugby league. In front of a near-capacity Halliwell Jones Stadium, Saints extended their lead at the top of the table, but certainly didn’t have it all their own way against the hosts’ fired-up forward pack.

There’s been plenty of player movement in the last few days and Leeds have proven to be very active, bringing in the likes of Robert Lui, Rhyse Martin and Shaun Lunt. Hooker Matt Parcell went in the other direction as part of the deal for Lunt, and the Australian produced a man-of-the-match performance to temporarily send his parent club two points adrift at the bottom of the league.

Wigan have picked up some real momentum of late. Friday’s win over Salford was their fourth in a row, and they are now right back in the play-off picture. Their rugby has been brilliant to watch recently and they certainly showed what they’re capable of as they moved up to fourth in the table.

Wakefield managed to end their run of six straight defeats with a win over Huddersfield on Friday. Jacob Miller’s acrobatic finish, plus a treble from Tyler Randell, moved Trinity six points clear of the drop and dragged the Giants right into the relegation mix.

And a final word for referee Robert Hicks following the Hull derby. Too often, we criticise referees for slowing games down and becoming too involved. Hicks did the opposite on Thursday night and was applauded by supporters and journalists-alike for the way he dealt with proceedings.

Super League Hull FC