Championship Talk: Everything on the line

CHAMPIONSHIP TALK

fevnut's blog is absolutely delighted to have received permission to bring you a regular column from Gareth Walker.

Gareth is a top rugby league journalist who has one very exceptional distinction. He chooses to write about matters pertaining to the Championship and League One.

Although this blog is devoted to Featherstone Rovers it is always good to read opinions about matters relevant to us, but not specifically about us. We hope you enjoy reading Gareth's column each week.

Everything on the line

AN entire season’s work comes down to 80 minutes of rugby for four Betfred Championship and League One clubs on Sunday.

       

The competitions’ Preliminary Finals see Toulouse Olympique host Featherstone Rovers and Newcastle Thunder take on Doncaster, with the winners of both progressing to their respective Grand Finals.      

       

Toronto and Oldham can both watch on safe in the knowledge that their place is already assured after impressive victories last weekend.

       

For the other four, this is do-or-die rugby league.

       

Featherstone have already been playing that for two weeks now, and their impressive away wins at Leigh and York will ensure they are not taken lightly by favourites Toulouse.

       

Ryan Carr’s side have built some real momentum over the last fortnight, despite missing key man Cameron King due to the concussion protocol.

       

In his absence, Leeds youngster Callum McClelland has excelled at stand-off and Connor Jones has caught the eye at hooker, with the likes of forwards James Harrison and Brad Day providing a cutting edge in the pack.

       

They also have the benefit of an extra day’s rest on their opponents, and unusually for a team playing in France, will have done less travel this week, with Sylvain Houles’ men returning from their match in Toronto.

       

But winning in Toulouse is rarely easy for any opposing team, especially with brilliant attacking trio Mark Kheirallah, Johnathon Ford and Stan Robin pulling the strings.

       

It should be a cracking contest.

       

In League One, there is a repeat of the Newcastle-Doncaster game that we saw just two weeks ago in the play-offs.

       

Then, the Dons prevailed 20-6 with an accomplished performance led by scrum-half Matty Beharrell and with Rangi Chase alongside him.

       

With Kyle Kesik a shrewd hooker at this level Richard Horne’s side have the ability to trouble any side, and they also have significant experience in the pack, not least in Danny Washbrook.

       

Thunder can also boast players with plenty of knowledge about what it takes to succeed at this level in Misi Taulapapa, Quentin Lalulu-Togagae and Keal Carlile, who all have key roles to play.

       

Others to watch out for include Newcastle’s young guns Nick Newman and Lewis Young, and the Dons’ explosive PNG duo Jason Tali and Watson Boas.

       

Don’t expect there to be much between the sides as they bid to earn a shot at promotion against the waiting Roughyeds.