Five underappreciated performances from the weekend’s Super League action

This weekend’s action saw some brilliant performances from players like James Roby, Sam Powell and Joe Lovodua.

But there are many players who also put in great shifts to help their sides who haven’t received the recognition.

This list looks at those players whose performances have gone under the radar or are generally not appreciated enough for the quality they bring to their teams for various reasons.

Danny Houghton
In spite of his side’s gut-wrenching defeat, the Hull FC hooker put in a huge effort on Thursday night. The 33-year-old made 65 tackles for the Black and Whites in their valiant defensive effort against Wigan. The number nine was everywhere in defence for the full 80 minutes and did a brilliant job helping Hull get on the front foot off the back of strong performances from Chris Satae and Ligi Sao. He even got on the scoresheet after supporting a brilliant piece of skill by teammate Joe Lovodua. The shine was taken off Houghton’s performance due to the result and a fantastic performance by new recruit Lovodua.

Mikolaj Oledzki
Understandably, much of the focus from Leeds’ Friday night game was on the current state of the club following yet another loss. However, Oledzki was in no way responsible for his side’s disappointing overall performance. The 23-year-old only knew one direction during the game, as his carries helped Leeds enjoy some relatively positive periods as they found themselves in Saints territory. His commitment was unquestionable and he is a hugely valuable asset to a struggling Leeds side.

Ethan Havard
More than ever, Wigan are relying on the youth in their squad to make up the numbers of their forward pack. With the likes of Oliver Partington, Joe Shorrocks, Liam Byrne and co, there has been multiple youngsters who have stepped up to help the side. Ethan Havard is another name that has recently become a regular feature for Wigan, and on Thursday night his impact off the bench probably won his side the game as his try levelled up the tie early in the second half before he backed up his hard work with some important defensive work.

Matt Parcell
Parcell was at his very best during his side’s dismantling of Warrington, as he tore apart the visitors around the ruck. His performance in defence and attack was phenomenal, and he gave his backs a really strong platform as they punished Warrington’s defence, giving his side the better of the field position. He was also part of a break that sent Lachlan Coote in under the sticks. He showed why he is one of the very best players in the competition and, if he can stay fit, he will play a key role in Rovers’ push for a play-off spot.

Danny Levi
Levi helped his side overcome very strong opposition on Friday as Catalans travelled to West Yorkshire in a third vs fourth clash. He was involved in almost everything through the middle, and his threat from dummyhalf left the French side in disarray on multiple occasions. The hooker has been exceptional for the Giants this year, and the impact he has on his side’s performances is remarkable. The Kiwi even got himself on the scoresheet to add to his all-round solid performance.