What Sky Sports pundit said about St Helens v Warrington Wolves after week of rugby league drama

Rugby League was the star of the show on Friday night as St Helens and Warrington Wolves faced off following a ‘tumultuous’ week in the sport.

Major changes have taken place at the highest level of rugby league in England in the past week or two with Rugby Football League (RFL) chairman Simon Johnson stepping down and a major review being authorised.

Controversially among most fans, that review will be led by Nigel Wood who was formerly at the RFL and paid a significant sum upon his exit in January 2018.

Despite that, he has been backed as the man to lead the sport to greener pastures in what Sky Sports‘ Brian Carney described as ‘essentially a coup’.

Speaking on the broadcaster’s pre-game coverage of the match between St Helens and Warrington Wolves, Carney said: “I’m talking about Nigel Wood returning to the RFL as interim chair in a coup essentially by a couple of clubs from Super League and representing the Championship and League One to oust Simon Johnson and insert Nigel.”

St Helens and Warrington Wolves clash a ‘welcome relief’ from RFL drama

The presenter would then touch base on that situation post-match, a game that saw St Helens narrowly beaten 14-12 by Warrington Wolves, with Carney arguing that the match was a “welcome relief” from the ongoing off-field issues.

He said: “It’s a tumultuous time and there is good and bad in what is happening off the field but it’s almost a welcome relief for 80 minutes to go and be entertained and see a game of rugby league of the highest quality.”

The game was one that emulated a play-off match in how close it was with Saints boss Paul Wellens referring to those fine margins as being costly in the defeat, however, those fine margins and the tight nature of the game helped remind fans of why this sport is so great.

Off-field issues can disillusion the fans but the 80 minutes of action on a Thursday or Friday night, or across the weekend, washes away those worries and concerns.

For all the potential upset off-field, of which Carney claimed will make the switch to summer rugby and the creation of Super League look like a “teddy bear’s picnic”, rugby league remains at its heart about the on-field entertainment.

What rugby league pundit said about ongoing RFL saga

Sky Sports pundit Jon Wilkin hammered home that message, asking:  “How many times does the product save us? How many times do we feel down about sport and everything? We get so big and we talk in such big terms but this is just entertainment.

“This has provided tonight on Friday. There was amazing Warrington support have come and had a great time, the stadium was full of Saints fans who have watched a fantastic game.

“It is entertainment. It should be fun and they made it fun tonight. It’s about Friday night fun.”

Fellow former Saints great Paul Sculthorpe had the final word, adding: “I agree with Wilko and everything he says. For me, it’s the best product in the world and we just need to get better off the field.”

Hopefully, the Strategic Review that has been called for and will be led by Nigel Wood will bring about those positive off-field changes so we can enjoy the 80 minutes at the end of the week that little bit more.