Jay Pitts believes Super League is better with London ahead of relegation shootout
JAY Pitts believes Super League is a better place with London in it, even though he may relegate the team he is joining.
Welcome to ‘Frantic Friday’ where one of four sides will go down to the Championship.
Whatever happens, the winner of the showdown between the Broncos and Wakefield will stay up.
If London notch their 11th success of the season – already it will be a record total for going down - then Hull KR will go down unless they get something from Salford.
If that also happens then Huddersfield are relegated. Should the Giants in turn beat Catalans, then Trinity find themselves in the second tier. Simon Woolford's side, Rovers and the Broncos could all lose and points difference kicks in.
But London skipper Pitts – whose late try at Hull KR had everyone digging out their calculator – is convinced the competition is better with a Capital presence.
The 29-year-old back-rower, expected to join Wakefield for 2020, also believes a similar attitude to the game at Toronto that got them there can see Danny Ward’s men safe.
Pitts said: “Super League is better with London in it, massively. A lot of people would agree with that as well.
“It would be massive for the club to stay up. We’ve been through a lot of tough times but we’ve worked hard over the last three years to get the club back up to where we are now.
“Every week’s a grand final to us but we’re still bottom and have a job to do. We were in this situation last year as we had to go to Toronto and do it.
“The situation makes the league a lot more competitive and that’s what everyone’s been aiming for.”
The final day shoot-out has many people fretting – Wakefield boss Chris Chester is not one of them.
He insisted: “I’ve slept well. I’m probably the most positive I’ve been for a long, long time.
“I don’t need to discuss the enormity of it though as the players know deep down what’s at stake.”
Should Hull KR drop, it would be a nightmare end to the legendary career of Danny McGuire, who bows out after the trip to Salford.
However, the 36-year-old, who told SunSport about how he is still ‘Danny from East End Park’ despite winning eight Super League titles, three World Club Challenges, three League Leaders’ Shields and two World Club challenges during a legendary Leeds stint, is feeling comfortable.
He knows Rovers will determine their own fate, despite losing to London last week – all they have to do is play well.
McGuire told SunSport: “That’s the good thing, we’ve got to go there and win.
“We’ve got to roll our sleeves up now. We played a little bit nervously and London took their chance.
“I’ve had a lot of really good moments in my career but it’s a tough situation. We’ve let ourselves down at times this year.”
A Rovers win may put Huddersfield in peril as they face Catalans Dragons at the same time and boss Woolford will head back to Australia if they go down.
But sources have told SunSport that the Giants will not be turfed out of the John Smith’s Stadium if that happens.
The ownership model means all teams playing there can stay, no matter what happens to them on the field.
SUPER LEAGUE'S FATEFUL FRIDAY THE 13TH
ONE of four teams will go down but what can happen?
London win at Wakefield = London stay up
London win and Hull KR lose = Hull KR go down
London win, Hull KR win and Huddersfield lose = Huddersfield go down
London, Hull KR and Huddersfield win = Wakefield go down
Hull KR lose by 55 points more than London lose by = Hull KR go down
