Talking RL: Marshall's art is good for Super League's profile... we need more of it

They were there to talk to Liam Marshall about his super solo try – a 90m effort in which he kicked the ball on from the restart, chased and sprinted over to score on the stroke of half-time.

The clip was widely shared on social media. I saw a story about it in Australia. It was spoken about on Sydney breakfast radio. And Sky Sports showed interest because it was so unique.

Marshall himself admits he probably wouldn’t have risked at any other stage of the match, but the more rugby league coaches encourage players to ‘play what they see’, the better the spectacle is – and the more exposure rugby league will get.

Adrian Lam seems to encourage players to try different things. There was an instance in the Huddersfield game when, attacking the Giants’ line, Jackson Hastings received the ball on the left edge and – instead of spinning the ball wide – he twisted and kicked the ball to the left corner... where Bevan French was prowling down the wing. It didn’t come off, but it’s encouraging to see them try something new.

And I like it when other teams do, too; Hull KR scored a wonderful multi-off-load try earlier this year in the derby. Tom Johnstone's spectacular dives have rivaled Tommy Makinson. And I tipped my hat to Toulouse for signing prop Joe Bretherton and then playing him on the wing.

Robotic rugby league is dull. Drives into the opposition 30m, block plays, finish with a kick... it's boring, even when it's successful.

So I'm glad Marshall was given a licence to try something different and I'm pleased it got wider attention. Here's to more trick-plays, impulsive attacks, early kick-chases.

Here’s to more entertainment as the season unfolds.

And to think, last year, Wigan didn’t have four wins on the board until April 22 – and still finished second.

Now, they are top of the pile. Too soon to get carried away, of course, but nice they aren’t currently dealing with the issues and questions that some of their rivals (Warrington, Hull FC) are. There was much to admire from their performance at Huddersfield on Sunday.

They limited their opponents to one try and after absorbing so much punishment, countered in emphatic fashion with slick, crisp and varied attacking raids.

Maintain that attitude and form, and they should tighten their grip on top spot against Hull KR.

Shaun Wane has taken the radical step of choosing England players based on their early-season form, choosing England players who are English, and stressing this is not an Ashes ‘squad’ – rather a list of potential candidates.

It’s a good first sign from the former Wigan coach, even if there was no full explanation over the absence of Jackson Hastings and Blake Austin, two Australians who qualified for GB through their ancestry. Given Hastings' good form, it's surely an indication Wane will lean against going down that route.

There is no Sean O’Loughlin in the squad, either, though Wane made it clear at his unveiling that if the veteran – planning to retire this year – is in good form and deserves a spot, he will play against the Aussies this autumn.

The Ashes series is not, to him, some kind of warm-up to the World Cup. It’s a series he’s desperate to win.

The door is open for others, Wane says. Even so, it’s an early indication of who has impressed him, and I’m pleased Liam Farrell has returned to the mix after being continually overlooked by Wayne Bennett, while Dom Manfredi’s inclusion has come nearly four years since his route to the England side was derailed by the start of a nightmare run of bad luck with injuries.

And finally, mentioning Wane, he may now be England coach but he's still the same down-to-earth bloke he ever has been. As he showed on the way home from Huddersfield on Sunday... and stopped to help a fan change a flat tyre.

Walking from the car park to the entrance at Huddersfield, I was staggered to see admission for Wigan fans was £25. And that was to sit behind the posts.

The day earlier, Toronto had posted a tweet to say walk-up admission to their ‘home’ match at Warrington was £31.

For a televised game.

No wonder the attendance was so poor.

We keep being told it’s a crucial time for Super League, as it begins to renegotiate a TV deal. And the competition, clearly, wants to look its best.

It’s why it brought in shot-clocks and golden point.

But nothing screams ‘this is a successful sport with a lot of interest’ more than packed stands. By contrast, what message does it send when there are banks of empty seats?

I understand clubs have bills to pay. Understand, too, that the argument along the lines of “charge half as much and twice as many will turn up” does not necessarily ring true.

But surely more would turn out if prices were cheaper. The atmosphere would be better. And the footage and pictures would look so, so much better.

I do wonder if by charging so much - and pricing many fans out of watching matches - is ultimately a little self-defeating as they try and portray a growing sport to broadcasters.