Galea helps Hull KR to win over Hull
Former Wests Tigers secondrower Ben Galea bagged a double as Hull KR earned the bragging rights over rivals Hull yet again on the opening weekend of new Super League season in Cardiff.
Galea, who made 151 appearances in a near ten-year spell with the Tigers, scored both sides of halftime as Hull KR came from behind to win 34-22 at the Millennium Stadium on Sunday.
Hull FC, beaten by Hull KR in the play-offs in 2010, raced to 14-0 lead thanks mainly to tries from centre Kirk Yeaman and Lee Radford in the opening ten minutes.
However it wasn't to remain like that with Hull KR hitting back first through ex-Canterbury Bulldogs half-back Blake Green and then Clint Newton before Galea's double.
Kris Welham grabbed two tries of his own in a 20-minute second-half spell leaving Will Sharp's 70th-minute try and Yeaman's second late on little more than consolations for Hull FC.
Reigning champions Wigan Warriors somehow threw away a 16-point lead in the final 15 minutes as bitter rivals St Helens secured a dramatic 16-16 draw as all teams competed at Cardiff.
The Warriors, headed by ex-Melbourne Storm assistant coach Michael Maguire, looked to be cruising to a routine victory after Ryan Hoffman, playing for the first time outside the NRL, scored on debut.
Former Melbourne secondrower Hoffman crossed just ten minutes into the match while Harrison Hansen and ex-Newcastle centre George Carmont also touched down.
But Jon Wilkin's 64th minute try sparked a Saints comeback with Tony Puletua soon making it 16-12 and ex-Auckland wing Francis Meli completing the draw at the death.
Controversial Australian Joel Monaghan scored on his debut for much-fancied Warrington, but it wasn't enough to give the Wolves victory as they lost 28-18 to Huddersfield.
Warrington took the lead early on when disgraced former Canberra Raiders wing Monaghan collected a high-ball and touched down to score with just five minutes on the clock.
But it went downhill from there for the Wolves as ex-Melbourne wing Matt King was stretchered off with a knee injury and Keal Karlile and Danny Brough scored first half tries for the Giants to make it 10-6.
Brough, Darrell Griffin and Shaun Lunt all crossed for the Giants in the second half and, although Ben Westwood and Ryan Atkins scored for the Wolves, they couldn't catch Huddersfield.
Leeds also got off to a winning start, snatching victory from the jaws of defeat against Bradford to run out 32-28 winners thanks to a late penalty try.
The Bulls raced into a 16-point lead in the 53rd minute as Elliott Whitehead completed his hat-trick but Leeds had other ideas with Ben Jones-Bishop's second try minutes later prompting a fightback.
Ex-Sea Eagles prop Kylie Leuluai and Rob Burrow soon touched down before the decision to award the Rhinos a penalty try late on completing the win.
Former Parramatta five-eighth Dean Widders scored two of eight Castleford tries as they ran out 40-20 victors against Wakefield Trinity Wildcats.
Halfback Luke Gale scored ten points for Harlequins as they recorded an 11-4 win over Catalans, while Welsh franchise the Celtic Crusaders trounced Salford City Reds 42-12.
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