The stakes are high in the Super League now as the bright lights of Old Trafford are in sight. Four teams are 80 minutes away from the Theatre of Dreams but they have to come through one huge semi-final to get there.
The opening semi-final sees second placed Wigan hosting third placed Huddersfield at the DW Stadium on Thursday night with the Warriors looking to record their fourth win over Huddersfield this season.
Wigan go into the match off the back of a really commanding performance over the Castleford Tigers last week. That showed they are ready to win back their title but they’ll need to be every bit as good in this match if they are to prevail.
Huddersfield suffered late heartbreak against Leeds last week but they performed well enough in the first 75 minutes of that match to show they belong in the postseason. Historically they have found getting to this stage pretty comfortable but have struggled when they’ve been here. The task in hand is to prove they can go the next step now.
Wigan coach Shaun Wane has named an unchanged squad from the side which took Castleford to the cleaners last week. He’ll be hoping the likes of George Williams and Liam Farrell can open up the Giants.
Huddersfield welcome Jake Connor and Chris Bailey back into their squad at the expense of Kruise Leeming and Daniel Smith. Brett Ferres and Eorl Crabtree will be looked upon to give them the go forward for the likes of Brough and Ellis to do their thing.
This should be a pulsating semi-final. Huddersfield showed last week that they can play at playoff intensity. Now they need to show they can win at that level too. I think they will really throw it down to Wigan here. They’re in good form and have danger all over the park.
Wigan haven’t been beaten at the DW this season yet and that is a record they would love to preserve. They may well do so but nothing is going to come easy for them in this match. I really don’t expect more than a score in this match either way so Huddersfield with the eight point start is the obvious place to start the betting.
They have more than enough creativity in their backs and power in their forwards to remain a competitive force throughout the 80 minutes and I wouldn’t even put anyone off taking them outright. I’m not quite brave enough to take the Giants outright but I certainly think they’ve every chance here.
Another bet I am brave enough to take though is for Jermaine McGillvary to continue his impressive try scoring form. He has now notched 13 in his last 7 matches after boosting this blog’s profits with one last week and that form simply can’t be ignored. Castleford got in down their right a couple of times last week so that channel will be open for Super League’s leading try scorer.
A final bet I’m prepared to take is for there to be a drop goal in the match. Danny Brough and Matty Smith are both wonderful exponents of the one point but both George Williams and Jamie Ellis can kick the goal too if necessary and even Matty Bowen might have a go.
I’m really expecting a tight match and it might come down to a one point to decide it. It has been known for both these sides to kick a drop goal with half time approaching in the past and literally any advantage you can get here could be crucial in deciding who boards the bus to Old Trafford. At 7/2 I’ll chance a drop goal here.
Back Huddersfield (+8) to beat Wigan for a 4/10 stake at 2.00 with Stan James
Back J.McGillvary Anytime tryscorer for a 3/10 stake at 2.20 with Ladbrokes
Back Drop Goal to be scored for a 2/10 stake at 4.50 with BetVictor
Blog RL YTD: +11.49pts
