The Super League takes a break this week for the Challenge Cup semi-finals and what an absolute barnstormer of a match we are in for in the first of those last four clashes as the top two in the league competition go head to head at the Halliwell Jones Stadium with a day at Wembley the reward for the winners.
Away from the Super League it gets no bigger than this. Leeds and St Helens have played each other in some massive matches in the Super League including many Grand Finals but there is something extra special about the Challenge Cup and the Wembley final it offers and that incentive alone is certain to ensure this is a memorable match.
Leeds go into this match on top of the Super League table. They are aiming to defend the competition they won when they beat Castleford in last year’s final. The Rhinos have won five of their last six with their only defeat in that time coming at Wigan in a match they could easily have won had a late drop goal gone over.
Stevie Ward has been ruled out of this match but the Leeds side will be boosted by the return of Joel Moon from injury. Kevin Sinfield and Jamie Peacock will be playing in their final Challenge Cup ties if Leeds lose this but two champions like them deserve to end their Cup careers on a stage such as Wembley and their teammates will be desperate to deliver that for them.
St Helens sit a point behind their opponents in the Super League table after a run of three straight wins. They have won a couple of close matches and were then far too good for a Hull KR side who were already thinking of this weekend. Saints have improved their defence in recent weeks. They needed to do that but we’ll get a real examination of it again here I’m sure.
James Roby returns to the starting line up for Kieron Cunningham’s men and he will give the side a massive lift and with Adam Quinlan, Luke Walsh and Travis Burns all in the side as well the spine of this St Helens side is firmly in place. The Saints forwards will need to stand up to the pace and power of the opposition here.
I’m really looking forward to this match. I’m looking forward to it so much I genuinely wasn’t actually going to bet on the match. I was fully prepared to sit back and watch a great game without a betting influence but the -2 on Leeds is a carrot that I can’t ignore and I’m going to take that. They’ve already beaten Saints home and away this season by 25 and 28pts so St Helens clearly have something to find from those matches.
I accept the cup is different and everything is on the line in these matches but I just think Leeds are a little bit too good for everyone at the minute and with the motivation of sending Peacock and Sinfield out on a high I fancy them to get the job done here.
Back Leeds (-2) to beat St Helens for a 4/10 stake at 1.91 with William Hill
Blog Rugby League YTD: -5.7pts
