The second half of the Easter Super League double header set of fixtures takes place on Bank Holiday Monday with all 12 sides in action on a frantic day which includes two TV matches for us to enjoy. We’ll kick off our Super League preview with those.
Widnes vs St Helens
This looks like being a great game of rugby. Widnes went into Easter on top of the pile but they lost at Warrington on Good Friday while St Helens lost at home to Wigan so both sides will be looking to bounce back with a win here.
Widnes were without Kevin Brown for that match at Warrington and he is still out, as is Charly Runciman. Stefan Marsh and Lloyd White picked up injuries in that match and they miss out here so this will be a patched up Widnes side going into battle.
St Helens ran into a fantastic Wigan performance for the first hour on Friday. It was to their credit that they managed to pick themselves up and offer something like a comeback in the last 20 minutes but in truth they were always well held. Importantly they look to have come out of the match unscathed as far as injuries are concerned.
If this was a full strength Widnes side this one would have been really interesting but they are missing some really important men in Brown and Marsh and that has to give St Helens the edge. They will have the power in the forwards which could be important with a storm ripping through the country but their half backs could provide the canny ability to get them around the park too. I’ll take the Saints to edge this one.
Catalans Dragons vs Castleford
The second TV game comes from France as the Dragons host Castleford in a match between two of the better sides to watch in the competition from a free flowing rugby point of view. Both sides won their first match of the Easter period and back to back wins would equate to a successful few days.
Catalans beat Salford on Friday and did so with a little bit more in hand than the end scoreline suggested but they will be without Krisnan Inu who is out with suspension while Justin Horo is out after injuring a hamstring on Friday.
Castleford have some injury issues themselves. Luke Dorn, Ben Roberts, Lee Jewitt and Gadwin Springer have all stayed at home after picking up knocks that rule them out of this game but in Denny Solomona, Joel Monaghan and Luke Gale the Tigers will possess quality.
I think with Castleford’s injury list Catalans will win this game but I’m less convinced they will cover 18pts. That looks like a big handicap to cover for a side who have only won by more than 18pts once this season and that coming against a pretty poor Huddersfield side.
Castleford do have lots of injuries but they did have the advantage of playing the day before Catalans over Easter and that is a slight advantage. They probably won’t win but the Tigers can stay within three scores.
Huddersfield vs Salford
Bottom of the table Huddersfield host Salford in a match the home side really need to win. It has been a wretched time for the Giants with injuries really hurting them and their meek surrender against Wakefield on Friday was very worrying.
Salford began the season well but since Robert Lui went down with an injury they haven’t looked the same side which has to be a concern. If I had to choose I’d pick Salford here but the Lui injury is a cloud over the game which makes it hard to bet on.
Hull FC vs Warrington
Hull FC will be bouncing going into this match after their amazing comeback win in the derby with Hull KR on Good Friday but they face a tough test on Monday when they go up against a very strong looking Warrington side who won their own derby earlier in the weekend.
Hull FC turned the tables around nicely on KR on Friday but we shouldn’t forget that for an hour in that match they were being outplayed by for the want of a better phrase an average Hull KR side. Warrington are anything but average so you’ve got to think FC will need to be much better here.
Hull FC go into the game without Carlos Tuimavave after he picked up a concussion in the derby on Friday. Jordan Abdull is named in the squad. Warrington look to be close to full strength going into this game which is a massive boost to their chances.
Surprisingly Warrington are only giving up four points in this match and that looks too low to be. If Hull KR can move 18pts clear of this FC side Warrington are likely to dominate them at times too. If Wire get ahead I don’t think there’s a way back for FC so I’m all over that 4pts.
Leeds vs Wakefield
Leeds lost their first game over Easter when Castleford nailed them late on while Wakefield picked up a rare win against a woeful Huddersfield on Friday. I don’t expect those results to continue here though. I’m expecting a Leeds win here.
I can’t bet on Leeds here though because they are missing Danny Maguire, Ryan Hall, Carl Ablett and Brett Delaney which is almost the spine of their side. That might mean Wakefield stay a bit closer than they usually might but I can’t bring myself to back them so I’ll sit this one out.
Wigan vs Hull KR
Wigan go into this match off the back of a fine performance and win against St Helens and their home form is very good indeed. Hull KR will be reeling from losing the derby in the way that they did which isn’t a good starting position.
Worse still for Hull KR is they will be without near enough their entire spine of the side with Josh Mantellato, Albert Kelly, Terry Campese, Chris Clarkson and James Green all missing.
Those injuries mean Hull KR have no chance of winning this match. In fairness they would have been back up against it anyway against a Wigan side who are very strong on their own patch.
Wigan are having to cover 34pts in this match. On the face of it you’d say that is big but if they want to cover it they will do. Whether they want to push themselves to the limit for a second time in four days is unlikely though. Either way it is a no bet game for me but the outcome is all about how hard Wigan go at it.
Super League Tips
WON – Back St Helens to beat Widnes for a 4/10 stake at 2.00 with NetBet
Back them here:
Back Castleford (+18) to beat Catalans for a 4/10 stake at 2.00 with Skybet
Back them here:
Back Warrington (-4) to beat Hull FC for a 4/10 stake at 1.80 with Ladbrokes
Back them here:
