The remaining three matches of this Super League weekend are all scheduled for Friday evening and by the end of the night we will get even more of a feel of who is in line for the playoffs come the end of the season and who are fighting hard to stay in among the elite.
We have a TV game at Leeds when they entertain Hull FC while away from the cameras Huddersfield host Warrington and Wigan welcome Castleford to the DW Stadium. We’ll begin our preview with the TV game.
Leeds vs Hull FC
This is a battle of two sides who are going in completely different directions. Leeds are in danger of not even landing a blow on this Super League campaign while Hull FC are currently lighting it up and will never have crossed the Humber Bridge with more confidence.
If it could go wrong for Leeds it has done and they have now lost their last five matches in an amazing sequence of events. Worse still for them they are not scoring points and their defence just isn’t strong enough to keep even the weaker sides out let alone the stronger ones. Leeds will be without their captain Danny Maguire in this match which isn’t going to help their scoring potential.
Hull FC are bouncing at the minute. They have won their last five matches and in that time they have beaten some good sides such as Warrington and St Helens and with every week that goes past they look more and more like the real deal. FC welcome Leon Pryce back from injury here while Danny Washbrook, Gareth Ellis and Mark Minichello also return to the side.
Defeats to Salford, Hull KR and Wakefield in the last few weeks must really have the alarm bells ringing for the Rhinos fans and I suspect it could get even worse for them here. Hull FC are absolutely buzzing, they look at full strength and they just look a nightmare match for Leeds. Hull FC have the better half back pairing and they look a lot stronger in the forwards and that can build the foundations for a Black and White win here.
Huddersfield vs Warrington
Like Leeds, Huddersfield’s amazing collapse in form compared to last season is a surprise and a mystery to many. Warrington’s form is good despite a defeat to St Helens last week and they will be out to extend their lead at the top in this match.
Huddersfield’s success in recent times was built on a solid defence but suddenly they are one of the worst in the competition defensively and they’re not scoring anywhere near enough points to subsidise that. Eorl Crabtree and Larne Patrick miss out here which is less than ideal to say the least.
Warrington fans will tell you that defeat to St Helens last week was merely par for the course. They have an awful record against their local rivals so it might be best to ignore that game and focus on what they’ve done for the rest of the season where only Hull FC have managed to beat them. Chris Sandow remains out here but Wire have had long enough to formulate a game plan in his absence.
In an ideal world Warrington would only be giving up a score but an extra couple of points shouldn’t make too much difference. I expect Warrington to have too much power and mobility in the forwards and they have much the better defence of the two sides. That can all equate to a win by double figures for the visitors.
Wigan vs Castleford
Wigan were involved in arguably the strangest scoreline in Super League history last week when they were gumped 62-0 by Wakefield but there was a reason for that. Their whole squad was hit by a virus and that was the result.
That immediately makes this a no bet match because although Shaun Wane claims the virus is a thing of the past I’d need to see the evidence before I trust it. That said I would still have taken Wigan on if they were playing a side who were consistent and reliable but since Luke Dorn picked up his injury Castleford have been exactly the opposite of that.
Castleford have a few players back this week and I think they’ll remain within 8pts of Wigan but if the Warriors are fit and healthy they might have a point to prove so I’ll sit this one out.
Tips
Back Hull FC to beat Leeds for a 5/10 stake at 1.80 with Ladbrokes
Back them here:
Back Warrington (-7.5) to beat Huddersfield for a 4/10 stake at 1.88 with 188bet
Back them here:
Remember if you have a £20 bet on any of Friday’s matches with Coral they will give you a £10 in-play bet. Click here for details
