For the second night in a row there are two Super League matches scheduled on Friday night as the relatively early season table begins to take shape in England’s top flight.
The two matches sees sides expected to challenge at the top playing against sides who might well face a season of struggle so it will be interesting to see if the favourites can justify their billing in these games.
Hull KR vs St Helens
The main game of the night comes from Craven Park as Hull KR take on St Helens in front of the TV cameras. St Helens go into the match as huge favourites and are being asked to cover a 14pt handicap.
Hull KR haven’t made a great start to the season it has to be said. An opening round draw with Castleford followed by defeats to Warrington and Wakefield saw the end for Chris Chester and Rovers begin life under Willie Poching here. That might just pep them up a bit but it will need to.
St Helens have been very hit and miss so far this season. They battled past Huddersfield in the opening week of the season but then got blown away by Salford the following week and were taken to the cleaners by the Sydney Roosters last week.
It remains to be seen what changes Poching makes to turn Hull KR’s campaign around but he can expect a better St Helens side here because they have some big players back not least James Roby who is always pivotal to how they want to play.
I want to back St Helens here but there are a couple of things that put me off not least that wretched performance at Salford earlier in the season. They didn’t cover themselves in glory here last year either so I can’t back them but I can’t back Hull KR either.
I’m going to have a little interest bet in Kieran Dixon to score a try at anytime though. I think the 6/4 on him going over is a little big for someone with his pace who can burst the line through the middle or finish well out wide. St Helens have been opened up down their left time and time again in the last fortnight and Dixon could profit again here.
Warrington vs Wakefield
If there were doubts over St Helens it is hard to have any over Warrington. They’ve begun the season in fine form and are expected to overwhelm a Wakefield side who finally got off the mark last week.
Warrington have gone under the radar a little bit this season but in Kurt Gidley and Chris Sandow they have two solid string pullers in the middle of the park and they certainly don’t lack for pace and power in the wider areas either. They will hope to show last season was a blip and they’ve begun that quest quite nicely.
Wakefield were given a couple of beatings by Widnes and Castleford earlier in the season but they bounced back and showed some character to see off Hull KR last weekend. They will need plenty of character and steel here if they are going to be competitive.
Ben Westwood’s absence isn’t ideal for Warrington but I don’t think they will miss him this week. This is a match I expect the Wolves to win and win with plenty to spare to lay a marker down to the rest of the division. Back the Wolves to win and to cover 22pts.
Back K.Dixon Anytime Tryscorer for a 3/10 stake at 2.50 with Ladbrokes
Back him here:
Back Warrington (-22) to beat Wakefield for a 4/10 stake at 1.91 with Bwin
Back them here:
