Two of the top three in the Super League table meet in a mouthwatering match on Friday night when the Leeds Rhinos host the Wigan Warriors in a fixture which we could well be seeing again at Old Trafford in two months time.
Leeds are setting a fierce trail at the top of the table and have been bordering on unplayable at times in recent weeks but there is one thing Wigan love and that is to roll their sleeves up and get stuck into a battle so this one has all the hallmarks of being a fantastic game of rugby.
The Rhinos have a Challenge Cup final on the horizon and they’re only a few wins away from the league leaders shield so this is promising to be a very good season for Leeds but they will finish the campaign without Jamie Jones-Buchanan and Paul Aiton, both of whom have picked up long term injuries and have been ruled out for the rest of the campaign. Stevie Ward returns from injury for this match though which is a boost.
Wigan picked up a good win over Huddersfield last week and had an extra day to prepare for this match but they are going to need to be at their very best to contain what is becoming a rampant Leeds side. They will have to do it without Joe Burgess too as he is out of the squad for this match. He is expected to return next week but that’s no use to the Warriors here.
These two sides have already played three times this season and Wigan have the edge. They have won at the DW Stadium and the Magic Weekend while Leeds won the match between the two at Headingley and the home side will be looking to level the scores between the two with a win in this match.
Wigan might have the edge over the meetings this season but Leeds look unstoppable to me right now. I wasn’t completely sure if they would cover a cap of a full score but the absence of Joe Burgess gives me a little more confidence in that regard and I’ll take them to cover a 6pt start. St Helens and Warrington have both felt the full force of Leeds in recent weeks and Wigan can go the same way in the end.
Back Leeds (-6) to beat Wigan for a 4/10 stake at 2.00 with Bet365
