The penultimate round of matches in the Super League season conclude with two games on Sunday afternoon with St Helens and Warrington Wolves looking to benefit from results this weekend which have already seen two of the top four drop points.
St Helens head to Huddersfield who are preparing themselves for the Middle 8s as they bid to retain their Super League status while a really exciting game is in prospect in the other match when Castleford host high flying Warrington.
Huddersfield vs St Helens
St Helens have the chance to go level with Catalans Dragons who occupy the final playoff spot currently. They need a win to do that but having won their last three matches they will be confident heading into the game. Huddersfield have gone back to being inconsistent and will hope the instalment of a new coach will kick them into a prolonged run of form.
Huddersfield will get Craig Huby back for this match and that is a huge boost for them but it hasn’t been so much the power up the middle that has been their problem it has been their defence and also that mental fragility. They have lost a lot of close matches and you just wonder if they have forgotten to win.
St Helens certainly haven’t forgotten how to do that. They’ve won their last three matches and while the opposition has been moderate they’re not facing a great one here. Prior to last week’s narrow win over Widnes, Saints had put 40pts up on Wakefield and Hull KR so they are slipping into a nice groove at the minute and Adam Swift returns for them here too.
Huddersfield might be inspired by a new coach but even a coach can’t sort out the problem of losing close matches. You get the feeling they need to fall over the line in a match to restore confidence but there have been times this season that their defence has been exposed and this Saints side can certainly open up even the tightest defence. I’m with the visitors here.
Castleford vs Warrington
Two of the best sides to watch in the competition meet at The Jungle. When the two met at the Magic Weekend, Warrington looked like they were blazing away with things before Castleford turned it around dramatically and I wouldn’t be surprised were this to be just as exciting.
Rangi Chase is widely expected to make his return for Castleford in this match while Kurt Gidley returns for Warrington so both sides have some really good playmakers in their ranks. Warrington have much more power in the forwards but they are being asked to give up a few points here.
I think the odds both in the match betting and the handicaps are about right and if I’m honest I’m put off from backing Warrington because of that Magic match so I’ll give this one a miss.
Tips
WON – Back St Helens to beat Huddersfield for a 4/10 stake at 1.91 with Bet365
Back them here:
Copyright secured by Digiprove © 2016
