It has already been a dramatic week of Super League matches but there are still four more games in this round of fixtures with plenty more excitement to come I suspect.
Warrington host Hull FC in the one remaining Super 8 match on Sunday while in the qualifiers Widnes head to Bradford, Leigh host Sheffield and Hull KR take on Wakefield in a match which can be seen on the Sky Sports iPad app.
Warrington and Hull are playing out what is effectively a dead rubber. Neither can get into the playoffs now so it is all about looking forward to next season from here. With home advantage you’d think Warrington will have more motivation but the match doesn’t interest me.
I came quite close to taking Bradford to cling on to Widnes with what is a pretty big handicap for the home side but I’ve a feeling there’s a big performance about to come out of Widnes after their loss to Hull KR last time out and it could be here. Leigh should brush Sheffield aside and they need to.
In the other match all eyes will be on Hull KR to see what they have in response to their battering in the Challenge Cup final last week. I’m sure they’ll be chomping at the bit to get out and put that right but what the mind wants to do and what the body is able to do can be totally different things.
Wakefield are coming alive in this qualifying series and they need to with their Super League lives under threat and they have Kevin Locke available to them for this match after he has recovered from injury which will be a boost.
On the flip side Albert Kelly hasn’t been named in Hull KR’s squad for the match which is a blow for them. Admittedly he didn’t help them much last week when the occasion got to them but he is quite clearly their talisman.
We’ve already seen Leeds struggle off the back of that Challenge Cup final this weekend and I wouldn’t be surprised if Hull KR follow suit. Wakefield had every chance of staying within eight points without having had their feet up last week but that potential physical advantage should see them stay safely inside the handicap here.
Back Wakefield (+8) to beat Hull KR for a 4/10 stake at 1.91 with Stan James
Blog RL YTD: -0.11pts
