It is another busy night of Super League action on Friday night when four more Super 8 matches are played as we get nearer to finding out the four sides who will do battle in the playoffs at the end of the month and the four teams who will return to the Super League for next season.
There is a potential Grand Final clash at Langtree Park when St Helens host the Challenge Cup winners Hull FC while Castleford take on Wakefield in a local derby. In the qualifiers Leeds meet Salford in a match which is pretty big for Salford while Huddersfield take on London Broncos. We’ll begin with the TV match.
St Helens vs Hull FC
Saints go into this match off the back of the week off last week which will have been much needed. Hull FC never had that luxury although I’m sure they won’t care much for that given that they won the cup and they should be buoyed from that.
In their last match St Helens were nilled by Wigan so they have probably been eager to get back out on the field and put that right but if we are being honest they looked lost without Luke Walsh and it isn’t helpful that he is suspended for this match.
Hull FC coach Lee Radford has freshened his squad up for this match which he needs to do given that they have played so much rugby recently. The likes of Marc Sneyd, Danny Houghton and Gareth Ellis have been rested with Leon Pryce one of those coming into the side.
It would be a surprise if St Helens don’t win the match off the back of all the changes Hull FC have made but I’m not sure they are certain to win it big. Hull FC will still have the same back line in place and you could argue that with Frank Pritchard potentially starting they don’t lose too much in the forwards. Purely based on the week off I expect Saints to win but Hull FC haven’t changed that much that they’ll lose by 18 or more.
Castleford Tigers vs Wakefield Trinity Wildcats
You would think this will be a routine win for Castleford even allowing for the local rivalry that is in situ here. Wakefield’s season ended as a competitive force in the Challenge Cup final and their results since reflect that.
Given that this is a derby we might get a little more out of Wakefield than we normally do which would mean Castleford aren’t certainties to cover a 22pt cap but I certainly wouldn’t want to be relying on Wakefield so I’ll sit this one out.
Leeds Rhinos vs Salford Red Devils
Having lost two matches already a third defeat for Salford could be very damaging and given that Leeds have found their mojo again you would have to say there is every chance that is what their fate will be.
Leeds haven’t always convinced in the qualifiers even though they have won the match though so taking them to cover a 12pt start doesn’t really appeal to me. If I’m honest that number feels a few points too high but I can’t trust Salford to deliver, certainly I can’t trust them enough to put money on it so I’ll sit this one out as well.
Huddersfield Giants vs London Broncos
Huddersfield must have headed into the qualifiers fearing the worst but they have come through their last two matches against Championship opposition and look to be getting close to retaining their Super League status.
London Broncos lost to Leeds in their last match but were dominant against Batley the week before that and even though they lost to Leigh in their opening match they will have taken plenty out of those two defeats not least the way they finished against Leeds.
Nobody has scored more points in the qualifiers than London Broncos and while I’m not convinced that will help them in terms of getting the two points from this match I do believe it can assist them in staying within 30pts of a side for whom winning the match is the ultimate aim not running up a cricket score.
Tips
Back Hull FC (+18) to beat St Helens for a 4/10 stake at 1.80 with Ladbrokes
Back London Broncos (+30) to beat Huddersfield for a 4/10 stake at 1.83 with Ladbrokes
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