The penultimate round of the Super League season begins on Thursday night with the treble chasing Hull FC in action when they head to a Wakefield side who have been playing out time for much of the Super 8s.
Back to back defeats have left Hull FC playing catch up but they will know that they top the table if they win their last two matches and Warrington lose to Wigan on Friday night. Wakefield’s season aim was achieved when they secured their Super League status.
Wakefield Trinity Wildcats
It is now six defeats on the bounce for Wakefield going into this match and the only game they have been close in during that run was last week when they got to within four points of a woefully out of form Catalans side. Prior to that their recent losing margins have been 26pts, 48pts, 28pts, 32pts and 24pts – an average of 31.6pts.
It is no surprise when losing margins are that big that it is defensively where Wakefield have been lacking. Injuries have played a part in that but a lack of intensity has kicked in which I guess is kind of understandable when they have been playing for little for so long. This is their final home game which they will hope does something to inspire them.
Hull FC
The Challenge Cup winners have lost both of their matches since they lifted the trophy at Wembley and they will want to get back to winning ways ahead of the playoffs in a couple of weeks. They have the ideal opportunity to do that here against a side they already have a couple of solid wins over this season.
Hull FC didn’t do a whole lot wrong last week except not convert the chances that they had in the first half of the match. Had they done that they would have been out of sight but credit to Wigan for hanging on in there and then coming up with the goods in the second half. I wouldn’t expect this match to be as tough for the Black and Whites though.
Team News
Craig Hall is expected to play in place of the ever-present half back Jacob Miller at scrum half. Miller will be missing his first match of the season after undergoing shoulder surgery. James Batchelor could also get a run out.
Hull FC are without a bit of power in their pack after the injuries to Mark Minichello and Frank Pritchard although Iafeta Paleaasina makes up for it. Curtis Naughton returns having missed the defeat last week. Danny Washbrook is back too.
Betting
Everything we’ve seen from Wakefield in the Super 8s suggest they are on for another beating here. The size of the beating appears to be solely down to how heavy Hull FC want to make it but really and truly you can see them pulling away without getting out of first gear.
Hull FC have suddenly dropped behind Warrington by some margin on point difference and it still isn’t totally beyond all possibilities that the leaders’ shield is decided by that so I’m expecting them to get out of the blocks fast in this match, run up an early lead and then feast on beaten prey the longer the match goes on.
Tips
Back Hull FC (-16) to beat Wakefield for a 4/10 stake at 1.91 with William Hill
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