The Super 8s section of the Super League season gets underway on Thursday night when Wigan Warriors host the Huddersfield Giants at the DW Stadium.
Both sides go into this new format in the top four in the Super League table and have the same ambition – to remain in there once the final seven matches of the season have been completed. With that aim for both this is a huge match for the pair of them.
Wigan go into the match in pretty decent form it has to be said. They have won four of their last five matches and have beaten Huddersfield twice already this season which should further boost their confidence. They have just had a two week break which has allowed them to get some of their injured players back and we should get a really strong finish to the season from them.
Huddersfield Giants have won five of their last six and the only one they lost in that time was via a drop goal late on against St Helens. They’ve also had the week off which has given them the chance to get some of their injured players back to somewhere near availability and with sides queuing up behind them they can’t afford to lose.
Dom Manfredi is back from injury for Wigan but there is no sign of Ryan Hampshire, Larne Patrick or Ryan Sutton in the squad. Scott Grix and Joe Wardle return for the Giants at the expense of Jodie Broughton and Nathan Mason. Perhaps more significantly the Giants remain without Brett Ferres but Danny Brough is fit to lead the side around the park.
I’m expecting a tight battle here even though Wigan have won the two meetings between the sides earlier in the season. Huddersfield are on a bit of a roll and have the best defence in Super League while Wigan are going well and have the second best defensive record so there shouldn’t be too much between them especially as they both had last week off.
Wigan have a good home record this season and you have to respect that but I just feel Huddersfield are being discounted a little too much with them getting a start of 10pts and that is just about high enough to warrant a small bet as we get the second phase of the season underway.
Back Huddersfield (+10) to beat Wigan for a 3/10 stake at 1.83 with Ladbrokes
Blog rugby league YTD: -6.06pts
