The Super League Super 8s get underway on Thursday night when the league leaders Castleford Tigers host the perennial Grand Finalists St Helens in a tasty looking contest. The season ramps up a notch from here on in with the intensity set to increase.
Castleford head into the match needing a couple more wins to be crowned as the league leaders heading into the postseason while St Helens need to keep winning to push for a spot in the top four at the end of the season.
Castleford Tigers
There is no doubting the playing qualities of the Castleford Tigers. They have been exemplary, exceptional and entertaining throughout the campaign so far but as the matches gain in importance it will be their mentality that is under the spotlight more. If they can cope with that they are going to be very hard to beat.
Castleford’s attack has been a joy to watch this season and they go in search of a crazy 13th win in a row in the Super League in this match. They have had a couple of weeks to prepare for the clash and get those players who are carrying niggles much fitter and rest those who have played a lot of matches which is no bad thing.
St Helens
It is not just Castleford who go into this match in good form. St Helens have now won four of their last five and look to be heading in the right direction after a ridiculously erratic beginning to the campaign. They look to be getting more cohesive in attack and are solid in defence again which is never a bad combination.
What will really please St Helens is the sides they have beaten in that time. Salford Red Devils, Hull FC and Wakefield Trinity are all above them in the table so those wins have really kept them alive this season. They are not going to catch Castleford this season but a win will do wonders for their confidence.
Team News
Castleford have managed to get Oliver Holmes fit for the first time since April while Adam Milner and Larne Patrick are also included in Daryl Powell’s squad for this match.
St Helens have used the break to get Matty Smith back to full fitness. He comes into the squad but Luke Douglas remains out injured.
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Betting
This should be a great way to start off the Super 8s. Castleford are as good as it gets this season while St Helens lie down for nothing and nobody. Both sides love to entertain in attacking areas but both have been defensively solid so far this season too.
I am expecting a tight game here. Castleford are on this winning run but only one of their last four wins have been by a double figure margin and I’m not convinced they are going to break down this Saints defence at will. St Helens have enough points in them to be competitive here so I like them with the 9.5pt start.
Tips
Back St Helens (+9.5pts) to beat Castleford Tigers for a 4/10 stake at 1.80 with Paddy Power
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