The second match of the two in the Super League this week takes place on Friday night when the new boys Leigh Centurions play their first home match back in the top flight when they host a Leeds Rhinos side looking to kick themselves up the table at the earliest opportunity.
To say the seasons for both last term were completely different would be an understatement. Leigh flew to the Championship summit while Leeds had the ignominy of fighting at the bottom of Super League for the entire campaign.
Leigh Centurions
It wasn’t a particularly warm return to Super League for the Leigh Centurions when they were ruined in their first match by Castleford Tigers. You have to put that into perspective by saying that Castleford look a really good side this season but Leigh were very ordinary in that match and showed signs that this could be a long season.
To their credit they did come out and throw the ball around a bit in the second half, as is their way, and they made the scoreline look something close to respectable but they have to start games much better and they absolutely have to defend their line a lot better than they did last week else they will take a few beatings.
Leeds Rhinos
The former champions kicked the campaign off last week and although they went down in a narrow defeat to St Helens they would have taken a few things out of that. They defended really well in that game and at times had St Helens on the ropes but a lack of creativity couldn’t quite get them over the line for that second score which might have won the game.
From where they were last season though it was a decent effort by the Rhinos players and you sense there is a lot more to come from them once new signings bed in and their back line returns to full strength. If they are to make anything out of this season though you would think this is a match they need to be winning.
Team News
Micky Higham is back in the Centurions squad for this match while Neil Jukes has rung the changes. Sam Hopkins, Lachlan Burr, Jamie Acton and Antoni Maria all come into the squad.
Leeds coach Brian McDermott has confirmed Danny Maguire will return for this match. Jack Ormondroyd is expected to make his debut while Josh Walter is back from Featherstone and could feature.
Betting
These two might have had differing seasons last year but when they met in the Super 8s that didn’t stop Leeds Rhinos winning with a fair bit in hand. They won 37-12 that night at Headingley and I’m expecting something similar here.
There is a concern that Leeds couldn’t unlock the door very often last week but I think we saw in both matches these two were involved in that there is a world of different in the St Helens defence that Leeds had to break down and the Leigh one they go up against here.
One thing we did see last week is how tough the Leeds defence was and a combination of that strength and the sieve like nature Leigh conceded tries last week leads me to thinking the Rhinos will come away winners here by more than eight points.
Tips
Back Leeds Rhinos (-8) to beat Leigh Centurions for a 4/10 stake at 1.91 with Bwin
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