The two sides who will meet in next weekend’s Grand Final have been determined and now the focus switches to the battle to avoid relegation. There is one spot left in next season’s Super League and either Leigh Centurions or Catalans Dragons will secure it. They meet in the Million Pound Match at the Leigh Sports Village.
The winners will be a Super League club again next season while the losers face at least a year in exile from the top flight so there is so much on the line on Saturday afternoon it is untrue.
Leigh Centurions
A win over London last week was heavy enough to ensure that the Leigh Centurions would host the match which decides their destiny after a season in the top flight. They never really managed to get going during the regular season but they have been more competitive in the qualifiers and now need their best performance of the year.
If they can keep strong defensively then you would think they would be able to take advantage of the errors that are likely to come along. We’ve seen in the past that this match requires a strong nerve and a calmness under pressure and if the Centurions can show that then they may yet remain in the Super League.
Catalans Dragons
When you talk of a calm head and coolness when the pressure is intense you have to worry for the Catalans Dragons. They had the opportunity late on last week to kick a penalty which would have secured them home advantage in this contest but decided to run the ball and end up on the road. That is a concern.
There is no way a squad with the talent of this Catalans side should be in this position but they are not there undeservedly. They make so many errors it is untrue and defensively they have been a mess at times. Even when they have won matches recently they have made serious hard work of it and it is hard to like them right now.
Team News
Leigh Centurions are going to bring Micky Higham back for this huge game. Mitch Brown is another who comes back into the side but Eloi Pelissier misses out against his former club.
Greg Bird returns from suspension to line up for the Dragons in this match. They also have Laurent Belmas in their squad while Ritchie Myler is one of those playing for the club for the final time.
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Betting
It is hard to go with the Dragons right now. In the last few weeks we have seen them struggle to hang on against Hull KR and then pass up a chance to level up against Widnes last week and they might well pay the price here.
If there is one thing we have seen from previous Million Pound Matches it is how tight, tense and thoroughly nervous they are and how the unbelievable becomes believable. I don’t believe Catalans will win though. I think home advantage is massive for the Leigh Centurions but given the magnitude of the game and what it means I don’t see them winning by many. Leigh by 1-12 looks the way to play this.
Tips
Back Leigh Centurions to win by 1-12pts for a 4/10 stake at 2.80 with Ladbrokes
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