The Super League is in the spotlight this weekend as all 12 clubs head up to Newcastle for the Magic Weekend. The first two sides to grace the St James’ Park turf are the Widnes Vikings and the Wakefield Trinity Wildcats.
It is fair to say that this hasn’t been the best of starts to the season for the Vikings but that rarely counts for anything at the Magic Weekend. Wakefield have begun well and a Magic win would leave them nicely placed.
Widnes Vikings
We have seen that horrible combination of a struggle for points and a leaky defence for the Widnes Vikings but they showed good spirit albeit in defeat to the Warrington Wolves in the Challenge Cup last weekend and that could provide the platform for a decent second half to the campaign. They will certainly need it.
We’ve seen from the Vikings in seasons gone by that they do have points in them but injuries to key men, especially the creative men, have negated the threat they carry this year. If they can get their big players onto the park for long enough for the rest of the campaign they may yet secure their Super League status.
Wakefield Trinity Wildcats
Heading into the season many people expected Wakefield to be in the bottom four in the Super League table but they clearly didn’t read that particular script as they have begun well and sit safely in mid-table and with a Challenge Cup quarter final to come. Last week’s win in the cup should have boosted confidence nicely.
Wakefield have been scoring plenty of points this season. They have needed to do that because there have been times they have been found wanting in defence but that is the way they play. They are good to watch because of it but if they can find a way to tighten up on defence they should have too much for Widnes here.
Team News
The big team news for the Widnes Vikings is that Rangi Chase will make his debut for them after signing on loan from Castleford. He could be a game changer for them. Jack Johnson and Sam Wilde have also joined on loan while Alex Gerrard, Chris Houston and Lloyd White return.
Wakefield will be without the long term injury victim Tom Johnstone but Craig Huby, Ben Jones-Bishop and Danny Kirmond will come back into the side after they were rested for the cup win.
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Betting
Wakefield Trinity Wildcats are giving up around eight points in this match which had the game been last week might well have looked a few light but with Rangi Chase in the Widnes Vikings’ ranks now I would expect an improvement in their offensive output which makes me a bit wary about that sort of handicap.
That extra power in offense for Widnes can lead to some point scoring though and with Wakefield almost certain to contribute points of their own I like the idea of there being more than 50.5pts in this match. Magic matches generally are higher scoring with the exhibition platform they are played on and the weekend can begin in that vein.
Tips
Back Over 50.5pts for a 4/10 stake at 1.91 with Betfair
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