The Super League XXIX season is back after a week off for the Challenge Cup semi-finals and it returns with a triple header of action on Friday night as half of the division are in action looking for points to nudge them up the table.
As is the case throughout the campaign, all three matches are live on TV for us in the UK to enjoy, although with all three kicking off at the same time you’ll need more than one device if you want to keep an eye on each of them.
St Helens vs Leeds Rhinos (20.00 – Sky Main Event & Sky Sports Action)
The pick of the three matches on Friday night and the one which will get the full TV coverage comes from the Totally Wicked Stadium where rivals St Helens and the Leeds Rhinos will battle it out in a big match for both sides.
Saints are one of the four teams who begin this round on 16 points at the top of the table, sitting second to Wigan Warriors on point difference only and they will be looking to move to the top for a couple of days when they take on a Leeds Rhinos side who just can’t find any sort of consistency at all this term. Leeds sit one place outside the top six so will be looking for a big run before the next break for the Challenge Cup final in a couple of weeks. Saints aren’t exactly firing on all cylinders at the minute. They thrashed Castleford Tigers last time out but for a large part of that game that was competitive before the Tigers fell apart in the second half. Leeds have won three of their last eight matches but they were all against the bottom three who do look comfortably worse than the rest. I’ve got to think that Saints will win this one but whether they will cover 14 points with the Rhinos having Harry Newman and Brodie Croft back in their squad.
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Castleford Tigers vs Hull FC (20.00 – Sky Sports Mix)
Two of the bottom three meet in another one of the matches on Friday night when the Castleford Tigers welcome Hull FC to The Jungle in a game where neither can afford to lose if they are going to make anything at all out of their campaign.
Castleford Tigers have won two of their last five in Super League and drawn another in that time with the two defeats, although heavy, coming against the top two in the current table. Hull FC have won one match all season, which was a nervy win over the London Broncos, a side they lost to prior to the break. Hull FC look in an absolute mess and I’m not sure a couple of weeks will be enough for them to have turned that around. They have lost their last nine matches in all competitions and they have only remained within a score in one of those games. I wouldn’t say that these two are necessarily going in opposite directions but certainly Castleford look to be more progressive of the two and with home advantage I think they can get the job done here. Those two wins were 36-24 and 40-0 so when they get going they put sides away. That gives me confidence that they can cover a four point handicap here.
Huddersfield Giants vs Leigh Leopards (20.00 – Sky Sports Arena)
The other match on Friday night sees the beaten Challenge Cup semi-finalists Huddersfield Giants looking to bounce back from their hefty loss to the Warrington Wolves when they take on the side who won that competition last year in Leigh Leopards.
I guess the first thing to consider is what state of mind the Giants will be in here. They made a lot of mistakes and contributed to their own downfall in that semi-final and if they miss as many tackles here you would imagine Leigh are in with every chance here. The season hasn’t really got going for Leigh but with Adrian Lam signing a new deal since their last outing and the potential of one or two key players back to full fitness, it wouldn’t be a surprise if they are about to catch fire. Huddersfield have now lost their last four in all competitions. The first two losses were tight but they’ve been blown away in the last two. Leigh went into the break with two wins from three and a draw in the other but those matches were all at home. I think Leigh look the better on paper here but I haven’t been able to work out either of these sides this season so I’ll take a watching brief and see if I can get any closer to getting a feel for them for the future.
Tips
Back Castleford Tigers (-4) to beat Hull FC for a 3/10 stake at 1.91 with Boylesports
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