One of the biggest nights of the Super League XXIX season so far takes place on Friday evening as three huge clashes take place on what should be a really exciting night of rugby league with so much at stake in each game.
The beauty of it all is that all three matches will be live on TV for us to enjoy although you will need three devices to watch them all as annoyingly they all kick off at the same time. It should be well worth finding them though.
Castleford Tigers vs Leigh Leopards (20.00 – Sky Sports+)
It is a big night for the Leigh Leopards on Friday as they look to preserve their spot in the top six in the table with just two matches to play after this one. They need to go to the Castleford Tigers and win for that to be the case.
The Leopards have really come on strong over the last month or so and make the trip to Yorkshire off the back of four wins in succession. A fifth one would keep their destiny in their own hands but a defeat could see them end the night back out of the top six, such is how fine the margins are in that race. Castleford aren’t playing for anything other than pride so they have the potential to be real spoilers here. I don’t see them spoiling the Leigh party but I’m not rushing to get involved in the Leopards to cover a double figure spread. It is one of those where they could and probably should cover but a bit of ill discipline or easing up with the game won could see a back door cover which I don’t want to be the victim of.
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Leeds Rhinos vs Hull FC (20.00 – Sky Sports+)
It is not just the Leigh Leopards for whom it is a big night on Friday, the same goes for the Leeds Rhinos as well when they welcome a troubled Hull FC to Headingley for a match where the home side simply have to win.
Leeds sit a point outside of the top six at the beginning of the week but a win here will move them into the playoff positions until the huge clash between Salford and Catalans takes place on Saturday. This race for the top six looks like it could come down to the finest of margins with point difference having every chance of being the difference with three weeks of the season left. With that in mind, while just winning the game will be the overriding aim for Leeds, running up the score would do their top six hopes no harm. They look to have the ideal opposition to do that against too. Hull FC have won just one of their last 10 matches but their defence is a real concern now. With the exception of a match against Wigan, which came after a hectic schedule for the Warriors, they have conceded points for fun. They are not scoring points either. Last week was the first time in six matches that they had put 20 points on the board and you’ve got to think they could turn into a bit of cannon fodder here. It has to be said that Leeds weren’t great at London last week but they got the job done and in front of a home crowd they should have the chance to go very well here. Leeds have won six of their last seven at Headingley with the one they didn’t win coming against the leaders Hull KR. I see nothing but a cosy home win here.
Wigan Warriors vs Hull KR (20.00 – Sky Sports Action)
There is no doubt where the big game of the night comes from though. That is the DW Stadium where the top two meet with top spot and their own destiny the reward for the winners when Wigan Warriors host Hull KR in a cracking looking clash.
Hull KR currently lead the way on point difference only so the winner here will know that they are two wins away from the League Leaders’ Shield. Wigan are favourites to win but Hull KR might just have forgotten how to lose given that they haven’t done that in their last eight matches, a run in which they have only conceded more than a dozen points just once. Wigan haven’t been their relentless best in recent times but they looked a champion side in France last week and we know they are going to rise to the occasion here. The books have Wigan as favourites but not by much. History would tell us Hull KR struggle on this ground but this is a different Hull KR side now. I think this is one to watch rather than bet on.
Tips
Back Leeds Rhinos (-18) to beat Hull FC for a 3/10 stake at 1.91 with Betfair
