The relentless Super League season continues on Wednesday when another round of matches in the campaign gets underway. It does so with one of the headline matches of any season as the Wigan Warriors host the Leeds Rhinos at the DW Stadium.
Despite an indifferent campaign so far, Wigan sit inside the top six and with matches beginning to run out they can cement their position in that with a win here. Leeds are the team on the outside looking in so they’ll be eager to come away with the win that gets them right back in the mix here.
Where to watch
The match will be screened live and in full on the Sky Sports Arena channel. The build-up to the contest will begin at 7.30pm with the match due to kick off 15 minutes later.
Wigan Warriors
This up and down season continued for the Wigan Warriors last week, although I would wager that their defeat to St Helens would have been the most disappointing one of the lot for Adrian Lam. Clearly nobody at Wigan is going to be happy that they lost to their local rivals but the manner they lost would have been a concern. They never really competed in the match and never threatened to score a try which is a big worry.
That isn’t anything new which I guess is the biggest concern of them all. Their attack hasn’t really been at it for much of the season and with the injuries they have had throughout the campaign, and continue to have, it has put a lot of pressure on a defence which because of the chopping and changing hasn’t been able to handle the waves of attacks which have come their way. Wigan can still achieve this season but they have to get their key men back on the park you would imagine.
Leeds Rhinos
The Leeds Rhinos have had their own issues with injuries and suspension and Covid-19 problems and everything else that is possible to have hit this season. That is why they are on the outside of the top six looking in, but to be fair to them they have won their last two matches and might be building up for a strong finish to the season. It should be said that they have only beaten the Leigh Centurions and the Huddersfield Giants but wins are wins.
Where I have liked Leeds this season is that despite the injuries and everything else that has deprived them of players, they have trusted in their youth and looked to win any game they have played in. They have done it with the same identity that their strongest side would have and there is a lot to be said for that. That will stand them in good stead for the rest of this season, the postseason if they make it and beyond.
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Team News
Wigan Warriors will have Brad Singleton back from suspension and Jai Field from injury for this match but they will be without Willie Isa and John Bateman, both of whom picked up bans of their own from the defeat to St Helens. Tommy Leuluai and Bevan French are among the long-term absentees.
Leeds Rhinos will have some big players back this week with Rhyse Martin, Cameron Smith, Matt Prior and Jack Broadbent all back from suspension, injury or Covid-19 isolation. They will still be missing the likes of Luke Gale, Konrad Hurrell, Mikolaj Oledzki and Liam Sutcliffe though.
Betting
Given the form and the performances of the two sides recently I’m very surprised the Leeds Rhinos are the outsiders in this match. They are the ones coming here with two victories in succession, wins where their attack has looked fairly fluent and in the main their defence pretty strong. Wigan really aren’t convincing at all in attack and a couple of the players to move them up the pitch are missing through silly suspensions for this match.
The other advantage Leeds have is that they played their last match the night before Wigan lost to St Helens and in this brutal schedule every extra day to rest, recover and prepare can be a godsend. The Rhinos have some key players back for this match, not least Rhyse Martin whose goal kicking might even be the difference in the game. I certainly expected to see Leeds as the favourites for this match even without Luke Gale. I think they are in the better place mentally and look to be in the better shape personnel wise and physically so I’ll take the Rhinos to win this one.
Tips
Back Leeds Rhinos to beat Wigan Warriors for a 3/10 stake at 2.25 with Boylesports
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