The Super League XXVIII ‘Rivals Round’ continues on Good Friday when the two spiciest derbies in the competition get played out on what should be a really day of action in the competition over the course of the afternoon.
There is no love lost between the two teams competing in each match on Friday and the beauty of it is this entire round is live on TV which means that we can sit back and get stuck into what should be two crackers.
Hull FC vs Hull KR (12.30 – Sky Sports Arena)
The first bragging rights up for grabs on Friday will be settled in Hull when the two sides of the city come together at the MKM Stadium when Hull FC take on Hull KR in a match which is huge for both teams but maybe bigger for Hull FC.
They started the season in decent nick but have lost their last five matches and their defeat to the Warrington Wolves last week was a little bit too tame for my liking. Hull KR also started the season well but then they had a wobble before winning their last two matches. Their win over Leeds Rhinos last week was very strange. Leeds couldn’t catch a high ball if their life depended on it and to be fair to Rovers as soon as they saw that they kept feeding the high ball and basically won the game as a result of that. Hull FC could do without losing the services of Tex Hoy and Joe Lovodua who are out with injury and even though Ben McNamara and Ligi Sao could be back there is a weaker look to Hull FC here. The big news for Hull KR is that they have Shaun Kenny-Dowall back from suspension. The spine of this Hull KR side looks stronger than the Hull FC one and while FC probably edge it in the forwards I can’t ignore the form of the home side here. I think Hull KR are building again after a wobble when injuries hampered them and the red half of Hull can be happy when this one is done.
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Wigan Warriors vs St Helens (15.00 – Sky Sports Arena)
The second match of the afternoon sees the top two sides in the Super League regular season a year ago meeting when arch-rivals Wigan Warriors play host to St Helens in what should be a cracking game because both could do with winning.
St Helens’ need to win is probably a lot stronger than the Wigan one but that goes out of the window in a derby clash. St Helens have four wins from their six matches but after a slow start to the season they have won their last three. I think we can put their sluggish start down to the comedown and aftermath of the World Club Challenge success but while they still are nothing close to the full pelt side we’ve seen in recent seasons, they are building up a head of steam. Wigan Warriors have five wins from seven which includes their last three but catastrophe struck last week when Jai Field pulled up with an injury that is going to keep him out for months. While Bevan French can fill in for him at full-back it means that in terms of the wingers Wigan will be easier to defend. This is always a cracking contest which is always hard fought with very little between the two teams. I don’t see that changing this year so I would prefer to watch this one without a bet as this really does look a coin flip clash. If I had to I’d take Saints on the back of the Field injury but I’d want more than that to be getting involved here.
Tips
Back Hull KR to beat Hull FC for a 3/10 stake at 1.91 with Coral
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