The final round of matches in the Super League XXVIII season before the Easter period begins on Thursday evening when two local enough rivals meet at the Leigh Sports Village when the Leigh Leopards host the Wigan Warriors.
Both teams have made acceptable starts to their season even if both might have been hoping for a little bit more than what they have got out of the opening six matches of the season so they can both attack this derby with a bit of freedom.
Leigh Leopards
Whenever a team is promoted to Super League the first thing they have to set out to achieve is avoid spending the first campaign in a relegation dogfight. I wouldn’t say Leigh have completely done that just yet but they are well on their way to doing so and a win here would only strengthen their early claims of remaining in the league. It would then offer up the confidence to see if they can push towards the top six, although stability is an understandable first aim.
Leigh have opened the season with three wins and three defeats. Two of those defeats were in their opening two matches while they were finding their feet at this level and gelling as a squad after a lot of movement ahead of the campaign. Two of the defeats have been to Warrington and Catalans who are the top two in the league at present but Leigh have beaten the champions St Helens and both the Hull sides which are good results.
Wigan Warriors
I think most judges would have expected the Wigan Warriors to be up challenging towards the top of the league this season and they begin the week in third place so they are not disappointing in that regards. They have four wins and a couple of surprising defeats but in the main they have begun the campaign promisingly, which is to their credit when you consider the disappointing way in which the previous term ended.
If there is one question mark about this Wigan side so far this season then it would come in the form of their attack. That is quite remarkable to suggest because last term they had plenty of fluency in their attacking play but their half-backs don’t really stand up to the other leading sides in the league. If you take out the drubbing of Wakefield, Wigan have only surpassed 20 points once this season and even that was against a Castleford side who are tripping over themselves, so they have a little to work out in that department.
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Team News
Leigh Centurions will be without Joe Shorrocks who has been recalled from his loan spell by Wigan. Nathan Wilde has come into what is otherwise a near enough full strength squad for Adrian Lam to take on his former club with.
Wigan Warriors were sweating over the fitness of Cade Cust after he went off during the game with Salford Red Devils last week but Matt Peet has named him in the 21-man squad for this one. Joe Shorrocks is the only addition for the Warriors.
Betting
This one is dubbed the ‘Battle of the Borough’ so both teams won’t need any extra motivating but I expect a pretty close battle. I think you have to start out with the thinking that Wigan will be tough to beat in this one but their attack is beginning to flatter to deceive and Adrian Lam will know how to deal with a number of those threats having coached them himself a couple of years ago and you just wonder if they will be able to cover more than a converted try if their attack doesn’t spark into life.
Leigh Leopards aren’t having too many problems in attack. I don’t think we should expect any newly promoted team in Super League to come out and score oceans of points but Leigh certainly aren’t struggling in attack so if they can keep the likes of Jai Field and Bevan French quiet then you get the feeling there could be a win for Leigh there for the taking. I don’t think the Leopards get over the line here but I don’t expect them to be blown away either. St Helens couldn’t win here and while Wigan might do, I think the eight point start is enough for the home side to ride.
Tips
Back Leigh Leopards (+8) to beat Wigan Warriors for a 3/10 stake at 2.00 with William Hill
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