This Week's Rugby League - Part Two

By The Man

Bradford v St.Helens



Sunday 14th February 15:00GMT

I was waiting for team news before I placed this wager and now the squads have been announced. I had Saints by 6pts for this fixture and I'm not too sure what the bookies see in Bradford that I don't. We had the benefit of watching both these teams on Sky last weekend so my eyes may be deceiving me, I hope it's theirs. OK, Saints were pretty poor in their clash with Hull but I think it was a pretty good performance from the black and whites. Ade Gardner and Sai Soliola both miss out through injury but we have the bonus of Francis Meli's return which will be a straight swap for Gardner. James Graham is deemed fit enough to play despite a bruised sternum. Quite simply man for man Saints are better than Bradford. I do think the Saints team is in decline and a defeat wouldn't surprise me but there is still plenty of quality in the ranks. The likes of Wilkin, Eastmond, Gidley, Pryce, Cunningham and Roby are still top class performers.

I do expect Bradford to improve but it may take a little longer for the players to start reading the mind of their general Matt Orford. Lots of ball was spilt last weekend and I worry about a backline of Sheriffe, Sykes, Nero and Reardon. That is far from potent. If Bradford are to win they need to muscle up in the forwards and take advantage of Orford's kicking game.

I have a niggling doubt about Saints and the low stake addresses those niggles to a degree but I've got to back my judgement as I just feel the handicap is all wrong
 
Bradford Bulls squad:

Sykes, Langley, Sheriffe, Kopczak, Donaldson, Scruton, Menzies, Kearney, Godwin, L'Estrange, Halley, Nero, Lynch, Reardon, Hall, Crookes, Worrincy, Whitehead, Orford.
 
St. Helens squad:

Wellens, Gidley, Meli, Pryce, Eastmond, Fozzard, Cunningham, Graham, Puletua, Wilkin, Flannery, Roby, Hargreaves, Moore, Clough, Ashurst, Wheeler, Fa'asavalu, Lomax.

Pick: St.Helens +2.5 2pts @ 1.8 Bwin


Rochdale v Dewsbury



Sunday 14th Feb 3pm
 
Dewsbury were promoted from Championship One last season beating all before them in an unbeaten march to the title. In the off season they have kept the core of their team together and added a few signings as they will face a battle to survive in the higher division. Rochdale, meanwhile, have again had major financial problems and coach Stankevitch has again had to rebuild a squad almost from scratch. If these two had met last season the start would have been in the mid teens at the very least. If anything Dewsbury have moved forward whilst Rochdale have gone backwards.

Dewsbury hammered London in round one and were not disgraced despite the scoreline in defeat at Halifax. Halifax are a top team at this level. Rochdale lost at Oldham, who themselves are in financial disarray.

I just can't comprehend why the start is so low. Even allowing for poor weather, lower scores in the winter and teams needing to gel at the start my minimum would have been mid teens. I really like this one.

Pick: Dewsbury -8 4pts @ 1.91 with Bet365
 
The Man