This Week's Rugby League

By The Man

This week I have a couple of wagers lined up for Super League:

Wakefield v Bradford



14th May 20:00 GMT
Sky Sports 4 (19:30-22:00)

Wakefield have had a sticky spell but looked to have put that behind them with a gutsy display against Leeds at the Magic weekend. They will be desperately disappointed not to have won that one but have chance to make amends against another of West Yorkshire's big guns. Wakefield will have had a fortnight to ponder that defeat and will have had Bradford as their focus with their early demise from the Challenge Cup. Wakefield have every chance of winning this fixture and the start looks way to high for me.

Bradford were woeful against Crusaders in Scotland and then had to focus on Leigh in the cup. They won that one with ease but that only told us about the gap between Super League and the rest. Leigh had a few missing really testing the depth of their squad.

Bradford again miss Matt Orford and the former Manly Australian really is their talisman. He's the one guiding them round the park and Bradford can look clueless without him. There's a big game for Bulls on the horizon with next week's home encounter with Leeds and it is often wise to take on sides that may be looking at other fixtures. I'm sure Orford will be making sure he's back for that one.

I had this one as a scratch game. Wakefield have home advantage, a greater focus and with little in ability between the teams taking the start is a good option.

Pick: Wakefield +4 3pts @ 2 with Bet365

 
Hull KR v Crusaders



16th May 15:00 GMT

Hull KR are another team who had the benefit of a break due to their cup exit. They, unfortunately, have a hammering to get over at the hands of St.Helens in Scotland. However, it is a fact that a big defeat can actually increase expectation of a handicap victory the next time out. For one, the bookmakers over-rate that one game and obviously the coaching staff are paid to right the wrongs. St.Helens are capable of running up a big score against any team and I wouldn't big quick to dismiss the ability of Rovers. They are a team that are strong at home, have play-off potential and a solid look to them.

Crusaders, meanwhile, visit on the back of a heart breaking cup exit. With a quarter final on the horizon many of their players will have been dreaming of Wembley and a close cup defeat, especially when favourites, can deflate a club. They have potential and have had a couple of fine wins this season but I don't have them ahead of Rovers on ability.

Add in home advantage and the start has got to bigger than what's on offer. I had Rovers by 10pts. I will also be playing the match odds at 1.5 and taking handicaps of -6pts@1.91 but liked the extra half point insurance offered by Betfred albeit for slightly lower odds.
 
I also considered Harlequins giving up a start versus Castleford but am wary about that one after an intense game with St.Helens taking petrol out of the tank. I think I'll swerve that one and go with what I've got.

Pick: Hull KR -5.5 -3pts @ 1.8 with Betfred
 
The Man