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There's a couple of games in Super League difficult to assess this week as so many of the Leeds and St.Helens players are playing in Friday's international and I'm not sure at this stage which players plan to double up and to what degree fatigue will be a factor if they do play so I'll be leaving those two teams alone. However, I have spotted some differences with my numbers which have enticed some wagers:

England -12 v France 3pts@1.91 general

England have elected to play their strongest team in the run up to this Autumn's World Cup and I think they will be too strong for the French. The very cream of Super League is in the England side. I like the look of the pack and the half backs even if the outside backs leave a little bit to be desired. Obviously the French have improved for the presence of Catalan in Super League but key players like Mogg, Carlaw and Croker are Australian and the French team will be weaker than Catalan. Home advantage will probably keep the score line closer than the 20pt+defeat in the reverse fixture last season but I still had this in the 16-18pt handicap region myself.

Doncaster -16 v Workington 4pts@1.91 Bet365

I am Probably repeating myself a bit from last week but Doncaster are a top side in this division and will comfortably dispose of Workington. Will they cover the start though? Well I think so. A Friday afternoon journey from Cumbria after a morning at work isn't the ideal preparation and neither is a home defeat to Hunslet, probably the poorest team in the league. Workington don't travel well at the best of times and their visit to Barrow (similar in ability to Doncaster )ended in a 60pt thrashing. Unbelievably Workington managed to win the reverse fixture when it was Friday night travel in the reverse direction earlier in the season. That won't be repeated and there will be a score to settle for Donnie. I had this one as Doncaster by 26.

Rochdale -6 v Hunslet 4pts@1.91 Bet365

Whilst not yet being able to match the top sides I sense an improvement in Rochdale and I think this will become apparent in this fixture. Going down to Doncaster last weekend was no disgrace and they were competitive for much of that fixture. Prior to that they thrashed Swinton and that is the fixture more likely to draw parallels with this one. Swinton aren't terrible and I rate them above Hunslet so that was a good victory for Dale. Hunlset, themselves had a good win at Workington last weekend but the conditions were terrible and, to their credit, they won that match more on desire than ability. That win has probably helped us get such a low handicap this weekend but I don't get carried away about one result, I prefer to gauge the overall ability of teams and as such I had Rochdale by 14pts.

the man