This Week's Rugby League

By The Man

A bit of a disaster last week but these things happen in gambling. Just when you think you have this game cracked you are brought crashing down to earth, personally it was a very expensive crash.
This week I want to be involved in a couple of games from the Super League fixtures:
 
Warrington v Hull FC
 


20th August 20:00 GMT
Sky Sports 1, Sky Sports HD1

The Warrington camp are publicly stating that next week's trip to Wembley will have no effect on their preparation for this fixture but, human nature as it is, there is bound to be an effect. The difference between this year and last is that Warrington are also runners for the Super League crown so I accept that there will be motivation to win as second spot is up for grabs and that has play-off benefits.

Warrington have named a full strength squad and such is the size of it there will be one or two players knowing that they have to make an impression to play next week. Therefore, I am not going overboard on the cup final factor.

However, be it a week from Wembley or not I am still questioning the size of the handicap on offer. Hull are pushing for fourth spot and are a dogged team. They don't offer much flair in attack but defensively they all work very hard. They have got some key players back in recent weeks and although I don't rate them as potential Super League winners or indeed in the same bracket as Warrington they can be competitive. Add in the gloomy North West weather which has seen torrential rain this morning then I see a close low scoring game and as such the high handicap on offer is one I'm taking. Given the weather and the visitor's liking for defensive work I'm also playing on the spreads, as I don't see much downside on the Wire pts. I handicapped the match as Warrington by 10pts and given the weather conditions I couldn't go above 44.5pts if I was a layer.
 
Pick: Hull +16 3pts @ 2 with Stan James

Pick: Sell Warrington pts 0.3pts @ 33 with SportingIndex
 
Castleford Tigers v Harlequins RL



22nd August 15:30 GMT
 
Castleford put up a very poor, costly show in defeat at Leeds last Friday. I really thought they would have been much more up for a battle and they conceded tamely. However, they got out of jail with regards their play-off ambitions with the controversial last second defeat for Crusaders at Hull and their hopes remain very much alive. Before the Leeds fixture their home form had been good and they have the beating of the teams in and around the bottom. Harlequins fit in to this category and with the news that their coach, Brian McDermott, will be leaving at the end of the season and with nothing but pride to play for then you would expect the home side to come out on top. I am a believer in the psychological side of sport and desire can take you on long way. One team is sure to be motivated whilst we have no idea what we will get from the visitors.

Harlequins won last weekend at Catalan but that was on the back of the letdown of the big cup defeat and a host of injuries for the French. I won't be getting carried away by that game though it did show that 'Quins haven't completely gone for the season.

I expected a double figure handicap on offer and am pleasantly surprised to see the start as low as 6pts, I'll have some of that!
 
Pick: Castleford -6 3pts @ 1.91 with Betfred & Boylesports
 
Others I like the look of include Crusaders getting the start against St.Helens especially if conditions remain poor and I think Salford have a few points too many at Huddersfield though the fear would be that the Giants are more than capable of running up a big score
 
The Man