This week's Rugby League

By The Man

The Super League reaches the play-offs and I wonder if I am the only one who thinks the RFL couldn't have devised a worse system if they tried. Firstly, teams as low as eighth could get the right to call themselves champions and that means teams such as Crusaders, who have lost over half their regular season matches, could be striding out at Old Trafford. Secondly, the first round games for the top four are pretty close to meaningless. OK, you could get the reward of a week off with victory but if all games go true to form we could end up with the exact same fixtures in a fortnight deciding who gets to the final. Far better for me was the top six system still adopted in the Championship. The top two get all the benefits in this one and rightly so. There is very little difference between fourth and top in the current format and that can't be right.

Fortunately for the authorities, the league positions will throw up some cracking games. Saints versus Warrington to whet the appetite, Wigan versus Leeds for the finale and sandwiched in-between a Hull derby and new boys Crusaders at Huddersfield.
 
Confidence is rippling through Warrington at the moment. Their demolition of Leeds in the Challenge Cup final was very impressive and the Wolves have finally arrived as a true force. However, they play their nemesis in possibly the last ever game at Knowsley Road. Warrington have never won at Saints in the Super League era and only boast one victory in total in over forty encounters. Considering lots of those games have been close affairs it's a remarkable hoodoo.

Both teams have named their squads and the Wire one looks pretty formidable whilst the names of Leon Pryce and Kyle Eastmond are missing from Saints. So Saints will go in to the encounter with no recognised halves with probably Scott Moore and Jon Wilkin filling in. I'm not sure if either have the kicking game to pin Warrington back.

The Warrington pack led by Adrian Morley have good go forward and with Lee Briers and Michael Monaghan pulling the strings I expect them to go very close to that elusive victory. With home advantage to Saints I couldn't split the teams and have helped myself to the 4pts start on offer that was available. The price has now been cut and so I'm not going to recommend an account bet but if I was forced I'd take the even money +2 for Wire with Bet365.
 
St. Helens squad:

Wellens, Gardner, Gidley, Soliola, Meli, Cunningham, Graham, Puletua, Wilkin, Flannery, Roby, Hargreaves, Moore, Clough, Dixon, Fa'asavalu, Lomax, Emmitt, Foster.

Warrington Wolves squad:

L. Anderson, Atkins, Bridge, Briers, Carvell, Clarke, Cooper, Harrison, Hicks, Higham, King, Mathers, Monaghan, Morley, Myler, Riley, Solomona, Westwood, Wood.
 
Huddersfield host Crusaders and they enter the play-offs in complete contrast to last season. After the exertions of reaching the Challenge Cup Final the wheels somewhat fell off and with injuries to boot they meekly bowed out with defeats to both St.Helens and Catalan. This season they have some momentum and the recent victory at Wigan suggested they could be dark horses. The addition of Danny Brough mid season seemed to have a disjointing effect with Kevin Brown and Luke Robinson not knowing their roles. However, those teething problems seem to be sorted and the team is firing.

Crusaders enter the play-offs at the last gasp with victory over Hull KR and Brian Noble certainly knows how to time a run. He always had his Bradford and Wigan sides in top form at the business end of the season. Crusaders are no different this term and have won a slot on merit. They have shown with victory last week and earlier in the campaign at Leeds that they are no pushovers and I feel they will put up a battle in this one. I wouldn't completely rule out a Welsh win but ultimately I believe the Giants extra class will win the day. I'm going to argue against the handicaps on offer mind you. We can get a 16pt start for Crusaders and that sits well with my handicap which was only 10pts. For an intense, winner takes all play-off fixture that start is too high and there's even money around too!
 
Pick: Crusaders +16 3pts @ 2 with Betfred
 
I wouldn't read too much in to Hull KR's defeat at Crusaders as 6th place was already assured. This week they travel across the city to meet arch rivals Hull FC. As with all derbies between the two I expect a low scoring, tense affair. There are no point’s quotes available but I'd be getting seriously involved either with the spreads or fixed odds with a quote in the mid forties. As for the outcome I really believe you can toss a coin. Hull have won the two league games but that doesn't make predicting this one any easier for me. Only on the abilities of the teams am I giving Rovers at 2pt start but much will depend on the tactical battle between Sean Long and Michael Dobson. Look to get low on those points but no account bet for the winner, with or without a handicap.
 
Finally Wigan play Leeds. Wigan have been very consistent but I am not overly convinced that they can go on to lift the Super League crown. They have lost a few recent home fixtures to Huddersfield, Warrington and St.Helens and I feel the coach is getting every ounce of ability out of a squad that isn't exactly bristling with international performers. Many youngsters have come in and have done a remarkable job but a lot will rest on their star men like Pat Richards and Sam Tomkins if they are to be successful.

They face a Leeds team that are just a little off the boil this season. A Wembley appearance can't paper over the cracks for me. Again a big player like Danny McGuire may be what Leeds have to rely on now they have lost a lot of go forward from Jamie Peacock.

I expect the Wigan forwards to win the battle up front and lay a platform for victory on Sunday. Andy Coley and Stuart Fielden have been rewarded with new contracts and they can get on top of their opposites. Field position and where you kick on the last from are oh so important in rugby league.

Not that I expect Leeds to lie down and die but, as alluded to in the opening brief, they do get a second chance. Unfortunately from a betting point of view I'm largely in agreement of what's offered by the bookmakers, 8pts to Leeds seems about right to me.
 
The Man