Friday 15th February
Leeds v Salford 20:00
St Helens v Hull FC 20:00
Warrington v Catalan 20:00
Saturday 16th February
Huddersfield v Wigan 15:00
Bradford v Castleford 16:45
Sunday 17th February
Hull KR v Widnes 15:00
London v Wakefield 15:00
Games In Bold Are Live On Sky
Leeds v Salford: It’s a massive week for the Rhinos, building up to the World Club Challenge in just under 10 days time and with the weather conditions around at the moment Fridays game may not be the prettiest and could favor Salford but I’m not counting my chickens though. Leeds are a different proposition at Headingley and with the new pitch down their this game will definitely go ahead and my thoughts on the game are very simple, Leeds will win, it’s just the score line people need to predict, Salford have scored 1 try in 160 minutes of Rugby League and they will need to produce a hell of a performance to even stay inside the handicap which should be around -28. Anyone could forgive Salford for what has happened but if you look at the last 2 games going into Friday nights game they have played, Wigan, Catalan and now Leeds, the last 2 were away from home, It’s a very tough start to a campaign for any team but Salford are way behind and are still trying to add to their squad, failing this week to tempt Adrian Morley back to his home town club with Warrington not willing to let go of their captain leave which to me is a good sign. Leeds will be pumped for this game but for me they could have asked for a tougher task ahead of next weeks World Club Challenge but I expect them to win this week and put Salford away with little ease.
Leeds Rhinos: Hardaker, Watkins, Moon, Hall, McGuire, Burrow, Leuluai, McShane, Jones-Buchanan, Ablett, Sinfield (c), Ward, Kirke, Clarkson, Achurch, Griffin, Moore, Keinhorst, Hood.
Bet Advised: No Bet
St Helens v Hull FC: It’s been a testing start to the campaign for St Helen’s and the news coming out this week is that big Tony Puletua may be heading back to Australia with the Sydney Roosters sniffing around him and the other news that Lance Hohaia and Josh Perry will both be missing for at least a month is another major blow for the Saints but should have James Roby back for the visit of Hull FC. Hull FC looked brilliant at home to Bradford last weekend and as we all know Hull are a different proposition at the KC stadium and that’s the one major factor why i cannot have any conviction backing them this weekend. I thought Hull would be right up there challenging for honors this season and if I am proved to be right they need to up there performances away from home and what a place to put a marker down then at Langtree Park, Saints will not want another hiding like in Round 1 but from what I’ve heard on last weeks performance they are still way off anything like minor premiership contenders at this early stage, Saints usually gain momentum and get better week by week but I could not back them either this weekend so it’s a no bet for me. Saints are due a big game and this weekend could well be that game but I’m not confident in either team so will be staying away from this one.
Hull FC: Arundel, Briscoe, Crookes, Crooks, Galea, Green, Heremaia, Holdsworth, Horne, Houghton, Johnson, Lynch, McDonnell, O’Meley, Pitts, Seymour, Westerman, Whiting, Yeaman.
Bet Advised: No Bet
Warrington v Catalan: If anyone didn’t tune into Wigan v Warrington last Friday night you probably missed one of the best games in many a years and this weekend Warrington host an inform Catalan who will be tested to the full potential come 20:00 Friday night. Warrington still remain unbeaten in Super League after last weeks 17-17 draw at Wigan but Catalan poses a 100% record coming into this game and they will be full of confidence and will be really pumped up for this one and it’s a massive step for them if they can come to the Halliwell Jones and get 2 points, people will be talking up Catalan for honors this year but we all know it’s a long hard season but it will be a marker for everybody to take note of. I expect Warrington to again come out of the traps firing on all cylinders, Last week Warrington had more territory during the 2nd half but just could not gain an advantage but against Catalan I can see them making their territory pay. Catalan conceded 28 points at Craven park, if they give Warrington that many points they will be beaten soundly as Warringtons defence is on another level to KR’s and I do see this game panning out with a Warrington win, It’s live on Sky so expect some fireworks, the home fans will expect a response after last weeks game at Wigan and I think they will get on come 22:00 Friday night.
Warrington Wolves: Atkins, Briers, Carvell, Cooper, Evans, Grix, Higham, Hill, Hodgson, McCarthy, J. Monaghan, M. Monaghan, Morley, Myler, Ratchford, Riley, Waterhouse, Westwood, Wood.
Catalans Dragons: Webb, Blanch, Pryce, Taia, Bosc, Elima, Henderson, Casty, Menzies, Anderson, Barthau, Pelissier, Larroyer, Millard, Pala, Simon,Fakir, Baitieri, Duport
Bet Advised: Warrington -5.5 @ 8/11, HT H’cap Winner
Huddersfield v Wigan: It’s a massive game for Wigan this one and the onus is on them to get back to winning ways and most bookies will have them as favorites which granted they should be but do not write the Giants off here, they have a 100% record going into this game and always start well so for me backing Huddersfield at home with a start is the way to go. When doing my research on this game I had Wigan with a slight start +2 so to see you can get Huddersfield +6 at home after the start they have had is a must for me, they have been big and strong up front and have Danny Brough and Brett Ferres playing out of their skins, If Wigan go to the Galpharm on Saturday afternoon and get the 2 points, it’s a very good result for them. I’m siding with the inform Giants in this one, I think they can continue their very impressive start to the season and Paul Anderson will be telling his team that this Saturday’s game will tell them how far they have come as a team as a whole in 2013, A win against last seasons minor champions will go a long way and confirm that the Huddersfield Giants mean business this season, Wigan will be looking towards the likes of Sam Tomkins, Matty Smith and Liam Farrell to get them back to winning ways, Wigan had a very tough encounter last weekend and we will see if Shaun Wane’s trust in youth development can fire 2 weeks running and bring back 2 points and an unbeaten record still in tact, something has got to give in this one so backing the draw at 20/1 is well worth a nibble.
Bet Advised: Huddersfield @ 7/4 Winner, Huddersfield +6 @ 1/1 Winner, Huddersfield HT/FT @ 10/3 Loser
Bradford v Castleford: If you’re a rugby league follower and enjoy most games on sky like Wakefield v Hull KR last weekend this game has all the makings of that one and I expect plenty of points at Odsal on Saturday evening. Bradford run riot against Wakefield in Round 1 but came up against an inform Hull FC last weekend and Castleford have had an even tougher start to Super League facing Warrington at the Halliwell Jones and last weekend beating Leeds at home must have installed a little bit of confidence around the Wish Communications Stadium going into this weekends game. Bradford will be looking to bounce back and get back to winning ways but I’ve put faith in Castleford this season, putting them up to make the top 8 and if they are to prove me right they need to go to places like Odsal and get a result, Bradford will be looking to get into the top 8 for the first time in many years so they will see this as a must win game just like it’s a must win game for Castleford as well. Rangi Chase is a big loss but the loan signing of Gareth O’Brien could be a nice little bit of business for the Tigers as when he was out on loan at Widnes last term he was their best player and Ian Millward will be looking for another good spell over the Pennines at Cas. I wanna back Castleford in this one and If Rangi Chase was playing I would have no hesitations but knowing he is missing I’m going to opt for plenty of points in this one, no lines out as we speak so once they are confirmed ill post the best lines below.
Bet Advised:
Hull KR v Widnes: It’s been a tough start for Hull KR, they just can’t get their full complement of players out on the pitch and the injury to Lincoln Withers last week would not of helped things but will be looking towards this game on Sunday as a must win and for me it really is. Widnes have started 100% better than last season and were extremely unlucky last weekend and if it wasn’t for some dodgy officials they could have caused an upset and beaten St Helen’s. It’s a new week and a new mindset and backing Hull KR -6 is surely a bet this weekend, they have scored points in both rounds of Super League to date, Widnes were +8 away at London in Round 1 and even though I don’t rate Hull KR this season they are a better team than London so backing them -6 is surely the right way to go. If Hull KR perform like they can do in front of their own fans it’s going to be tough for Widnes on Sunday, If Widnes play to their potential this season its going to be a very close fought match and if Hull KR do lose this match then their play off hopes could be well and truly over within 3 weeks of Super League starting.
Hull K R: Salter, Caro, Ferguson, Horne, Walker, Paterson, Mika, Tuimavave, Welham, Griffin, J. Hodgson, Paea, Carlile, Hall, Dobson, D. Hodgson, Eden, Lovegrove, Heil.
Widnes Vikings: Allen, Briscoe, Cahill, Clarke, Dean, Flynn, Gerrard, Hanbury, Hock, Isa, Joseph, Kavanagh, Leuluai, Marsh, Mellor, O’Carroll, Pickersgill, White, Winterstein.
Bet Advised: Hull KR -2.5 @ 10/11 HT H’cap Winner, Hull KR -6 @ 10/11 Winner
London v Wakefield: London have been well and truly beaten in rounds 1 and round 2 and will need a big improvement if they want to get of the mark this season. I cannot believe that Wakefield are 11/8 and +4, this makes me laugh and will be my max bet this weekend, With Tim Smith back in the team and players like Paul Aiton, Andy Raleigh and Ben Cockayne playing out of their skins, Wakefield are a massive price here and should not be over looked this weekend, OK they don’t have the best record in London but after last weeks performance they will be looking at this game and if they want to be involved in this season top 8, winning in London is a must. London have been very poor so far this season, Tony Rea did a great job at the end of last season but he needs to firmly get a grip of his players this week and a big performance is needed from the Broncos but after watching them so fat this season I cannot understand how they have been priced for this match.
London Broncos (from): Bailey, Bryant, Channing, Cook, Colbon, Dixon, Gower, Hurst, Kaufusi, Krasniqi, Lee, Lovell, Melling, O’Callaghan, Randall, Robertson, Rodney, Wheeldon, Witt.
Wakefield Trinity Wildcats (from): Mathers, Fox, Collis, Lyne, Cockayne, Sykes, Wood, Poore, Aiton, Raleigh, Kirmond, Lauitiiti, Washbrook, Mariano, Amor, Wilkes, Annakin, Mellars, T. Smith.
Bet Advised: Wakefield @ 11/8 Winner, Wakefield +4 @ 10/11, Winner
Max Bet: Wakefield +4 @ 10/11 Winner
Next Best: Huddersfield +6 @ 1/1 Winner
Value Bet: Huddersfield HT/FT @ 10/3 Loser
Round 3 Bets:
Total Bets: 8
Winners: 7
Losers: 1
Round 3 Totals: 7/8
Running Total: 18/24
Max Bet Winners: 3/3
Next Best: 3/3
Value: 0/3
burnzysbets 