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| SHOULD I STAY OT SHOULD I GO? Kyle Eastmond is in talks about a possible move to rugby union, but has been in fine form for Saints |
I MAY have tipped Warrington for success this year, but it’s impossible to ignore The Wire’s hoodoo against Saints.
The Wolves have won just one of 31 Super League games against St Helens and have yet to taste victory at Knowsley Road in the summer era.
Regardless of this contest taking place at Widness’ Stobart Stadium ¬- Saints temporary home during their own ground developments – it would be crazy for punters to ignore Warrington’s horrific form in this fixture.
Royce Simmons’ team followed up their sensational comeback against champions Wigan in the opening round with an emphatic 56-22 romp at Salford and look good value for another two points at 4-9 with Stan James.
James Roby and Kyle Eastmond were both back to their best last week and will prove influential once again, though Wolves’ Michael Monaghan is also showing some terrific form.
Monaghan will be at the hub of Warrington’s best work and Tony Smith’s men have more than enough quality to push Saints all the way. Sadly for Wire fans though, there seems to be a psychological barrier that their team just cannot pass in this fixture.
Winner: St Helens (4-9 Stan James)
Score Tip: Saints to win by 1-5 points (13-2 Betfred)
First Tryscorer: Kyle Eastmond (14-1 William Hill)
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| FAMILIAR FACE: Leeds' Ben Jones-Bishop impressed on-loan at The Stoop last season and can sink his old pals at Headingley on Friday night |
SECOND hosts third at Headingley and, despite Leeds’ growing injury list, I expect Harlequins’ flying start to come to a sudden halt.
Rob Powell’s men spanked Salford at Cardiff and edged out Crusaders at The Stoop last week, but the Rhinos have shown enough form early on to suggest an upset is not on the cards, even though Betfred’s 1-9 on a home win is far too short.
Brian McDermott will be missing Carl Ablett, Ryan Bailey, Ben Cross, Jamie Peacock and Danny McGuire, but the early performances of Rob Burrow, Kallum Watkins and Ben Jones-Bishop tell me the Rhinos will have plenty of points in them in this 80 minutes.
Jones-Bishop has been in scintillating form, scoring a terrific long range solo try in the win at Hull last week and is worth a punt in both the first and last try-scorer markets at 11-1 with Hills to add to his three tries this campaign.
Winner: Leeds (1-9 Betfred)
Score Tip: Leeds to win by 16-20 points (11-2 Totesport)
First Tryscorer: Ben Jones-Bishop (11-1 William Hill)
