Super League Round 5 (Friday)

C-ASH IN: Salford's Ashley Gibson is 16-1 with Hills to bag the first try

Leeds v Salford 

The Rhinos' injury crisis deepens every passing week and Salford will have no better opportunity to grab what would be only their second ever win over the Blue and Amber in the Super League era.

The Reds are best priced at 5-1 with Boylesports and, in the words of Leeds coach Brian McDermott, must be "rubbing their hands together on two fronts.

"They'll be thinking our pack is a bit lightweight and, if you look at the footage from last week, they'll be thinking all they have to do is get near the try line and they'll come up with some joy."

True enough, Leeds' error prone efforts and lacklustre defence in their 40-24 defeat at Warrington, allied with that mounting injury list, suggests Salford are in with a shout at Headingley.

The Rhinos will line-up without a recognised prop, with Jamie Peacock, Ryan Bailey, Kylie Leuluai and Luke Burgess all sidelined, while Aussie recruit Ben Cross misses out through suspension.

Salford, meanwhile, have virtually no injury concerns and look destined to boss this game down the middle of the park. Ian Kirke and Jamie Jones-Buchanan will be pushed up into Leeds' front row and will need to play out of their skin if the hosts are to prevail.

Leeds clearly have enough creativity and pace in their backs to cause problems, but at a pathetic 1-7 with Hills, the Rhinos are best avoided. Salford are the only team worth backing in this contest and decent value at 5-1.

Winner: Salford (5-1 Boylesports)
Score Tip: Salford by 1-5 points (10-1 William Hill)
First Tryscorer: Ashley Gibson (16-1 William Hill)

St Helens v Harlequins 

Quins bright start was halted by Huddersfield last week and St Helens are 1-7 favourites with Betfred to inflict back-to-back defeats on Rob Powell's men.

The Londoners have only beaten Saints once in Super League and will struggle to contain a James Roby inspired St Helens at the Halton Stadium.

Roby is already flourishing thanks to the extra game time provided by Keiron Cunningham's retirement, with the hooker topping Super League's ball carrying metres table – 762 and counting.

The 25-year-old is also towards the top of the offloads standings and Roby's ability to drive Saints forward at pace will prove decisive in this contest.

Australian prop Josh Perry will be making his Saints' bow and will certainly give Quins plenty of food for thought in the middle of the park.

Winner: Saints to win (1-7 Betfred)
Score Tip: Saints by 21-55 points (15-2 Betfred)
First Tryscorer: Paul Wellens (14-1 William Hill) 

Wakefield v Warrington 

Wolves were rampant against Leeds last Saturday and I can't see anything other than a fourth straight win for Tony Smith's impressive team at 1-12 (Betfred).

Teenage centre Rhys Evans was the stand-out performer in that 40-24 defeat of Leeds, but there was plenty of Warrington players who caught the eye, particularly hooker Michael Monaghan.

It seems inevitable that the Wildcats will succumb to a third successive defeat. Heavy losses to Salford and Bradford, two teams who will certainly finish below Warrington in the standings, does not bode well.

Warrington are 15-2 with Betfred to win by more than 41 points and, sadly for Wakey fans, I wouldn't rule it out. The Wire are running red-hot right now.

Warrington's Chris Riley has scored tries in the Wolves' last three Super League meetings with Wakefield and he therefore is the obvious tip to open the scoring at 10-1 with sportingbet.

Winner: Warrington to win (1-12 Betfred)
Score Tip: Warrington by 41+ points (15-2 Betfred)
First Tryscorer: Chris Riley (10-1 sportingbet)

Super League Betting Tips - Round 3 (Friday)

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

 St Helens v Warrington (Friday)

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)

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

Leeds v Harlequins (Friday)

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)

Super League Betting Tips - Round 2 (Friday)

WAT A FUTURE: Kallum Watkins is set for a big season with the Rhinos

Hull FC v  Leeds Rhinos

LEEDS have won their last six contests against the Airlie Birds and Skybet’s 4-7 on Brian McDermott’s Rhinos is worth tucking into.

Youngsters Kallum Watkins, 19, and Ben Jones-Bishop, 22, are two of the most prodigious up and coming talents in the game and combined superbly as the latter crossed the whitewash to complete a dramatic Leeds comeback in Cardiff last Sunday.

Centre Watkins and winger Jones-Bishop certainly look like being two to watch in Sky Sport’s first Friday night clash of the campaign, as is second-rower Weller Hauraki.

The former Parramatta Eel, set for his Rhinos debut after finally bagging a work permit, was hugely impressive for Crusaders last term and I expect him to flourish alongside some of Leeds’ star names.

The Black and Whites came flying out of the blocks against Hull KR last week, but quickly, and worrying I’m sure for coach Richard Agar, fell away.

A 14-0 lead ended in a comprehensive 34-22 defeat and, if there is any team in Super League you need to stay switched on for 80 minutes against, it is the Rhinos.

I can see a similar pattern emerging at the KC Stadium, with a strong opening from the hosts, for who new recruit Sam Obst should feature, but Leeds proving the stronger come the final hooter. Paddy Power offer 13-2 that Hull lead at half-time, with Leeds ending victorious and that’s a cracking price.

Watkins is 16-1 with Hills to bag the final try and it would come as no surprise to see the Leeds ace reward punters while underlining his undoubted potential.

Winner: Leeds (4-7 Skybet)
Score Tip: Leeds to win by 1-12 points (2-1 Stan James)
First Tryscorer: Kirk Yeaman (16-1 Sportingbet)


Salford v St Helens

SAINTS boss Royce Simmons will be cursing an injury list that deprives him of James Graham, Leon Pryce, Gary Wheeler and new signing Josh Perry, but at least rugby union target Kyle Eastmond is still expected to feature and see out the last year of his contract.

St Helens comeback from 16-0 down against arch rivals and champions Wigan last week emphasised to any doubters that Saints will once again be challenging come Grand Final reckoning, while Salford’s 42-12 crushing at the hands of Crusaders should convince punters there can be only one winner at The Willows.

Salford had been tipped in many quarters to mount a challenge for the play-offs, but last week’s showing was a rude awakening for Reds’ fans.

Saints may be without some key names, but a comfortable win is surely on the cards, with James Roby and the irrepressible Tony Puletua, inspirational in last Saturday’s late heroics, leading the charge for the visitors.

Winner: St Helens (1-3 Betfred)
Score Tip: St Helens win by 16-20 points (6-1 Hills)
First Tryscorer: James Roby (20-1 Hills)