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SUPERLEAGUE WEEK 5 UPDATED 14/3/22
TheEdge949
Member Posts: 5,713
So before we get into the upcoming matches for week 5 a quick recap on the week 4 scores.
Wakefield 18 Leeds 34
Hull KR 8 Saint Helens 42
Warrington 18 Catalans 24
Toulouse 28 Wigan 29
Huddersfield 34 Salford 2
Castleford 33 Hull FC 26
Well that means 4/6 last week for a cumulative total of 15/18 and onto a very interesting week 5.
LEEDS V HULL
Leeds are without suspended Cameron Smith and Kruise Leeming for this usually fierce tie, but Hull are also missing up to 10 regular first teamers due to suspension and injury. Leeds come into this on the back of their first victory, whilst Hull are 2/2 following a high scoring defeat. Leeds hopes could well rest on Austin and Sezer, and if those 2 perform to provide quick ball then Leeds should have too much for a depleted Hull.
WAKEFIELD V TOULOUSE
Wakefield missing the influential Jowett through suspension, welcome a rapidly improving Toulouse side who narrowly missed out on a shock win last time out. Both these teams are still winless and I expect a hard, blood and thunder style game with little between the teams. Much will depend on how Toulouse cope with the rigours of travel and how they adapt. It's certainly something that they will become accustomed to over the season, but for now I have to take Wakefield for a narrow win.
SALFORD V HULL K R
This is a pin stick to be honest. Salford after starting with 2 wins have been abject in the last 2 games shipping almost 80 points whilst only managing 10 of their own. Hull K R meanwhile after finally getting off the mark in week 3 took an absolute pasting at home from Saints last time out. I really don't know how to call this and if I had to try and find an edge it would be as simple as Salford are the home side and they generally perform better than 50% at home whilst HKR perform slightly worse on the road. With both sides needing to put on a strong performance for the fans it's a nightmare to call but I'm going to go for Hull KR.
SAINT HELENS V WARRINGTON
Possibly the tie of the round, spoilt a little by the absence through suspension of Konrad Hurrell for Saints and Matt Davis and Josh Charnley for Warrington. Saints sitting on top of SL and in apparently imperious form face a Warrington outfit, somewhat shell shocked by the home loss to Catalans last time out. When the fixtures were announced this was the one that all the attention was on. So much is expected from Warrington this season and Saints are chasing a record 4 in a row Grand final wins. However 4 weeks in and whilst one team is sailing along serenely the other has spluttered and flattered to deceive. Saints can cope without Hurrell, Warrington though without a playmaker in Davis and top try scorer Charnley are in a hole and looking at a second straight loss. Saint Helens to win this barring a major upset.
HUDDERSFIELD V CASTLEFORD
Not so long ago this was a guaranteed 2 points for Cas and move on. This however is 2022 and Huddersfield are the form team of the two going into this one, sitting 3rd in the table with a 3/1 record and playing some impressive rugby. Cas meanwhile are a team who despite having a strong squad on paper are struggling to convert that into displays on the pitch and at 1/3 are looking nervously over their shoulder.
Whilst Cas posted a good win last time out Huddersfield are in good form and with a defence that prevented a try in their last game it's Huddersfield that have to be favourites to win here.
CATALANS V WIGAN
The other potential tie of the round sees the 3/1 Dragons host the 4/0 Warriors in what is usually a really good game. Form here really shows little to separate, ok Catalans lost the opener at Saints, no disgrace in that but then recorded road wins at Leeds and Warrington and not many will do that this season. Wigan meanwhile under new coach Matt Peet are doing what Wigan do, turning up, getting it done and moving on, albeit with a huge scare at Toulouse last time out.
For me this is going to be won or lost in the last 20 minutes. Catalans have shown twice this season an alarming propensity to fade late on at home V Wakefield week 2 and again at Warrington last week. Wigan held off a determined Toulouse last week but going back to back weeks in the South of France isn't easy. Another coin flip but Catalans rarely lose at home so it's Catalans in a close one.
Ok folks there we have it. I'll post the scores and any pertinent information Sunday evening.
Mark
Wakefield 18 Leeds 34
Hull KR 8 Saint Helens 42
Warrington 18 Catalans 24
Toulouse 28 Wigan 29
Huddersfield 34 Salford 2
Castleford 33 Hull FC 26
Well that means 4/6 last week for a cumulative total of 15/18 and onto a very interesting week 5.
LEEDS V HULL
Leeds are without suspended Cameron Smith and Kruise Leeming for this usually fierce tie, but Hull are also missing up to 10 regular first teamers due to suspension and injury. Leeds come into this on the back of their first victory, whilst Hull are 2/2 following a high scoring defeat. Leeds hopes could well rest on Austin and Sezer, and if those 2 perform to provide quick ball then Leeds should have too much for a depleted Hull.
WAKEFIELD V TOULOUSE
Wakefield missing the influential Jowett through suspension, welcome a rapidly improving Toulouse side who narrowly missed out on a shock win last time out. Both these teams are still winless and I expect a hard, blood and thunder style game with little between the teams. Much will depend on how Toulouse cope with the rigours of travel and how they adapt. It's certainly something that they will become accustomed to over the season, but for now I have to take Wakefield for a narrow win.
SALFORD V HULL K R
This is a pin stick to be honest. Salford after starting with 2 wins have been abject in the last 2 games shipping almost 80 points whilst only managing 10 of their own. Hull K R meanwhile after finally getting off the mark in week 3 took an absolute pasting at home from Saints last time out. I really don't know how to call this and if I had to try and find an edge it would be as simple as Salford are the home side and they generally perform better than 50% at home whilst HKR perform slightly worse on the road. With both sides needing to put on a strong performance for the fans it's a nightmare to call but I'm going to go for Hull KR.
SAINT HELENS V WARRINGTON
Possibly the tie of the round, spoilt a little by the absence through suspension of Konrad Hurrell for Saints and Matt Davis and Josh Charnley for Warrington. Saints sitting on top of SL and in apparently imperious form face a Warrington outfit, somewhat shell shocked by the home loss to Catalans last time out. When the fixtures were announced this was the one that all the attention was on. So much is expected from Warrington this season and Saints are chasing a record 4 in a row Grand final wins. However 4 weeks in and whilst one team is sailing along serenely the other has spluttered and flattered to deceive. Saints can cope without Hurrell, Warrington though without a playmaker in Davis and top try scorer Charnley are in a hole and looking at a second straight loss. Saint Helens to win this barring a major upset.
HUDDERSFIELD V CASTLEFORD
Not so long ago this was a guaranteed 2 points for Cas and move on. This however is 2022 and Huddersfield are the form team of the two going into this one, sitting 3rd in the table with a 3/1 record and playing some impressive rugby. Cas meanwhile are a team who despite having a strong squad on paper are struggling to convert that into displays on the pitch and at 1/3 are looking nervously over their shoulder.
Whilst Cas posted a good win last time out Huddersfield are in good form and with a defence that prevented a try in their last game it's Huddersfield that have to be favourites to win here.
CATALANS V WIGAN
The other potential tie of the round sees the 3/1 Dragons host the 4/0 Warriors in what is usually a really good game. Form here really shows little to separate, ok Catalans lost the opener at Saints, no disgrace in that but then recorded road wins at Leeds and Warrington and not many will do that this season. Wigan meanwhile under new coach Matt Peet are doing what Wigan do, turning up, getting it done and moving on, albeit with a huge scare at Toulouse last time out.
For me this is going to be won or lost in the last 20 minutes. Catalans have shown twice this season an alarming propensity to fade late on at home V Wakefield week 2 and again at Warrington last week. Wigan held off a determined Toulouse last week but going back to back weeks in the South of France isn't easy. Another coin flip but Catalans rarely lose at home so it's Catalans in a close one.
Ok folks there we have it. I'll post the scores and any pertinent information Sunday evening.
Mark
Comments
Also Catalans at home to Wigan is marginal.
Leeds 8 31 Hull
Wakefield 18 6 Toulouse
Salford 16 26 Hull K R
St Helens 28 2 Warrington
Huddersfield 36 24 Castleford
Catalans 28 0 Wigan
Wakefield got off the mark in the basement scrap leaving Toulouse as the only pointless team after 5 rounds although Toulouse did manage to beat the handicap. The margin of Wigans defeat at Catalans will be a surprise for many and also the fact that they failed to score a point, whilst Leeds were totally dominated in a one sided game only scoring when Hull had already won the tie.
Saints reduced Warrington to the role of spectators as they seamlessly roll on, honestly Wire just had no answer and Hull KR did what was expected following their horror show the week before.
Most entertaining game was the Giants V Tigers clash with Cas turning a 18-0 halftime deficit into a 18-24 lead before costly mistakes and ill discipline, the hallmarks of the Tigers season so far, once more cost them points and leaves them one off the bottom and a trip to Wigan next week..
Week 6 preview coming Tuesday.