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SUPERLEAGUE ROUND 11 PREVIEW
TheEdge949
Member Posts: 5,689
Almost got caught out by the Thursday start to this round. Still I'm here now so lets get into it.
WAKEFIELD V HUDDERSFIELD
The big Field derby (actually I just made that one up) sees an indifferent Huddersfield travel to the "Blitz memorial bombsite" to take on a sliding Wakefield. Both teams come off the back of 32 - 10 defeats in round 10 Wakefield losing at Hull KR whilst Shudders went down to Warrington. However, for me Huddersfield have the best of the match ups and I expect them to overcome the challenge of Wakefield.
HUDDERSFIELD by 8
CATALANS V CASTLEFORD
Catalans fresh from a loss at Hull will not be a particularly attractive opposition for a Castleford side who despite a 4 match winning streak in the league don't inspire any confidence that they can somehow reverse what is a shocking record in Perpignan.
A desperate win against a an awful Leeds side and a struggle to beat what was basically a scratch Saint Helens team highlights the deficiancies in Cas's game rather than any great improvement. Whilst Catalans have some injury concerns and don't have all their first choice 13 available (Tomkins and McMeekan). This will I feel be the usual story for Cas. Fly out, turn out, get beaten, fly back, move on.
CATALANS by 16
LEEDS V HULL KR
Leeds who managed to claim a win in the basement battle last time out will find Hull KR somewhat tougher opponents than Toulouse. Hull KR are performing well this season and look to have a better, more organised game than Leeds. Whether the confidence gained from last weeks victory will galvanise Leeds further remains to be seen although with a little more self belief and the partisan bear pit of the South Stand this could be where their season actually takes off. Hull KR desperate to give Tony Smith a Grand Final send off will be absolutely up for it and this could actually be a better game than it seems on paper.
HULL KR by 8
SAINT HELENS V SALFORD
The big question here is whether Christian Wolfe fields the same under strength side he put out at Castleford last time out. If he does I think that Salford could take what would certainly be classed as a bonus win. On the other hand if he decides to put a couple of extra first choice players into the mix then it could all be very different. Yes saints got beaten in the end by Cas but they were in no way outclassed and were in the game until about minute 65. Salford can win and maybe should win but I saw enough last week to go with the Saints youngsters.
SAINT HELENS by 6
WARRINGTON V WIGAN
THE tie of the round sees Wigan make the short trip to Warrington for a blockbuster of a game. Bevan French has made a huge impact since his return and with Jai Field flying and Farrell leading up the middle, Bateman putting himself around and the strike power out wide, Wigan are looking every inch a G.F side. However Warrington have started to fire again and with Clarke running things from Dummy half, the new signings starting to come good and ex Wigan man Charnley on the wing they will be bang up for this one. This is really difficult to call and could be decided by something as simple as who can keep 13 players on the paddock for the longest. I'm expecting a few sin binnings.
WIGAN by 7
HULL V TOULOUSE
Toulouse for all their promise are still pointless on the road and I see nothing to convince me that, that will be any different after 80 minutes here. Hull whilst not quite catching fire this season are steady and steely, combining some silky skills with a hard undercurrent they will be too good for a Toulouse side who were visibly upset at losing at Leeds last time out. Toulouse who have already lost against teams struggling for form at Cas and Leeds will find that the road trips only get harder. can't see any way Toulouse win this.
HULL by 14
Wow fast approaching halfway in the season eh. Time flies when you're having fun.
Have a banging weekend, go see a game, watch it on telly, it's great with mates and a beer.
Mark
WAKEFIELD V HUDDERSFIELD
The big Field derby (actually I just made that one up) sees an indifferent Huddersfield travel to the "Blitz memorial bombsite" to take on a sliding Wakefield. Both teams come off the back of 32 - 10 defeats in round 10 Wakefield losing at Hull KR whilst Shudders went down to Warrington. However, for me Huddersfield have the best of the match ups and I expect them to overcome the challenge of Wakefield.
HUDDERSFIELD by 8
CATALANS V CASTLEFORD
Catalans fresh from a loss at Hull will not be a particularly attractive opposition for a Castleford side who despite a 4 match winning streak in the league don't inspire any confidence that they can somehow reverse what is a shocking record in Perpignan.
A desperate win against a an awful Leeds side and a struggle to beat what was basically a scratch Saint Helens team highlights the deficiancies in Cas's game rather than any great improvement. Whilst Catalans have some injury concerns and don't have all their first choice 13 available (Tomkins and McMeekan). This will I feel be the usual story for Cas. Fly out, turn out, get beaten, fly back, move on.
CATALANS by 16
LEEDS V HULL KR
Leeds who managed to claim a win in the basement battle last time out will find Hull KR somewhat tougher opponents than Toulouse. Hull KR are performing well this season and look to have a better, more organised game than Leeds. Whether the confidence gained from last weeks victory will galvanise Leeds further remains to be seen although with a little more self belief and the partisan bear pit of the South Stand this could be where their season actually takes off. Hull KR desperate to give Tony Smith a Grand Final send off will be absolutely up for it and this could actually be a better game than it seems on paper.
HULL KR by 8
SAINT HELENS V SALFORD
The big question here is whether Christian Wolfe fields the same under strength side he put out at Castleford last time out. If he does I think that Salford could take what would certainly be classed as a bonus win. On the other hand if he decides to put a couple of extra first choice players into the mix then it could all be very different. Yes saints got beaten in the end by Cas but they were in no way outclassed and were in the game until about minute 65. Salford can win and maybe should win but I saw enough last week to go with the Saints youngsters.
SAINT HELENS by 6
WARRINGTON V WIGAN
THE tie of the round sees Wigan make the short trip to Warrington for a blockbuster of a game. Bevan French has made a huge impact since his return and with Jai Field flying and Farrell leading up the middle, Bateman putting himself around and the strike power out wide, Wigan are looking every inch a G.F side. However Warrington have started to fire again and with Clarke running things from Dummy half, the new signings starting to come good and ex Wigan man Charnley on the wing they will be bang up for this one. This is really difficult to call and could be decided by something as simple as who can keep 13 players on the paddock for the longest. I'm expecting a few sin binnings.
WIGAN by 7
HULL V TOULOUSE
Toulouse for all their promise are still pointless on the road and I see nothing to convince me that, that will be any different after 80 minutes here. Hull whilst not quite catching fire this season are steady and steely, combining some silky skills with a hard undercurrent they will be too good for a Toulouse side who were visibly upset at losing at Leeds last time out. Toulouse who have already lost against teams struggling for form at Cas and Leeds will find that the road trips only get harder. can't see any way Toulouse win this.
HULL by 14
Wow fast approaching halfway in the season eh. Time flies when you're having fun.
Have a banging weekend, go see a game, watch it on telly, it's great with mates and a beer.
Mark
Comments
Feel sorry for Leeds about Hardaker. For all sorts of reasons-not just his latest health setback.
Yes I don't want any person to struggle or suffer. I do however still feel really angry about the way he stabbed Castleford in the back, failing a drugs test (Cocaine) the week before the G.F. and in many fans eyes costing the only chance we were realistically ever going to get to win it.
It wasn't even that tbh, for me it was the fact that the club, the community and the wider rugby league family gave him a platform to rebuild an already tarnished (drugs) career. He repaid them by taking coke on nights out in Leeds, got caught again, got banned again, left under a cloud again and went to Wigan when his ban was up.
They gave him a platform to resurrect again a tarnished reputation, stood by him made him an even better player but then he spat his dummy out when he realised that he was no longer the first choice full back.
Yes I feel for Leeds, Hardaker would have been a great fit and would certainly improved them and lets be honest had he not been a silly boy when younger he would have been another Leeds legend like Sinfield, Peacock, Burrow, McGuire etc.
I am really happy that he is back at home and seemingly out of danger. I even hope he can resume his career or at least stay in the game. I hope and pray he doesn't become another Terry Newton.