Betfred Super League Grand Final predictions and rugby league tips

Free rugby league tips, best bets and analysis for Saturday's Betfred Super League Grand Final between Catalans Dragons and St Helens.

Where to watch

Sky Sports Arena & Main Event, 6pm Saturday

Best bets

St Helens to win by one to 12 points
2pts 17-10 Betfair

Catalans penalty first scoring play
1pt 6-1 Betfair, Paddy Power

St Helens penalty first scoring play
1pt 11-2 Betfair, Paddy Power

Drop-goal to be scored
2pts 7-4 Betfred

Already advised (September 22)

St Helens to win the Grand Final
3pts 10-11 general

Match preview

The 2021 Betfred Super League season has been the stuff of fairytales for the Catalans Dragons but there may not be a happy ending for the men from Perpignan when they take on hat-trick seekers St Helens in the Grand Final at Old Trafford.

The French raiders lifted the League Leaders' Shield for the first time after finishing top of the pile in the regular season, with Steve McNamara rewarded for his efforts as Coach of the Year and full-back Sam Tomkins named Man of Steel at the end-of-season awards.

But the prize they want most is still to be won and has proved time and time again the hardest one to land.

The last new team to win a Grand Final was all the way back in 2004 when Leeds Rhinos defeated Bradford Bulls.

Only four sides have tasted glory in the season decider since 1996 with Saints looking to equal the Rhinos' record haul of eight Grand Final victories.

Wigan and Bradford also have their name on the trophy but the list of those who have failed to join the elite looks set to get longer.

Hull FC, Castleford and Salford have all tried and failed at Old Trafford, while even big-spending Warrington haven't managed to crack the cartel despite pitching up in Manchester on four occasions.

Bookmakers are pessimistic about Catalans' chances, chalking them up as 23-10 underdogs, while Saints are 2-5 to take the trophy home for a third year running, although things may not be as straightforward as the odds suggest.

St Helens were staring at defeat in last season's final at Hull before an astonishing last-play try from Jack Welsby handed the Red Vee an 8-4 victory over bitter rivals Wigan, and they have been evenly-matched with Catalans in 2021.

The Dragons have won two of the pair's three meetings but it could, and should have been, the other way around.

Catalans won in France 20-16 in May, while Saints responded with a 34-12 home win three months later, but it was the most recent meeting at the Magic Weekend in September that caught the eye.

St Helens looked home and hosed at 30-12 with just over three minutes remaining on the St James' Park clock but a stunning fightback saw the Dragons plunder three quick-fire tries to level the scores before landing the win with a successful drop-goal in golden point extra-time.

It was a breathtaking climax to a fairly one-sided encounter until those final few moments and one that will still be fresh in the minds of both sides.

Saints won't want a repeat but they could find the Frenchmen hard to shake off once again and they have rarely run away with things at Old Trafford with winning margins of 17, eight, 22, one, 13 and 2 points, while their win in Hull last November was by just four.

And Grand Finals have been tight recently with last seven featuring points totals of 12, 29, 16, 30, 42 and 20 and backing St Helens to win by one to 12 points looks the way to go.

They boasted the best defence in Super League this year, conceding just 229 points in 21 games at an average of just under 11 points per game and limiting the Dragons to that kind of tally should see them heading home with the silverware once again.

Catalans were the highest-scoring side in the regular season with 112 tries but they may find the Saints line too tough to break through.

With points likely hard to come by, it may be worth backing either side to open the scoring courtesy of a penalty, while a successful drop-goal could also come into play late on in the match.

Saints have already claimed the Betfred Challenge Cup this season and those who followed Racing Post Sport's advice at the start of the playoffs should keep faith in the Saints becoming only the second side after Leeds to win three Grand Finals on the trot.

Not got a bet365 account? Sign up today and get up to £100 in bet credits

Up to £100 in Bet Credits for new customers at bet365. Min deposit £5. Bet Credits available for use upon settlement of bets to value of qualifying deposit. Min odds, bet and payment method exclusions apply. Returns exclude Bet Credits stake. Time limits and T&Cs apply.

CLAIM OFFER HERE

MORE FREE BETS

Today's top sports betting stories

Follow us on Twitter @racingpostsport