Betfred Super League: Wigan v Leeds preview and betting tips

Betfred Super League
Sky Sports Arena & Mix, 7.45pm Friday

Leeds and Wigan have won 13 Grand Finals between them but the losers of their latest heavy­weight clash at the DW Stadium will face an uphill battle to add to their title tally.

Both sides lost their opening Betfred Super League games and you have to go back to Bradford Bulls in 2005 to find the last team to taste Old Trafford glory after losing their opening two fixtures.

Leeds were blown away at Warring­ton and needed a late Stevie Ward try to avoid what would have been only their third 'nilling' in the Super League. The most recent came at Wigan in 2017 and the Warriors are 25-1 to shut out the Rhinos on this occasion.

Wigan themselves were beaten 22-12 at St Helens. They did well to recover from an early 12-0 deficit but never really looked like winning.

Another defeat would make things look especially bleak for the Warriors, who have been deducted two points for breaching the salary cap. They could end the second weekend of the season six points adrift of competition favourites St Helens and Warrington.

Wigan and Leeds can both legitimately claim that they are unlikely to be at their best until later in the year as new coaches Adrian Lam and Dave Furner begin to implement their ideas, but that won’t stop questions being asked of whoever loses.

Both coaches have largely stuck with last weekend's squads despite the results. Lam has named an unchanged 19 after Tony Clubb and Gabe Hamlin passed fitness tests.

Furner brings in Kiwi forward Nathaniel Peteru and England academy international Harry Newman as his team look for their first win on Wigan soil since 2013.

Furner fielded four debutants last weekend in James Donaldson, Konrad Hurrell, Trent Merrin and Tui Lolohea and will expect improvement as the new signings bed in.

Betway have chalked up an enticing 3-1 against the Rhinos ending their wait for a win at Wigan and offer the visitors a double-digit buffer on the handicap.

That looks like a substantial start with the champions appearing to be a weaker side than they were in 2018.

The Warriors have lost Sam Tomkins, John Bateman and Ryan Sutton and although former Leeds full-back Zak Hardaker has arrived, this doesn't look like a vintage Wigan team.

It will be disappointing if the Rhinos aren't capable of at least pushing the champions.

Recommendations
Leeds +10.5
3pts 17-20 188Bet
Leeds
1pt 3-1 Betway

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