Halifax not ready to throw in the towel against desperate Widnes

Widnes v Halifax
Sky Sports Arena, 3.15pm Saturday
Toronto v Toulouse
Sky Sports Arena, 5.30pm Saturday

Has any team lost 17 consecutive matches and been quoted at 1-5 to win next time out?

That’s the situation Widnes find themselves in as they host Halifax knowing defeat will cost them their Betfred Super League status.

Their last victory came on April 21 against third-tier Coventry Bears in the Ladbrokes Challenge Cup and replacing coach Denis Betts with Francis Cummins has failed to improve Widnes’s fortunes.

Only Fax have a worse record in the Qualifiers than the Vikings. Both teams have lost all four games, but the Yorkshire club’s points difference is inferior by 51 points.

However, Richard Marshall’s men, the only part-time team in the competition, certainly didn’t throw in the towel at Hull KR last weekend when winning the second half 24-14 having trailed 24-0 at half-time.

The visitors expect to have captain Scott Murrell available after shaking off a thumb injury and they look worth chancing for small stakes with a 16.5-point start.

Toronto and Toulouse still have an outside chance of a top-three finish and automatic qualification for the 2019 Super League and the teams meet in a crucial clash across the Atlantic.

The Canadian side have already beaten the French outfit twice this year with the victories coming by 24-22 and 43-30 and it could well be worth backing total points to go over the line when prices become available.

Toronto’s games on the artificial surface at Lamport Stadium have averaged more than 61 points this year and this should be another high-scoring shootout.

The Wolfpack have conceded a try to an opposition winger in each of their last three games so it could be worth backing Paul Marcon and Chris Centrone to touch down.

Centrone looks a great bet to score at 2-1. The Australian-born Italy international has notched five tries in four games in the Qualifiers.

Hull KR are 2-9 to see off London and are tasked with conceding a 14-point handicap to the Broncos.

That would normally appeal but Rovers are suffering with injuries and the match should be treated with caution by punters.

Recommendations
Halifax +16.5
1pt 4-5 Sky Bet
C Centrone to score a try
2pts 2-1 general
P Marcon to score a try
1pt 6-4 Sky Bet

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