Hull KR v Leeds: Super League betting preview, tips & TV channel

Sky Sports Arena, 7.45pm Thursday

Leeds were 250-1 to finish with the wooden spoon when the Betfred Super League season kicked off but, after winning just two of their opening nine games, the Rhinos are rock-bottom and just 16-1 to suffer the ignominy of relegation to the Championship.

Things looked even bleaker a week ago for Dave Furner’s men but a Golden Point extra-time win over third-placed Castleford has boosted morale and hauled them to within two points of the four teams above them on the league ladder.

Leeds travel to one of that quartet, Hull KR, and bookmakers make the Rhinos 8-11 to secure the win which would enable them to leapfrog Rovers and move to within two points off the playoff places in a highly congested table.

Leeds have lost three games by a margin of less than a converted try and can point to the fact that new signings Konrad Hurrell and Trent Merrin top the Super League metre-making and offloading stats. Ash Handley’s tally of nine tries is bettered only by Warrington’s Josh Charnley, so the Rhinos shouldn’t be languishing at the foot of the table for long.

KR have lost their last three games and are heading in the wrong direction but injuries have played a part in that run and Tim Sheens’s side put up a real fight at St Helens before going down 36-24.

They had threatened to end the league leaders’ perfect start to the year when leading 18-16 at half-time.

Rovers welcome back prop Robbie Mulhern and ex-Rhino Danny McGuire from back and groin problems respectively. The half-back is 7-2 to touch down against his former club and 7-1 to be named man of the match.

Opposite number Richie Myler and Brett Ferres are suspended but Tui Lolohea is likely to return after being dropped for the last two matches.

Most bookmakers have set the handicap at Leeds minus two points and there is every reason to expect this to be a close contest.

Last season the Rhinos held on for a nail-biting 20-18 victory in the corresponding fixture while KR’s four home games this year have all produced winning margins of ten points or fewer.

London were beaten 22-12 and a last-gasp Jimmy Keinhorst try snatched an 18-16 win over arch rivals Hull FC.

Without the late drama, Rovers would have lost by two points, as they did at home to Catalans and Salford, and it may be worth backing Leeds to inflict a similar defeat on the Robins.

The visitors can be backed at 4-1 to get home by six points or fewer while the additional insurance of backing a Leeds victory by a dozen points or fewer at 21-10 also looks like a wise investment.

Recommendations
Leeds to win by one to 12 points
1pt 9-4 Betfred
Leeds to win by one to six points
1pt 4-1 Betfair

Today's top sports betting stories

Follow us on Twitter @racingpostsport

Like us on Facebook RacingPostSport