Saints barely alive so wake up to Trinity handicap punt

It's almost eight months since Wakefield last won a game of rugby league.

Trinity have lost 11 consecutive matches in all competitions and are 7-2 to snap their losing streak at St Helens.

That may be beyond Chris Chester’s side but the underdogs look capable of staying within the dozen-point handicap against spluttering Saints.

Coach Keiron Cunningham resorted to blaming refereeing decisions after last Friday’s surprise loss at Leigh which followed a scrappy 6-4 success over Leeds.

Saints are still without play­maker Matty Smith and dangerous full-back Jonny Lomax is also sidelined with a knee problem, so the hosts may continue to struggle to post points.

Wakefield have been compe­titive in both of their Betfred Super League games this season, going down 12-8 at home to Hull in appalling conditions before losing 24-16 at Huddersfield.

Trinity had led 16-8 at the hour mark before conceding three late tries.

With some rain forecast, a cagey contest could be in prospect and the buffer of two converted tries looks handy for the visitors.

Elsewhere, Wigan defend the competition’s longest winning streak as they look to make it nine victories on the trot at home to Leigh.

The omens are good for the 1-7 Warriors. They’ve won their last 18 meetings with the Centurions, who haven’t beaten their neighbours since 1984.

There are positives for the visitors though – they go into the game after a confidence-boosting triumph over St Helens and will field up to seven ex-Wigan players who should be fired up for the battle with the Grand Final favourites.

Bookmakers offer Neil Jukes’s team a 16-point start on the handicap, but the second-half market is of more interest where Leigh receive a nine-point buffer.

Their second halves this season have produced one win and losses by six and two points.

Wigan haven’t outscored their opponents after the break by more than nine points at all in 2017 and have done so just three times in their last 11 outings.

Recommendations
Wakefield +12
1pt Evs bet365
Leigh +9 second-half handicap
3pts 4-5 Sky Bet