St Helens v Castleford: Betfred Super League preview, predictions and free tip

Betfred Super League
TV: Sky Sports Arena, 7.45pm Friday

Last season St Helens dominated the Betfred Super League season but failed to win either of the two major prizes and history could repeat itself after Saints came up short in the Coral Challenge Cup final.

Despite last Saturday's shock reverse to Warrington, Justin Holbrook's side are still 8-11 to win the Grand Final in October and repeat the feat of the 2011 and 2012 Leeds Rhinos, who followed Wembley heartache with Old Trafford glory.

If the history books are anything to go by it will be a major surprise if Saints don’t bounce back with a home win over Castleford.

A Tigers win would snap two of the longest streaks in Super League.

The last ten Challenge Cup final runners-up have gone on to win their next league game, while Cas have lost on all ten trips to the Totally Wicked Stadium and are winless on their last 31 matches on Saints soil.

Their last win came in December 1992 in the now-defunct Regal Trophy.

And even if you ignore those omens, Saints look the side to be on.
Overall, they have been head and shoulders ahead of the field and are 18 points ahead of Castleford, who they have hammered twice already this term.

A 42-12 rout of the Tigers at The Jungle in March was followed by a 36-16 stroll at Anfield at the Magic Weekend and defying a ten-point handicap looks well within the table-toppers' compass.

Nineteen of St Helens' last 20 wins have come by more than that margin and they can extend that sequence.

Holbrook is set to field his strongest side with the exception of Lachlan Coote and Dom Peyroux.

Cas have won their last two matches against relegation scrappers London and Hudders­field, but their record against the top five is unimpressive with eight losses in 12 games.

Their last trip to the Totally Wicked ended in a 26-0 drubbing and the six games against Saints since the start of last season have resulted in six defeats by an aggregate of 226-70.

Elsewhere, Hull start 3-10 shots at home to Huddersfield and are asked to concede a ten-point handicap.

The Giants have lost their last three games and are only above rock-bottom London on points difference, but they have produced decent recent road wins at Hull KR and Salford.

Hull are the epitome of inconsistency and have lost three of their last four home matches.

All in all, it's a cocktail of unpredictability and not a match to bet on.

Recommendation
St Helens -10
4pts Evs bet365

Today's top sports betting stories

Follow us on Twitter @racingpostsport

Like us on Facebook RacingPostSport