Super League Friday betting preview, tips & TV channel

St Helens v Leeds
Sky Sports Arena, 7.45pm Friday

Eight-times Grand Final winners Leeds kicked off this season as 250-1 chances to suffer the ignominy of relegation from the Betfred Super League but those odds have now shrunk to 9-2 and the Rhinos’ perilous position will get even worse if they lose at league leaders St Helens.

Traditionally, these two Super League superpowers have duelled at the top of the table. The clubs have clashed in four Grand Finals but there has never been a bigger gulf between the teams.

Saints are already 20 points above Leeds and six points clear at the Super League summit.

They are far and away the best team in the competition and are almost certain to finish top of the regular-season table.

But that was no guarantee of Grand Final glory last year and Justin Holbrook’s men can still be backed at 6-5 to triumph at Old Trafford in October.

Bookmakers offer no bigger than 1-8 against the table-toppers winning for the 19th time in 21 games this season and the hosts are asked to concede three converted tries on the handicap.

Saints have won all 11 of their home games in 2019 and have covered the line for this game on seven occasions.

However one of handicap failures came in February when they could beat Leeds only 27-22 after the Rhinos had taken a surprise 22-10 half-time lead.

It may be worth a small wager on a similar scenario unfolding at 15-2. Three times this year the Saints have trailed after 40 minutes at the Totally Wicked Stadium and battled back to win.

Leeds are without Tui Lolohea for this return visit. He is on international duty with Tonga, but hooker Matt Parcell is available after serving a two-match suspension.

Given their increasingly desperate situation near the foot of the league, where points difference could yet prove crucial, the Rhinos should be expected to put up a scrap even if it is ultimately in vain, so backing the visitors with a hefty buffer looks the best bet.

Huddersfield are worth supporting in receipt of more than a converted try at home to Wigan.

The Giants, who won 14-6 at Wigan in March, have won four of their last six matches at the John Smith’s Stadium and haven’t lost by more than six points at home since St Helens hammered them in March.

Friday's other two matches, where Warrington host Wakefield and Castleford visit Salford, appear to have been accurately assessed by the layers.

Recommendations
Leeds +18.5
2pts 5-6 Coral, Ladbrokes
Leeds-St Helens double result
1pt 15-2 Sky Bet
Huddersfield +6.5
2pts 10-11 bet365

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