Underwhelming Warrington unlikely to tear Dragons apart

Betfred Super League
Sky Action, 5pm Saturday

The relief was tangible at the Stade Gilbert Brutus last weekend as Catalans Dragons hung on against Hull KR to finally record their first win of the Betfred Super League season.

The 18-16 victory wasn’t enough to lift Steve McNamara’s men off the foot of the table but it was a step in the right direction.

The French side are 6-4 to make it two wins on the spin against Warrington, who have failed to live up to their pre-season billing.

The Wolves have drifted to 12-1 for Grand Final glory after winning just two of their opening six games under new boss Steve Price and it would be a brave punter who backs them at 4-6 to pick up the points this evening.

Warrington have scored a paltry 12 tries so far this year and four of those have come from Ryan Atkins who misses this match with an abductor muscle strain. Bryson Goodwin replaces the England centre, while Wolves forward Sitaleki Akauola is available after suspension.

The Dragons are without the suspended Jason Baitieri as they bid to repeat last year’s home success over the Wire.

This is a tricky puzzle for punters and the best value could be to take the 2-1 about Warrington winning by a dozen points or fewer.

Both of their wins this year have come by that margin – 16-10 at home to Wigan and 18-10 at Widnes.

And you have to go back to July 2016 to find the last time the Wolves won a regular-season game by more than two converted tries on their travels so a narrow away win looks more likely than the odds imply.

Things may be more straightforward for Wakefield at home to Widnes.

Trinity lost their unbeaten record at Wigan last time out but there was no shame in that and back at Belle Vue, they should comfortably record their fifth win of the campaign.

Chris Chester’s team won all three meetings against the Vikings last year by a combined margin of 100-24 and can cover the ten-point handicap line set by bookmakers.

The injury-hit visitors have lost four of their last five matches and the biggest concern for punters may be the weather.

Snow and temperatures close to freezing are forecast.

Recommendation
Warrington to win by one to 12 points
2pts 2-1 bet365, Betway
Wakefield -10
2pts 10-11 general

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