Wigan should be fired-up in bid to hit top of Super League table

Hull KR v Hull
Sky Arena, 12.50pm Friday
St Helens v Wigan
Sky Arena, 3.15pm Friday

Good Friday will become a great Friday for the winners at Craven Park and the Totally Wicked Stadium as Super League stages its two biggest derbies.

The lunchtime Hull derby is the appetiser for the main course of the 75th Betfred Super League clash between St Helens and Wigan with the Warriors looking to continue their remarkable recent run in the fixture.

The Cherry & Whites have won the last eight Good Friday clashes including all six since Shaun Wane took over as coach in 2011.

It’s not just local pride at stake, a Wigan win by 14 points or more would see them leapfrog Saints at the Super League summit.

The visitors are 17-10 to make it nine on the spin but backing Wigan with a six-point buffer at 10-11 makes more appeal in what promises to be a tight tussle.

Hull KR are 5-2 to send their passionate fans home happy by beating old enemies Hull FC and the Robins receive an eight-point start on the handicap.

Tim Sheens’s injury-hit side may need it too. The coach’s biggest concerns are Danny McGuire and Shaun Lunt who face fitness tests for concussion and a knee injury respectively.

Hull welcome back captain Danny Houghton and ought to win but with a feisty opening to the first Easter derby for two years a strong possibility, the best bet may be to back the scoring to start with a penalty.

Warrington are 1-5 to repeat last month’s win over Widnes and it could be worth wagering that Wolves get home by between 11 and 20 points.

Last year’s 22-6 success in this fixture was the fourth home game running that they’ve beaten the Vikings by that margin.

The Wolves have former Wigan winger Josh Charnley making his debut after his return to league from union. He’s 4-6 to mark the occasion with a try and 7-1 to notch the opener.

Huddersfield caretaker coach Chris Thorman takes charge of the Giants for the first time following the sacking of Rick Stone.

The 11th-placed strugglers are 9-2 to upset Leeds and boost Thorman’s hopes of landing the job on a permanent basis and they may reward a small punt in receipt of a 14-point handicap.

Salford are eight-point favourites against rock-bottom Catalans at the AJ Bell Stadium and that appears to be a fair assessment.

Recommendations
Wigan +6
3pts 10-11 Betway
Hull penalty first scoring play
1pt 7-1 Paddy Power
Hull KR penalty first scoring play
1pt 8-1 Paddy Power
Warrington to win by 11 to 20 points
2pts 11-4 Paddy Power
Huddersfield +14
1pt 10-11 Betway

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