Rugby League Betting: Man of steel leads Rhino's charge to Saints

Rugby League / Ralph Ellis / 19 September 2008 / Leave a Comment

Ralph Ellis has some novel reasons for backing Leeds to do the unthinkable tonight.

My brother's name is Gareth. Maybe that's why I was tempted to have a bet on Leeds Rhinos to upset the odds and beat St Helens in tonight's play-off for a place in the Grand Final. Okay, so I know that sort of thing is normally a way to lose a lot of money - but then again my wife seems to find the Grand National winner every year by choosing a name she likes!

Anyway, Leeds' Gareth Ellis is quoted in this morning's Daily Mirror about his ambitions before he starts a new career as potentially the only Englishman in the Australian NRL, and the second-rower insists he wants a Grand Final ring and a World Cup medal to show off to his new West Tigers team mates.

"It's been a year of 'lasts' if you like because every game has been the final one of its kind," he says. "But between now and the end of November it is a very exciting time and it would be fantastic to win both competitions before going to Australia next year."

Now given that St Helens go into the game on the back of a 23-match unbeaten run, including two 26-12 victories over Leeds, you would think that on the face of it my brother has got as much chance of picking up that Grand Final ring as his namesake. But a bit of a look at the recent form suggests that putting some money on Leeds at this morning's price of [2.9] might not be such a silly idea.

Saints only protected their unbeaten run with an unconvincing 16-16 draw against Wigan Warriors in their last outing, and looked anything but convincing against Hull in their last really big encounter at Wembley in the Challenge Cup final. Meanwhile, the Rhinos have been charging through their last few fixtures running in more than 50 points against both Castleford Tigers and Wigan Warriors.

Leeds also have the drive of England skipper Jamie Peacock who is hoping to become only the fourth player to lift the prestigious Man of Steel title for a second time when the honour is announced in the week of the Grand Final. Driving his team to guarantee their place in it tonight - without the added worry of a second chance against either Wigan or Catalans Dragons - would help him clinch that award.

Peacock tells Martin Richards in today's Daily Star: "In the last six months of last year and so far this season I've been in the best form of my entire career."

St Helens are [1.57] to win tonight and [1.68] to be Grand Final winners, but both those prices are too short considering they won the regular season table only by one point. At the very least tonight's televised encounter is going to be close, which gives the chance to back Leeds at the bigger odds than lay it to lock in some profit sometime in the second half.

Five things you might not know about Leeds Rhinos

1. Their Headingley Stadium was bought at auction in 1888 as lot 17a when the estate of Lord Cardigan was broken up

2. They were the first club to pay more than £1,000 for a player, when they bought Harold Buck from Hunslett in 1920

3. They also set the pace in the transfer market by recruiting overseas - the row that followed their £1,400 purchase of Vic Hey in 1937 led to a three-year ban on signing foreign players

4. They were close to going out of business when Super League started in 1996, but a year later broke the transfer record by paying £350,000 for Iestyn Harris who was made captain at the age of only 21

5. Their mascot Steve Beck has been in trouble for driving to matches already dressed in his "Ronnie the Rhino" suit. It is alleged to impair his vision but he says he doesn't want kids to have the magic spoiled by putting the suit on when he gets there