Rugby League / George Riley / 03 April 2009 / Leave a comment

Super League takes a backseat as the Carnegie Challenge Cup gathers pace this weekend, and the best two teams in the Northern hemisphere go toe to toe at Headingley, writes George Riley.

Followers of this column celebrated an unprecedented seven out of seven performance last weekend with all of our Super League tips coming in. Huddersfield's [2.76] win at Wigan was the highlight, while if you opted to lay Celtic Crusaders and Catalans Dragons it was also a good week.

This weekend, Leeds Rhinos versus St Helens is the big Sunday televised fixture, with Leeds looking to avenge their recent Super League defeat at Saints.

Leeds are [1.62] favourites to knock the holders out of the competition at the first hurdle. Saints are [2.22] to progress and that should tempt you to back Mick Potter's side to open their defence of the trophy with a win. I fancy Leeds in front of their home crowd. I know how much the Rhinos were hurting after that recent defeat at Knowsley Road and I have to edge towards Leeds in a competition they are desperate to win.

If you fancy a Saints victory, back them to be winning at half time and full time for improved odds. If Leeds hit the front they should stay there. Likewise if Saints win the early arm-wrestle that will be key.

Wakefield have named new signing Frank Winterstein in their 19-man squad for the Challenge Cup fourth-round tie with Leigh. The Wildcats laid reserve team forward Leon Walker to rest and will hope to win this fixture in his honour.

Leigh were disappointed not to be awarded one of the 14 Super League licences handed to the Wildcats. They will have a point to prove at Bellevue but the Trinity spirit will see the home side prevail at [1.03]. Its [6.2] for Leigh to produce a shock - and this does look like one of the more likely shocks of the weekend . But I have to take the home side on Friday night.

Elsewhere on Friday, I'm looking at Widnes to produce a [2.28] upset at [1.32] Halifax. Both are going well in the Co-operative Championship with Widnes second and Halifax just a point worse off, but at those odds I'd look at an away win for Paul Cullen's side.

Hull KR versus Celtic Crusaders is an all Super League tie at Craven Park. I watched Crusaders lose their sixth straight game at Warrington on Sunday and was really impressed. It was a game they should have won, and may have done so had prop Ryan O'Hara not found his way into the sin bin for the last 10 minutes with the scores level. They are [4.4] to produce an upset at Hull KR and I quite fancy that.

Rovers are the likelier at [1.12] but at those odds I'd be tempted to have a small flutter on an upset.

Saturday's highlight is Harlequins RL v Huddersfield Giants at the Stoop. When these sides met in West Yorkshire a fortnight ago Huddersfield hammered Quins 46-6. And the Giants' away form is also ominous for Quins fans. This is a tough one to call as either side can rack up a hefty amount of points when their tails are up. Quins are trading at [2.0] with the Giants at [1.55]. I'd be happy to sit on the fence when I go along to watch this fixture but I'm going with the value on offer for the home side.

Away from the heavyweight showdown in Leeds, Sunday pits Barrow against Wigan. This would be an almighty shock but despite the Warriors' wobbles this season they have to be the shout at [1.01]. Two all Super League games see Bradford head to the Catalans Dragons. The Bulls provide the value at [2.0], to topple the [1.6] Dragons. But in the Perpignan heat in an early afternoon kick off I will go for the French side to snap out of their Super-League indifference.

Hull FC should wallop Salford at [1.02] while my good mate Andrew Henderson takes his Gateshead Thunder to Doncaster.