Rugby League / George Riley / 20 March 2009 / Leave a comment

Last week's first-half performance in beating Wigan was near-perfect from Leeds. The Headingley win kick-started another top weekend for followers of this column, with a further five successful tips out of seven. Can George Riley and the Super League Champions keep up their winning start?

The sixth round of Super League sees the biggest threat yet to Leeds' 100 per cent start to their title defence.

The champions are at St Helens, the team they beat to lift the trophy at Old Trafford in October.

Leeds (2.16) actually provide the value at St Helens (1.96), with Saints a formidable proposition at home. The seven-try demolition of Salford last weekend will serve them well, and revenge will very much be on their minds for the Grand Final setback. But I'm going to go against the odds and back Leeds to make it a perfect six wins from six. The Rhinos have both centre Keith Senior and hooker Matt Diskin from injury but second rower Ali Lauitiiti is ruled out with a leg problem. Losing Ali is a setback but I think Leeds will have enough.

Salford look to respond to that mauling at Saints with a home game against Wigan, themselves keen to right the wrongs of that annihilation at Headingley. Wigan coach Brian Noble has relegated big-money Australian winger Amos Roberts to his reserves as he seeks a response, and at [1.3] you would expect a Wigan win. Salford are terrific value at [4.5], but they are those odds for a reason having won just once this season. If Salford can play a high tempo game then don't be surprised to see a shock. However, the Wigan win is the safe bet.

Friday's third fixture sees high-flying Hull FC hosts Castelford. This will be a bruiser but having tipped Hull's unbeaten start to the season I can't see them slipping up against Terry Matterson's hungry Tigers. Cas will be smarting after losing at home to Huddersfield and will respond in kind, but Hull are playing some terrific stuff and are a tough proposition at the KC. Shaun Berrigan's recovery from a shoulder injury is a big boost and if the Tigers centre Michael Shenton fails a fitness test that will be a big blow. A Tigers win at [4.0] is tempting, but I think that at [1.26] the Hull bandwagon rolls on.

Saturday's game sees two of Super League's strugglers meet in the South of France. Much-fancied Catalans Dragons (1.48) have won only once in five and I did fear they would fail to match the lofty heights of last season now that coach Mick Potter has flown the nest. Opponents Bradford (2.5) are having a shocker and I fear for the winless Bulls again in Perpignan. If Bradford don't take their game heads across the channel then they could get walloped. I don't expect Bradford to get walloped, but I don't expect them to break their duck at the Stade Gilbert Brutus either.

Harlequins are at Huddersfield in Sunday's game of the day. This is a really tough one to call, with Quins having won three out of four and racking up a mammoth 138 points in the process. They are the competitions second top scorers, second by only three points to Wakefield who have played two games more.

Huddersfield's win at Castleford was a cracker and kept up their 100 per cent record away from home. Quins at [2.38] tempts me most. It would be a surprise but I'm willing to back it.

The Celtic Crusaders' bid for a first win of the season continues at The Brewery Field, with Wakefield the visitors to Bridgend. The Wildcats' terrific start has seen them in the top four, and although the Welsh side will fancy this as a good opportunity to notch a first win, I think Wakefield will be kicking themselves if they undo all their good work with a slip-up here. Crusaders [2.84] play some good stuff and only losing 4-0 at home to Saints a fortnight ago shows they have the quality to beat Wakefield. I'm loathe to back against the Wildcats though and expect them to edge it at [1.44].

Warrington must respond to last weekend's Harlequins horror-show with a morale-boosting first win for coach Tony Smith. Hull KR go to the Halliwell Jones and will fancy themselves at [2.02]. The Wolves though cannot be anywhere near as bad as they were in London last weekend. Last time out at home, they gave Leeds a scare and I think Smith gets his first win on Sunday.