Super League / George Riley / 02 October 2009 / Leave a comment

Leeds are strong favourites to reach the Grand Final but their decision to select Catalan Dragons has angered the French side. Could their ire inspire an upset in the semi-final? Meanwhile, Wigan v St Helen's promises to be a bruising encounter, writes George Riley.

"Catalans trade around [8.4] which appears ludicrous given their red-hot streak. Sure, the champions Leeds have to be the call at [1.16] but those odds about the Dragons made me double take!"

We're 80 minutes away from a shot at glory, and there is still a very real chance of an Old Trafford outing for the two underdogs.

Wigan Warriors and Catalans Dragons know an away win means a place in the Super League Grand Final, and it is thus up to the two heavyweights Leeds and St Helens to set up the showpiece that everyone expects.

The Rhinos opted to play the Dragons in the sport's first ever "clubcall". No surprise at all given that, despite the Catalans ominous form, Leeds' selection sets up a Saints-Wigan derby to leave one of those sides bloodied and bruised for the final.

That said, the Rhinos should not, and will not expect to stroll through. The champions predictably angered the French side with their decision to play them, and after successive away wins at St Helens, Wakefield, and Huddersfield, Kevin Walters' side will fancy this trip to ruffle the Rhinos' feathers.

Catalans trade around [8.4], which appears ludicrous given their red-hot streak. Sure, the champions Leeds have to be the call at [1.16] but those odds about the Dragons made me double take! They can be so, so dangerous when Thomas Bosc, Casey McGuire, Clint Greenshield and Dmitri Pelo are flying, and if Leeds have an off night, they could well be in trouble.

I have to side with the team that has been there and done it though. My home town club are bidding for an unprecedented hat-trick of Grand Final wins and there's no way coach Brian McClennan will let that chance escape them with a home defeat to the hitherto unfancied French.

Look out for big performances from skipper Kevin Sinfield, half-backs Danny McGuire and Rob Burrow and Super League's top try scorer Ryan Hall. Indeed, back Hall to run in the game's first try given his remarkable run of scoring seven tries in the four fixtures he has played against the French. Both sides should be unchanged, Catalans will be massively fired up, but I expect Leeds to weather that fiery French storm to book another date in Manchester next Saturday night.

St Helens' end of season wobble has been alarming, with a couple of club insiders telling me there is a little bit of squad unrest, and coach Mick Potter may have lost the confidence of several of his senior players. Their Saturday night eliminator against Wigan looks like being a cracker with both sides at full-strength.

Brian Noble is again weaving his end-of-season magic. Wigan are hitting form at just the right time and, with Noble leaving the club at the end of the season, he wants glory. Noble has guided Wigan to the final in each of the last two years but both times they've missed out. Third time lucky?

The Warriors displayed real guts in their five-try fightback to win away at Hull KR and I quite like the look of Nobby's team at [2.92]. St Helens have had the week off and should feel fresh enough to justify their favouritism at [1.53].

Lee Gilmour and Sean Long are playing their last home games for the club they have served for so many years, so massive performances would not surprise me. Quite how Long considers it ideal preparation to spend the afternoon of the game signing copies of his autobiography in the city centre is another question. Keiron Cunningham plays with a pain-killing injected in a broken hand and I expect Wigan to try and rough him up.

Purists argue that the top two teams should contest the final. That's usually the case, with Leeds having beaten Saints in each of the last two. It would be a first if either Wigan, from sixth, or Catalans, from eighth, could break up that dominance. This is the first year in the last three that I have felt the chance of an upset but I'll still back the big two to get through.

Tags: Catalan Dragons, Leeds Rhinos, Rugby League Betting, Sean Long, St Helens, Super league betting odds, Wigan Warriors