Super League / George Riley / 24 April 2009 / Leave a comment

St Helens versus Bradford is usually an absolute blockbuster of a fixture but the Bulls' travails this season make Friday night's fixture look an easy call. However, there's still plenty of value to be had this weekend, writes George Riley.

Saints' win at Castleford last weekend, plus the predicted Leeds revival at Huddersfield means it's as you were at the top, but Bradford's shock home humbling by erratic Warrington outlined just how deep the Bulls wounds are this season.

There is massive and mounting pressure on coach Steve McNamara, with the once mighty club now the second worst team in Super League after 10 rounds of games. McNamara's signings have been criticised, there is a lack of leadership and a general lack of the kind of quality matchwinner that the Bulls have boasted for years.

St Helens look untouchable, much as they did last year until their Grand Final capitulation. This is a fixture Saints should win easily, with the Bulls an extraordinary [16.5] with Betfair punters to win the game. That is an outrageous price in a two-horse race but shows just how far Bradford have fallen off the pace.

Stand-off Leon Pryce is named in the Saints squad having avoided jail and sentenced to 100 hours unpaid work after pleading guilty to assault this week. As a former Bradford player he will be jeered throughout. Debutant Julien Rinaldi will speed up the play for the Bulls but it won't be enough.

Friday night's other fixture sees former Leeds assistant boss Brian McDermott take his Harlequins side to Headingley. Mac is a man of immense pride and will be hurting after last week's surprise home loss to Hull KR. Quins will be much-improved and although I don't expect them to topple the [1.11] Rhinos, at [8.8] I may be tempted with a cheeky fiver given Leeds' dodgy run of form. Danny McGuire makes his 200th appearance in the Blue and Amber and he should spark a home win, but having lost their last two at Headingley the pressure will be on in front of the unforgiving Southstand.

At [2.42] I like the look of a Salford upset against Hull FC at the Willows. There are two unpredictable sides and the Reds will miss the suspended Ian Sibbitt. Drubbed in France last week the Reds should be roaring. They will find it tough against a Hull side on a poor run and beaten at home by Wakefield. After a great start to the season Richard Agar's side have slumped to eighth and will see this fixture as the start of their riposte.

Four games on Sunday, expect Castleford to justify their [1.38] price at winless Celtic Crusaders (2.88). The Tigers had a real scare when teenage sensation Joe Westerman was taken to hospital last week but will still have too much. Wakefield-Wigan looks like a cracker. Wakefield's England centre Ryan Atkins was my guest at the World Snooker Championship this week. He's in awesome form with seven tries in his last seven games and I can see him scoring again in a Wakefield win at [1.61]. The fact that Wakey are favourites to oust the [2.16] Warriors highlights how their respective fortunes have changed.

Two more really-well balanced ties see Huddersfield go to Warrington and Hull KR host Catalans. Both games could go either way - this season really is that unpredictable. I'm going with a Giants win at Warrington given their value at [2.2], and I expect Rovers to be too good at home for the Dragons at [1.23]. The [3.8] on the enigmatic French though is terrific value. This is the trickiest round of games to tip so far this season, and with the exception of expected home wins for the big two, there is a lot of value to be had.