Super League / George Riley / 10 April 2009 / Leave a comment

George Riley looks at the forthcoming clashes in domestic rugby league.

The Easter weekend kick-started with two big games on Thursday night and wins for the [1.37] St Helens over Wigan in a thumping derby, and a real value triumph for the unpredictable [3.4] Catalan Dragons over the [1.49] Harlequins at the Stoop.

Good Friday opens with the Hull derby at lunchtime. Hull FC made a hugely impressive start to the season under the guidance of Richard Agar and are [1.97] with Betfair customers to beat the [2.18] Hull KR. Rovers ruled the roost in Humberside last season and have a great derby record, winning six of nine. Hull FC flew out of the blocks this season but are having a dodgy spell having lost their last three, including last weekend's surprise Challenge Cup exit to Salford.

And while the Black and Whites have slipped up, Rovers have gathered momentum to pull within a point of their rivals. So the form is with Rovers but I still think the quality is with Hull FC and they should win a bruiser. Jamie Thackray's back in contention for Hull, while there could be a return for utility Richard Whiting after an 11-month absence. Rovers should be unchanged.

Salford versus Warrington is the Friday afternoon kick off with the City Reds buoyed by that shock Cup win at Hull. The Wolves have been really hit and miss this season but new boss Tony Smith appears to be making his mark, with their own weekend Cup win a third victory on the bounce for Smith.

I expect

Champions Leeds are trading at [1.33] to win their fierce West Yorkshire derby at Bradford and I expect the Rhinos to oblige. Leeds have been stung by crashing out of the Cup to St Helens and will respond at Odsal.

These are traditionally mouthwatering ties but Bradford have been woeful this season under Steve McNamara and trade at [4.1] - huge odds for a home side in a bitter derby, but without their injured captain and playmaker Paul Deacon the Bulls will struggle. I'm looking forward to seeing exciting Leeds youngster Ben Jones-Bishop who should come in for scott Donald who misses just his fourth game.

Castleford-Wakefield is another huge local derby and in my eyes this could provide more fireworks than the Bull-Rhinos game. Cas have been a powerful presence this year, while Wakefield continue to show real grit in the face of adversity. I've spent many a derby day at the Jungle and it is a horrible, intimidating place to be. For that reason I have to lean to the Tigers at [1.53], to tame the [2.64] Wildcats. Tony Martin and Brad Drew are back for Wakefield and they will compete but may just lose out.

The remaining fixture of the round features Celtic Crusaders latest bid to break their duck.

There will be no first Super League win this weekend though, as John Dixon takes his Welsh side to in-form Huddersfield. Crusaders are an unbelievable [8.6] with Betfair customers to win this fixture, and while they will win eventually I can't see it coming at a [1.1] Giants side who are third in the table. Aussie Liam Fulton makes his debut, Crusaders are without try-machine Tony Duggan.

There's a full fixture list too on Easter Monday in what is a really trying period for these clubs. It's blood and thunder stuff and to pick yourselves up to play again just 72 hours later is a massive ask. How well each side comes through their Friday fixture will have a huge bearing on what kind of squads we see fielded on the Monday.

That said Leeds will win at home against Salford, and I can't see Hull FC taking anything at St Helens.

I'll be spending my Easter Monday at the Halliwell Jones watching what promises to be a belter between Warrington and Castleford. This will be the acid test of how much impact Tony Smith's made at the Wolves and a Cas win wouldn't surprise me at all.

Wakefield have their second derby of the Bank Holiday weekend at home to Bradford and should add to the Bulls woes, and I tip away wins for Huddersfield at Hull KR, and Harlequins at Celtic Crusaders. Wigan complete Monday's fixture list with a trip to the south of France for another tasty one against the Catalans Dragons and I think they can win in Perpignan. Bradford showed how fragile the Dragons can be by taking a 26-0 lead there last weekend before somehow contriving to lose the game and crash out of the Cup. I doubt Wigan will be as kind.