Super League / George Riley / 18 June 2009 / Leave a comment

George Riley looks at the action ahead of this weekend's Super League clashes...

I watched St Helens produce a rugby league masterclass last weekend to move four clear of Leeds and Mick Potter's side already look huge favourites to finish top of the pile.

Yet as the last two seasons have proved, that counts for nothing if Saints slip up in the Grand Final, and the Rhinos won't be panicking yet.

I'm down at the Stoop this week to commentate on Leeds' trip to Harlequins, and this could be an absolute belter. The Rhinos have often come unstuck against the London side, brilliantly coached by the former Leeds assistant Brian McDermott. A Quins win at [2.42] could see them up to second in Super League - above Leeds - and that is some incentive.

As tipped in this column last week, Quins were the value call to grab a result at high-flying Hull KR. Overlooked for England, Rob Purdham, Louis McCarthy-Scarsbrook and Will Sharp all shone and they will give Leeds a real go this weekend. The Rhinos needed a late intercept try from teenager Kallum Watkins to rescue a home win against Huddersfield and Saturday's rendezvous at the Stoop should be intense. Leeds are trading at [1.4] with Betfair punters to move within two points of saints who play on Sunday. I do back Leeds, but with little confidence. My fellow rugby league hacks have been giving me grief all week that my local team will get turned over by the Londoners.

Friday's two games see a televised West Yorkshire derby at the Galpharm, and a trip to Humberside for Salford. I'll back Huddersfield at [1.26] to oust Castleford ([3.7]).

Again this could be tighter than you'd think. The Giants did enough to beat Leeds last week and will be smarting at that so I expect a big response from Nathan Brown's boys. Cas started brilliantly at Saints but then got walloped, and their goal-line defence was woeful. Granted they missed internationals Michael Shenton and Joe Westerman who will be back this weekend but I fear in the continued absence of halfback Brent Sherwin this will be a sixth straight Super League defeat for the Tigers. After a fine start to the season Cas are in freefall.

Hull FC are very up and down but I think they will have enough to beat Salford. Richard Agar's side were walloped at Wakefield last weekend and are clinging on to their top-eight place as one of four teams on 14 points. The Reds have started to find their feet under their blossoming teenage playmaker Richie Myler, so may well appeal at [3.75], but I lean towards the [1.29] Black and Whites.

As Leeds go to London, Saturday's other two games see Hull KR in Bridgend and Warrington in Perpignan. Both of these games could go either way so I'll be looking at the value backs.

Rovers slipped up last week and really missed their two England men Shaun Briscoe and Peter Fox - both of whom are back this week. But Justin Morgan's side are still going well in third, a point off Leeds and trade at [1.25] to beat the Celtic Crusaders. That should be the call.

Crusaders secured only their second ever Super League win over Wigan last weekend so it would be a big call to back them at [3.25] to secure their first ever back-to-back wins. They play with confidence, and will be buoyed by that brilliant Wigan win. So do you have the confidence to back them? I'll make that call on Saturday morning I think!

Warrington are incredibly frustrating and are underdogs to win at the Catalans Dragons but I see a win for the English side. The Dragons have a few injuries, and Wolves coach Tony Smith was in France only last week to oversee England's thumping dismantling of the French. I tend to think Warrington's surprise home defeat to Bradford last week was down in no small part to having their coach Smith away with England all week. I expect a response.

So to Sunday's Bradford versus St Helens showdown. Normally a belter this, but the Bulls aren't the force they were at Odsal, and are clear outsiders. Saints will trade at heavy odds-on and you have to fancy them to turn the screw at the top of Super League. A young Saints side were awesome last week, in the absence of James Roby, little Kyle Eastmond sparkled, and Saints will defy a vocal Bradford crowd to march on.