Super League / George Riley / 03 July 2009 / Leave a comment

George Riley makes his top three picks from what should be another bruiser of a weekend in the Super League...

At the business end of the season St Helens are going from strength to strength. A Friday night date at Salford means Mick Potter's table-toppers can move six points clear at the summit by the time champions Leeds stroll out at the KC Stadium on Saturday evening.

And that will certainly happen. Salford have steadied the ship after their dreadful start but are nowhere near as dangerous a side without injured England half-back Richie Myler. So even without their own injured stars Matt Gidley and Keiron Cunningham, Saints will be too strong and, at [1.1], aren't even worth a look.

I like the look of Wigan v Harlequins in the TV game on Friday at the JJB. Quins coach Brian McDermott spent an hour with me in the 5Live studio this week chatting about the game and his enthusiasm is infectious. Quins are a [3.9] shot with Betfair punters to spring a shock at the [1.39] Warriors and, even given their injury woes, I'm tempted.

Luke Dorn and Rob Purdham are massive losses as playmakers for Quins, while Wigan are without Tim Smith. Granted, Wigan is the safe call here, and produced a terrific win at Hull KR last week. Quins lost out to the final kick off the game in losing at Wakefield on Sunday and I'm going to go against all logic and go for an away win.

Leeds Rhinos televised trip to out of sorts Hull FC is Saturday's highlight. This is usually a fierce contest, I remember watching a first half finish 0-0 between these two sides at the KC a few years ago. Hull's struggles of late though are evident in their [4.7] trading on Betfair, with Leeds likely to be too good at [1.25]. The Rhinos have hit top form in recent weeks and have veteran centre Keith Senior making his 500th appearance. Even without star full-back Brent Webb, Leeds should be too hot to prevent an upset.

Warrington's early season wobbles have been steadied since the arrival of Tony Smith and they will beat the Celtic Crusaders in Wales. The [6.6] about Celtic is a nice shout given their wins over Wigan and Bradford but realistically I can't see it.

Hull KR go to the Catalans Dragons in a bruiser of a contest. This is 11th against third on paper so you may expect Rovers to do the business at 2.56. Infact you may like those odds. The Dragons are [1.55] favourites with Betfair punters to beat the side eight places above them. Sure they are a tough proposition on home soil but those odds make little sense to me. I'm happy to take a punt on another value way win.

Two West Yorkshire derbies wrap up round 19. Huddersfield v Wakefield and Bradford v Castleford on Sunday could both go either way. So let's look at the odds. Both away sides are currently trading around [3.5] and I would expect at least one of these games to provide an away victory. Castleford to win at Bradford would probably be my call out of the two.

I like what Nathan Brown has done at Huddersfield and I expect Wakefield will find it tough going at the Galpharm. The Bulls are one of those sides struggling with the expectancy of their past glories and on their home patch at Odsal the crowd can get on their backs. They can beat anyone on their day but I like the look of the Tigers to tame the Bulls.

So I'm being quite brave this weekend. My three tips are a [3.9] Quins away win at Wigan, a [3.5] Tigers triumph at the Bulls, and Hull KR to slay the Dragons in France at [2.56]. One or two shrewd punts should make it an enjoyable weekend.