Super League Betting: Thomas set for Crusaders debut

Super League / George Riley / 19 March 2010 / Leave a Comment

Gareth Thomas will make his Celtic Crusaders debut against Catalan Dragons on Friday night

"I like Brian Noble's side at [1.67] against the [2.66] Dragons, but this must be the first time Crusaders have ever gone into a Super League game as favourites."

Last week's success was just the latest in a series of fine performance from Huddersfield and George Riley expects them to march on this weekend. Meanwhile, a former-Welsh rugby union internatonal prepares to make his debut against Wigan. George Riley selects the best bets.

Tipping Huddersfield to topple Leeds was last week's highlight on another horrible weekend for the champions.

The Giants are the top team in West Yorkshire at the moment, something you have not been able to say for a few years. I'll be watching them against Harlequins at the Stoop this weekend and they'll be hugely confident of adding more misery to Brian McDermott's side. It's an early evening kick off on Saturday, and I can't envisage anything other than a comfortable Giants win at [1.2].

Quins have struggled massively without influential playmakers Luke Dorn and Rob Purdham. I caught up with Dorn this week and he reckons Purdham will be back in a fortnight, while he himself should return in a month. There were rumours McDermott had quit at the weekend following their late defeat to Salford, but those reports were wide at the mark. A crunch Monday meeting may have reassured the players they are heading in the right direction but I can't see their fortunes changing this weekend.

Friday night's highlight is a rugby league debut for Gareth Thomas. The Welsh rugby union international starts on the wing against the Catalans Drgaons and there will be a feel good factor in Wrexham. For that reason I like Brian Noble's side at [1.67] against the [2.66] Dragons, but this must be the first time Crusaders have ever gone into a Super League game as favourites. That makes me a little nervous, especially given The Dragons desire and need to hit back after a shock home defeat to Castleford. The French side are only off the bottom of the table on points difference.

St Helens v Warrington is the night's tasty tie, with both sides likely to fancy their chances of being in the top two come the end of the season. Saints at Knowlsey Road is a tough ask for Tony Smith's resurgent side, but I like the Wolves at [2.58] given Saints trade around the [1.7] mark. I'd expect the market to be tighter than that, and thus lean towards the visitors. The wise money would be on the home side, who have won their last two games there and welcome back a heavyweight trio of Paul Wellens, Matt Gidley and Sia Soliola. Playmaker Lee Briers sits it out again for Warrington but Richie Mathers should be back and I quite fancy a shock here.

Leeds badly need a result and performance on their dodgy Headingley pitch against Hull KR. The turf is cutting up under the pressure of hosting both the rhinos and Leeds Carnegie rugby union side. The Rhinos have all sorts of injuries, with teenager Kallum Watkins the latest to go after he was ruled out for six months this week with a knee injury. No Carl Ablett, Scott Donald or Greg Eastwood either mean the squad is stretched. The relatively unknown centre Michael Coady could start but at least captain Kevin Sinfield should be back after injury.

Hull KR have no such woes, but Rovers have never won at Leeds and thus trade at [6.2]. Leeds are unbelievably [1.2]. I don't like that at all, and although as a Leeds boy I'd hope to see a return to form and winning ways, [6.2] about Justin Morgan's side tempts me.

Hull FC also meet Bradford on Friday and this is tough to call. Hull trade as [1.59] frontrunners, The Bulls available around [2.76]. Both sides lost last week, and both shipped a lot of points. Bradford beaten 33-6 by Warrington, Hull hammered 48-24 at Wigan. It could be a tense one therefore and I may remain on the fence. At a push I'd take the home team.

That leaves two games on Castleford v Wigan and Wakefield v Salford. I'm with the visitors at the Jungle, and tip Wigan to continue their excellent early-season run at [1.41]. I'll stick with Wakefield to topple Salford at [1.29].

My three selections this week are Warrington at [2.58], Wigan at [1.41] and although I'm loathe to heap more misery on Leeds, a cheeky flutter on KR at [6.2] may not go amiss.