Super League Betting: Value at Jungle and DW

Super League / Graham Cunningham / 12 August 2010 / Leave a Comment

Graham believes Cas have a chance against Leeds this weekend

"Ray French showed yet again that he's ready to be pensioned off by referring to the bloodbin as the bloodbath."

Some people collect crisp packets, others prefer to watch powerful athletes playing top class sport at fearsome speed. Graham Cunningham falls into the latter bracket and nominates Castleford, Huddersfield and Hull as the three to note ahead of another big weekend of Super League action.

It came as something of a disappointment on Tuesday morning when I tuned to BBC Breakfast hoping for the latest news only to hear pert presenter Sian Williams telling me that "later in the show we'll be talking to a man who has a collection of crisp packets worth £10,000."

Now I'm the first to agree that live broadcasting needs some light bites to go with the hard news nowadays, but this particular nugget stuck in the craw and got me wondering just where the BBC is heading.

And a piece by Martin Kelner in Monday's Guardian got me thinking about the way the BBC cover rugby league when set against their counterparts at Sky. Kelner was full of praise for much of the Beeb's efforts, nosing on Clare Balding's easy rapport with guests like Brian Noble and describing Jonathan Davies's analysis as "as astute as you will find in any commentary box anywhere."

For what it's worth, I'm with him on the Balding front as Clare has plainly bought into all the game has to offer and holds the show together with an assured blend of skill and humour which ought to satisfy both diehard fans and recent converts.

However, I can't agree about Davies - a brilliant player who falls well short of that level as an analyst - while the aged Ray French has never had the fluency to showcase the game at its best and showed yet again that he's ready to be pensioned off by referring to the bloodbin as the bloodbath last weekend.

Few would deny that Sky have played a blinder for league over the years - and in Phil Clarke and Mike Stevenson they have two of the most engaging sports analysts around - but for all that he plainly loves the game it continues to grate when their immaculately coiffured anchor Eddie Hemmings persists with his absurd hyping of what is good in the game while drawing a swift veil over issues which don't show it in a rosy light.

Eddie, Stevo, Phil and the gang will be trekking along to the Jungle and the DW Stadium this weekend and Castleford and Huddersfield look the two to be with as the Super League season moves ever closer to the crucial playoff phase.

Castleford look set to receive a double figure start against Leeds on Friday (20.00) and that makes them the value call for two reasons.

First, Leeds had a bruising encounter to edge past St Helens in last week's Challenge Cup semi-final and there could be a small price to pay for reaching Wembley. Second, Cas have developed into a useful and pretty consistent side in the second half of the season. A win is nigh-on essential to keep hopes of a top eight finish alive and the Tigers are more than capable of keeping this one tight after a refreshing break. In fact, they might just shade this outright if the Rhinos haven't fully shaken off last week's exertions.

Backing Wigan to cover the handicap has paid off handsomely in recent weeks, but I'm tempted to think Huddersfield can make the most of a decent start in Sunday night's live game (18.45). The oddsmakers seem a little shy about putting their lines up at the time of writing, but the Giants are likely to receive around 12 and if that's the case they look worth an interest.

Granted, Wigan can cut down a handicap like that in short time when on song, but the Giants have returned to form after some midseason turbulence on and off the park and their last two wins against Wakefield and Harlequins have seen them score 98 points while conceding just 10.

In short, I reckon Huddersfield's very best form makes them a fair bit better than their current seventh place in the table suggests. Consistency has been their problem - and I don't like opposing my own mob in their own backyard - but if the Giants are getting 12 or more when the lines go up then it's worth taking notice.

Hull complete a trio of selections this week when they take on Crusaders at home in a game which kicks off at 20.00 on Friday.

No flash story here save to say that a top four spot remains within reach for the black and whites. Crusaders continue to battle for a play-off place, but Hull are hungry to show that they still have plenty to offer this season and I suspect they can get on top in the second half to win by double figures.

Last but not least this week, a word for Widnes coach and regular Sky analyst Paul Cullen, whose wife Christine finally lost her battle with cancer this week. Cullen never took a backward step during his days as a player with Warrington and will doubtless lead his family with similar courage at this desperate time.

Good luck for the future, Paul. And good luck to you this weekend.