Super League Betting: Wigan to unleash a whupping on sorry Salford

Super League / Graham Cunningham / 09 July 2010 / Leave a Comment

Sam Tomkins runs in a try against Harlequins for Wigan - the Warriors are aiming for a third Super League win in a row

"Wigan's returning stars like Sean O'Loughlin, Amos Roberts, Feka Paleaaesina and Cameron Phelps will be desperate to cross the whitewash if possible. And that combined hunger spells a heavy defeat for a game yet limited Salford outfit."

Paul the Octopus keeps banging in the winners with his World Cup selections, but after several winning weeks in a row Graham Cunningham drew a blank on last week's Super League programme. However, Betfair's weekly blogger has been taking tips from the tentacled one and is back to run the rule over this weekend's big games.

You can't mask it. Last week's Super League blog drew a blank, with all three recommendations coming up short for the first time in a long while.

Rumours that Betfair have asked that German octopus who has been nailing World Cup results with such uncanny accuracy to transfer his tipping skills to the oval ball game have proved wide of the mark - so far, at least - but we need to get back on the right track asap.

Fortunately, this weekend's games throw up a handful of appealing punting angles.

The best of them involves backing Hull on their visit to Wakefield for Saturday night's televised Sky feature.

Most of the traditional bookies seem to think this will be Hull by two or four. And they might be right, but my angle on the game is to split stakes between Hull to win outright and to cover a small start.

And the reasoning for doing so lies in the belief that the black and whites have developed into a highly efficient and consistent outfit in recent weeks while Wakey remain talented, yet very hard to predict.

Hull's recent fine form has seen them muscle their way into the top four. Another win would enhance their play-off prospects. And I suspect their confidence and momentum will be too much for the Wilcats to handle here.

Backing a team to cover a start of 20 or more is only to be recommended when the side in question have a clear class edge and seem very unlikely to take their feet off the pedal once the points are in safe keeping.

Step forward Wigan, who look capable of running away with Friday night's fixture against Salford given their recent form and the hungry mood in the camp.

Everyone in Wigan is building up towards next week's showdown with Warrington, but the Warriors' coach Michael Maguire is in no mood for complacency and, even without the suspended Andy Coley, has an embarrassment of riches at his disposal.

Maguire has made it crystal clear the team for the Wire game will be based solely on current form.

That means returning stars like Sean O'Loughlin, Amos Roberts, Feka Paleaaesina and Cameron Phelps will be desperate to cross the whitewash if possible. And that combined hunger spells a heavy defeat for a game yet limited Salford outfit.

Last but not least this week, it might just be worth taking a small interest in Bradford when they make the long trip to London for Friday night's clash with Harlequins.

Something has to give here, as both teams line up aiming to end lengthy losing runs, but Bradford put up a pretty good show until worn down by a bang-in-form Hull side last week and Harlequins look like having several influential players missing.

There you have it, then. I don't know what Paul the Octopus is going for in the World Cup, but I'm going for Hull, Wigan and Bradford this week. Let's hope it isn't a damp squid. Squid, geddit?