Challenge Cup Betting: Tigers to fall to holders Hull

Raj Bains
16 June 2017

Current holders Hull are at an extremely attractive price to beat Castleford on Sunday

Join

View market

Twitter

Facebook

With only one - controversial - Super League fixture this week, all eyes will again fall on the Challenge Cup, which has reached the quarter-final stage. Rugby League columnist Raj Bains takes us through the best bets...

"On paper, this one really could go either way, so to see Hull priced so heavily doesn't really make much sense. That's where the value is, despite how good the Tigers are playing, and it's not as if a home win would be the strangest thing in the world, either - they've already beaten them at home once this season."

Hull FC to beat Castleford Tigers @ 17/10

With only two wins standing between the eight remaining sides and Wembley, now is the time that matches start to get a little nervous. The round is full of the usual names and biggest stars, but in a one-off cup environment, anything can really happen.

Salford have already booked their semi-final place with an impressive home win over Wakefield last night, and will be confident of going all the way given their current run of form. Who will be joining though, is yet to be seen.

Leeds Rhinos vs Featherstone Rovers
Friday 16th June, 20:00
Live on SkySports

Leeds can't be any happier with their draw. Not only are they the only side to draw lower league opposition, but they've done so at home against the team they have a dual-registration agreement with, meaning they'll know everything there is to know about their opponents already. They won't pick a weak side and they won't take their place in the semi-finals for granted, and that's why they'll win big.

For what it's worth, Featherstone aren't a bad side, and they'll be looking forward to a trip to their local rivals. Likely to play physically and hope to drag the Rhinos in to more of an arm wrestle than a rugby match, they'll know they can't go toe-to-toe with the Super League side and expect anything less than a hiding.

The home side are going to win, and they're going to win by quite some distance. Most of the points might come later on once the game is dead and the Rovers are out of gas, but that won't make a blind bit of difference to the scoreboard.

Recommended Bet
Leeds Rhinos to beat Featherstone Rovers by +51pts @ 7/2

Warrington Wolves vs Wigan Warriors
Saturday 17th June, 15:00
Live on BBC

Warrington have been absolutely woeful this season. While they've had some injuries and a few key players missing every now and then, it isn't to the level that they would be as bad as they have been. Confidence is shot, their usual zip in attack and commitment in defence is non-existent, and that looks like a recipe that could see them finish in the bottom four.

This, however, is not a league match, and that could be all the motivation these Wolves players need. Wigan have got plenty of bodies missing, and have been on their own patch of poor form, so this could be an ideal chance for Warrington to up their levels and catch the favoured side cold.Wigan are favourites for this one, probably rightly, but this is likely to be much closer than it's expected to be.

This competition could be Warrington's escape from what has been a truly woeful season so far, and they have a good enough record in it under Tony Smith to have some residual confidence. If the Warriors aren't at their best, that could open the door for Wire, and that's what we should be looking for with the odds stacked so appetisingly against them.

Recommended Bet
Warrington Wolves to beat Wigan Warriors @ 17/10

Hull FC vs Castleford Tigers
Sunday 19th June, 15:00
Live on BBC

Castleford are without doubt the darlings of British rugby league right now, and they've earned that pleasure. Playing some eye-catching attacking ball and not giving teams a sniff on the other end, it really has been one of the all-time great regular season performances.

Hull, however, won't pay much mind to any of that. Excellent in their home ground with regularly fantastic support, the Tigers will need to start fast if they're to silence the locals. FC have been building back in to the sort of form we witnessed last season, and those players will have more than one eye on retaining their trophy.

On paper, this one really could go either way, so to see Hull priced so heavily doesn't really make much sense. That's where the value is, despite how good the Tigers are playing, and it's not as if a home win would be the strangest thing in the world, either - they've already beaten them at home once this season.

Recommended Bet
Hull FC to beat Castleford Tigers @ 17/10