Super League Betting: Wakefield to surprise Wigan on Easter Monday

Raj Bains
16 April 2017

Wakefield prop David Fifita could be a major key to success if Trinity are to overcome Wigan on Monday

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With a second round in three days on the cards during this congested Easter period, clubs will be hoping that they can patch up their squads enough to go again on Monday afternoon. Super League columnist Raj Bains takes us through Round Ten...

"Given the odds, it's far too tempting to not back Wakefield as an outside bet to win. It's not out of the question given the context of the fixture and, casting our minds back to last season, this is a match that ended 62-0 at almost exactly the same time in the calendar in 2016."

Wakefield Trinity to beat Wigan Warriors @ 11/5

No sport quite takes advantage of the four day Easter weekend like rugby league does. A second full round of fixtures yet to play, sides will be prioritising recovery over training, hoping that momentum can see them through, rather than their usual week of specialised preparation. The powers that be will be hoping that players come through round ten with fewer injuries than usual, with player welfare a real concern during these dual fixture weekends.

On the field, Good Friday was punctuated by some eye-catching results: the controversial Wigan win over Saints after the early Kyle Amor red card, Leeds going to high flying Hull and putting a club record score past them and Castleford carrying on their fine start by going to Wakefield and winning big. We're starting to get a better idea of what the league ladder might look like towards the end of the year, but with the likes of Warrington suddenly getting a role on, there's still time for a bit of change towards the top.

Wakefield Trinity vs Wigan Warriors
Monday 17th April, 14:45
Live on SkySports

Despite the early red card for Saints it wasn't an easy afternoon for Wigan in the derby, with the home side still having to stretch themselves to get past an extremely committed defensive performance. Having welcomed back Joe Burgess and Michael McIlorum in to the side, the Warriors are getting numbers back, but there's every chance that three days won't be sufficient time to get back the energy required to beat a side as determined as Wakefield away. While they won't easily surrender to Trinity, it would be daft to expect them to be at their best so soon after their most physically and emotionally draining game of the season to date.

Wakefield didn't have it easy themselves, mind, with Castleford taking the short trek across West Yorkshire on Good Friday, running out winners at Belle Vue by a healthy twenty point margin. While it's true that Trinity have been good this year, that form has come in patches rather than all at once, so thinking of them as the competition's Jekyll and Hyde side wouldn't actually be too far wide of the mark. With individuals capable of greatness - David Fifita and Tom Johnstone especially - this isn't a team to be taken lightly, especially with Chris Chester in charge.

Given the odds, it's far too tempting to not back Wakefield as an outside bet to win. It's not out of the question given the context of the fixture and, casting our minds back to last season, this is a match that ended 62-0 at almost exactly the same time in the calendar in 2016.

Recommended Bet
Wakefield Trinity to beat Wigan Warriors @ 11/5

Leeds Rhinos vs Widnes Vikings
Monday 17th April, 15:00

Many people had assumed that this would be another season of struggle for Leeds after they elected to stay fairly quiet in the transfer market, but with players returning who missed the majority of last season, the Rhinos are right back at the correct end of the division. The likes of Carl Ablett, Jamie Jones-Buchanan, Stevie Ward, Danny McGuire and Keith Galloway have come back in to regular contention, all of whom - to use a cliche - have been like new signings.

Widnes, meanwhile, are also experiencing a change in fortunes compared to last season, but in the opposite fashion. Having had their own Leicester-like run towards the start of the last campaign, they've been the worst club in the competition this time around, and quite comfortably at that. Having lost Kevin Brown to Warrington and only recently been in the position to name a recognised halfback pairing, Widnes look destined to be in the bottom four come the end of the season, with a fight for survival well and truly on the cards.

If the outcome of this one seems obvious, that's because it is. Barring calamity, Leeds will win by some distance, and they shouldn't even have to work that hard for it, either.

Recommended Bet
Leeds Rhinos to beat Widnes Vikings by +13pts @ 4/7

Warrington Wolves vs Huddersfield Giants
Monday 17th April, 15:00

Things were getting worrying for Warrington after their long wait for a win in the league, but after their comeback draw against Hull, they've been well on their way to turning it around. A controversial win against Leeds followed which was somewhat overshadowed by an early challenge by Ben Westwood off the ball, and they followed that up by beating Widnes away in the Cheshire derby on Good Friday, who they've subsequently overtaken in the table.

One place and one point above Warrington, this is a must-win game for Huddersfield, who've struggled again this year. Despite the behind-the-scenes work Rick Stone has been doing with his squad, the Giants have yet to find any on-field consistency, backing up an away draw with St Helens by losing at home to Catalan, who aren't having the greatest of seasons themselves. With the likes of Danny Brough misfiring and the backs unable to get Jermaine McGillvary the service he needs to keep the scoreboard ticking over, there's plenty of work still to be done to get the Giants back to where they aim to be.

Wire will still be without Ben Westwood who was retroactively banned after the Leeds game, but they're still the in-form side going in to this one. A home win will take them above Huddersfield, and the Giants don't appear to have it in them to go to Warrington and win right now.