Super League Betting: Warrington must keep pressure on Wigan

Editor
16 August 2012

Warrington might not risk Briers this weekend

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Warrington must build on last week's victory by overcoming the Broncos on Friday evening. Meanwhile, will inconsistency be Hull FC's undoing once again? Stuart Jones selects the best bets...

Recommended bets
Over 52.5 points @ 1.834/5 in the London and Warrington game
Widnes Vikings plus 8.5 points @ 1.9110/11 against Hull FC

Warrington kept the pressure on Wigan with a comfortable win over the league leaders last Saturday and the Warriors lead at the top of the table is down to just a point. Tony Smith appears to have his side peaking at the right time this season and it´s hard to imagine them undoing all last week´s hard work by falling to a shock defeat when they face the London Broncos in the capital on Friday evening.

With the Challenge Cup final just over a week away, this is as much about Warrington´s desire to run up a score against inferior opposition, as it is anything else. I doubt very much that Lee Briers will be risked a week ahead of Wembley, but such is the Wolves strength in depth, they could still choose from Chris Bridge, Richie Myler, Stefan Ratchford or Gareth O´Brien.

I´m wary of backing Tony Smith´s men to cover a handicap of 12.5 points given they are sure to have one eye on next week, but with London´s attack seemingly much improved under the guidance of Tony Rea, we could be in for a high-scoring encounter. The Broncos have only managed to restrict Warrington to less than 50 points once in their last four meetings, and that was when they lost 22-36 back in 2010.

Widnes will be keeping a close eye on the above game as the battle to avoid the wooden spoon now looks to concern themselves and London, although Castlford´s form does mean they are being dragged into the mix.

The Vikings fell to another heavy away defeat at Headingley on Friday, but their home form this year has been vastly superior to anything they have achieved on the road and it´s best to concentrate on their recent results at the Stobart Stadium as a better form-line for when they face Hull FC on Saturday.

Widnes have not been beaten at home by more than the current handicap line of 8.5 points since April, suffering late defeats against Saints, Catalans and Hull KR, and picking up solid wins over Huddersfield and Castleford during that period.

Hull FC have been one of the hardest teams to predict all season, with injuries meaning Peter Gentle has barely been able to pick the same side 2 weeks running, but last week´s win over the Catalan Dragons will have to go down as one of their finest efforts of the campaign so far.

That 30-10 win over the French side ensures they go into this game as strong favourites, but as mentioned beforehand, consistency has not proved to be their strong point in 2012, and with Paul McShane set to return to negate the substantial threat of Danny Houghton, Widnes getting the start makes more appeal.