Features

Rhinos aim to dominate

Author: John Harris
Date: 05/02/2010
Rugby League betting

The official first round of engage Super League fixtures is upon us this weekend with three-in-a-row champions Leeds Rhinos looking to continue their unrelenting dominance.

They face an early Yorkshire derby with Castleford Tigers making the short trip to Headingley and only a win will suffice for Brian McClennan's team.

Leeds, who are the online betting favourites to win yet another Super League title, beat Crusaders 34-6 on Friday evening at Wrexham's Racecourse Ground, but the result tells a different story.

Brian Noble's plucky outfit had Leeds on the rocks with the scores tied at 6-6 until Leeds' superiority shone through with 15 minutes remaining.

Five tries in the final quarter gave them a flattering margin of victory as the magic of stand-off Danny McGuire conjured up the win in front of a 10,334 full-house crowd.

The game was brought forward with Leeds due to face Melbourne Storm in the World Club Challenge on February 28.

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Crusaders face another daunting test as they prepare to go toe-to-toe with Wigan Warriors at DW Stadium.

They should take heart from the defeat to Leeds and they will be aiming to continue their development with the relatively short trip to the north west.

Another tasty Yorkshire derby throws Huddersfield Giants and Bradford Bulls together as they clash at the Galpharm Stadium on Friday night.

Nathan Brown will be keen to see his Giants side add to their fine 2009 season as they reached the Challenge Cup final and finished third in the league but the Bulls will be a wounded beats after their disappointing ninth place finish last term.

St Helens, the last three Grand Final losing finalists, start with a home game with Hull FC in Saturday's only fixture.

Mick Potter will be striving to help his side alleviate the heartbreak of their recent near misses and he will want a strong start against Richard Agar's men.

Last season's over-achievers Hull KR open up with a home test against Salford City Reds on Sunday afternoon.

Kevin Walters' Catalans Dragons make the long journey to take on Wakefield Wildcats at Belle Vue and John Kear's men are likely to face a tough ask of replicating their fifth place finish this term.

Wakefield saw off Harlequins 18-10 last Saturday at Twickenham Stoop as they also opened their season early.

The game was marred when Wakefield's Richard Moore and the home side's Louie McCarthy-Scarsbrook were given their marching orders late in the day.

Challenge Cup holders Warrington Wolves face Harlequins at The Halliwell Jones Stadium in the last of the weekend fixtures.

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