Features

Spicy play-offs set to start

Author: Lynda Collins
Date: 19/09/2009
Rugby League betting

The business end of the Super League season is well and truly here and a revamp of the play-offs ensures a feast of rugby league this weekend.

The play-off system has been juggled about this year to make room for two extra teams in the play-offs, but expect every game to be played at a thunderous pace, even if it is not do-or-die stuff for those at the top of the table.

Getting the ball rolling on Friday are sportsbook title favourites Leeds Rhinos and Hull Kingston Rovers.

Both sides can afford to lose this one, but a victory will put them in the box seat to reach Old Trafford come semi-final day.

Leeds are hoping for a third successive title victory, but there are a number of threats to their crown this term, including Rovers.

The Robins have proved to be of the most efficient machines in Super League and expect plenty of problems to be caused for the Rhinos through the channels where Dream Team second row pairing Clint Newton and Ben Galea will operate.

Will the Rhinos lift the trophy once again? - Latest Rugby League Betting

In a Saturday double-bill, St Helens welcome Huddersfield Giants to Knowsley Road in another qualifying encounter in which the losers have a second chance.

Saints will be out to get retribution after suffering a Challenge Cup semi-final defeat at the hands of the Giants, but have been very much out of form since their first Cup defeat since 2005.

Huddersfield were heartbroken after losing the Cup to Warrington Wolves and will fancy their chances of making their second Final appearance of the season.

Following on from Saints comes the first of two elimination play-offs, with Wakefield hosting Catalans Dragons on Saturday evening.

The Dragons held on to their top-eight place with a surprise win at St Helens a week ago but will once again be outsiders when they arrive at Belle Vue.

The Wildcats have had a fantastic season and have shown enough to suggest they will worry the big boys in the latter stages of the finals if they progress past the Dragons.

Completing the opening week are Wigan and Castleford who clash on Sunday. The pair famously met in the 1999 play-offs to mark the opening of the JJB Stadium, recently renamed the DW Stadium.

Castleford shocked the rugby league public by inflicting a 14-10 defeat on the Warriors, who were the defending champions at the time.

It would scream of irony if, a day after the ten-year anniversary of the September 19 1999 game, the Tigers travelled back across the M62 and dumped Wigan out of the play-offs once again.

Wigan boss Brian Noble is tipped to leave the club at the end of the season to join Celtic Crusaders, so it is bound to be an emotional day for the Cherry and Whites, who must play with a win-or-bust philosophy throughout the play-offs if they are to make an unlikely Grand Final appearance.

BET NOW