Previews

Super League reaches climax

Author: Lynda Collins
Date: 02/10/2009
Rugby League betting

The penultimate weekend of the 2009 Super League is upon us and just four clubs remain in the race to the Theatre of Dreams.

As if the play-offs were not exciting enough in previous years, the Rugby Football League have taken it upon themselves to revamp the semi-finals this time around, with a twist that is the hot topic on everybody's lips ahead of the first Grand Final eliminator on Friday.

Defending champions and online betting favourites Leeds Rhinos welcome eighth-placed Catalans Dragons to Headingley on Friday.

But the game has an extra pinch of spice, as the RFL's induction of a 'pick who you play' rule has seen Brian McClennan summon the Dragons to their home ground rather than Wigan Warriors.

As the regular season table-toppers and qualifying semi-final winners, the Rhinos were given a choice by the game's top brass as to whom they would rather choose.

Though the choice of the Dragons was widely expected, the Perpignan outfit will not be short of motivation when they arrive in West Yorkshire this weekend.

And the Frenchmen are bang in form, after three away wins on the spin has propelled their season from possibly missing out on the top eight to within 80 minutes of reaching the Old Trafford Grand Final.

But the Rhinos are hot favourites after a week off to rest. The champions have left their best form until last this season and are in good health as they bid to take a step closer to a third successive title victory.

The other match of the weekend comes as a result of the Rhinos' refusal of Wigan Warriors, who will make the short journey to St Helens to take on their most bitter rivals at Knowsley Road.

Who will win the Grand Final? - Latest Rugby League Betting

Wigan scored an impressive victory at Hull Kingston Rovers in the last round of the play-offs and are in a familiar position this weekend.

For the past two seasons, the Warriors have been just 80 minutes away from Old Trafford, but have slumped to away defeats to Leeds Rhinos.

Now Brian Noble's men are in the same situation, but have a much shorter journey this time around.

Noble's record with the Cherry & Whites at Knowsley Road is miserable, though he did watch his side go within a whisker of beating their enemies in their last meeting.

And Saints are seemingly in disarray since losing their Challenge Cup semi-final to Huddersfield, struggling to replicate their early season form.

Though a Leeds versus Saints final has been the choice of the pundits all season, a trip to Old Trafford for the Cherry & Whites cannot be ruled out.

And if Catalans do spring a surprise, then the story of the 2009 play-offs will never be forgotten.

BET NOW