Rugby Super League Preview

There’s plenty to get excited about in February for rugby fans, as Europe’s greatest league kicks off again. 

Odds are already available for several of the upcoming games, so here’s a look at how the bookies are rating the teams for the first couple of encounters. Remember that, with the big betting firms keen to attract new players, there are plenty of offers out there if you know where to look. Some comparison sites offer a really simple free bet checker so you’ll know you’ve got the best value available on the day.

Wigan v Huddersfield

Our first preview is Wigan v Huddersfield on 7 February. This Friday night match is live on Sky and pits the current champions against the 2013 League Leaders’ Shield winners. It’s all change at Huddersfield, with several players including Stuart Fielden, Matty Dawson and Jamie Cording out, and new lads Kyle Wood and Chris Bailey in, amongst others. It’s a while (over a decade in fact) since the glory days when Huddersfield notched up the record for unbeaten games in a single season, but the new boys will be keen to make an impression at the DW Stadium.

Champions Wigan are naturally the bookies favourites for this match, with odds currently around 1/3 on a home win. Passionate Huddersfield fans might want to try their luck at 9/4, though that doesn’t seem exceptionally generous under the circumstances. Wigan’s new faces this season include Andy Powell, making the switch from rugby union and Sale Sharks, and Eddy Pettybourne, who has appeared on the squad lists of both New Zealand and the USA.

Warrington v St Helens

The following Thursday night sees Warrington play host to St Helens at the Halliwell Jones Stadium. The second half of the Wolves’ 2013 season was excellent, with only one defeat (at home to Hull) from the middle of April onwards. They beat St Helens home and away, with Trent Waterhouse and Chris Riley doing particularly well at the Etihad. Roy Asotasi joins the Warrington line up on a three year contract; the NZ and Samoa captain will be looking to build on his rugby league success with South Sydney. You can back Warrington to walk away with this match at around 7/10 currently.

St Helens are the underdogs, with odds of 13/8 available on a Saints win. Their 2013 season ended well with wins over Wigan and Castleford Tigers, and French team Catalans Dragons on the final day. Form was patchy though, with a poor showing in April and May, during which they won only once. Again, the game is live on Sky – bet wisely!

Images courtesy of www.bbc.co.uk and www.stuff.co.nz