The Greatest Game

Following last weeks successful flutter on Hull KR to beat Leeds with a 14 point start,  this week’s £10 bet focusses on the three teams expected to be battling at the bottom of the table come September as well as one expected to be towards the top.

On Saturday night Harlequins host Wigan, who are given an 8 point deficit by Skybet, and the Quins will be determined to defy the critics who have had them down for an end of season tussle with Castleford for the wooden spoon.

Unfortunately, the start of season battle will show the superior class that a Wigan team that includes the ever exciting Trent Barrett holds over a Quins team who have barely strengthened in the off season and managed to lose heavily to National League 2 champions Celtic Crusaders a few weeks ago. They’ll give it a good start, but I expect Wigan’s quality to comfortably cover the 8 points in the second half.

Three hours later, 192 miles north of Twickenham, Castleford will be sharpening their claws for their return to Super League. The bookies seem to think the Tigers will have enough passion to topple Challenge Cup finalists Catalans Dragons on the weekend and have given the Dragons a four point start. Despite their small squad, the home support for Castleford, bolstered by the excitement of Super League, will push the Tigers on to just cover the start.

Bet, week 2

£10 on Wigan beating Harlequins (+ and Castleford beating Catalans (+4) @ 26.45/10 (both results)
Potential return: £36.45

The Greatest Game 2008 Betting Statistics

Bets made: one
Money bet: £10
Money won: £4.09
Money lost: £0
Season kitty: £14.09

Skybet

Disclaimer: you can make bets on our predictions but we will not take any responsibility for any losses you sustain: sensible gamblers only bet what they can afford to lose.

With the season about to get underway, The Greatest Game is launching its weekly betting predictions. We are using imaginary £10 stakes and will tot up our winnings or losses across the season.

Only one game is played on the opening weekend of Super League XIII and it sees last season’s champions Leeds Rhinos taking on much strenghened Hull Kingston Rovers.

Sky Bet have offered some pretty generous odds by giving KR a 14 point start. Looking at the signings they’ve made, and the fact they’ll be out to prove last season’s survival wasn’t a flash in the pan, I’d expect KR to take the game to Leeds right from the off.

My primary concern to backing KR would be their lack of game time, especially with the number of new signings on board. Having friendlies cancelled due to poor weather has only allowed them to give new boys Castleford a beating in the off season. Leeds on the other hand have been out hammering Featherstone, Hunslet and Oldham - not the most challenging opposition but opposition nonetheless.

Leeds have also just jetted back from their match in Florida with the South Sydney Rabbitohs, whether lingering jetlag and the excitement of a World Club Challenge match-up with Melbourne Storm next week will upset the efficiency of the Rhinos is unknown, but the travelling is hardly the best preperation before going into a tough showdown with a club with big aims for the coming year. It is also yet to be seen what impact new coach Brian McClennan will have on last season’s unchanged Super League winning squad.

So both teams could be a little stiff coming into the first game of the season, but I fully expect KR to give Leeds a battle at Headingley. I don’t expect them to defeat the Rhinos but I feel Leeds won’t have enough in the tank to overcome the 14 point start. For the contingency bet, I feel that Leeds will be able to sneak past the 14 points but not much further past and cannot envisage them running away with the game. Therefore the contingency goes on Leeds winning by 21-25 points.

Bet, week 1

£10 on Hull KR (+14) to win @ 10/11
Potential return: £14.09

The Greatest Game 2008 Betting Statistics

Bets made: none
Money bet: £0
Money won: £0
Money lost: £0
Season kitty: £0

Skybet

Disclaimer: you can make bets on our predictions but we will not take any responsibility for any losses you sustain: sensible gamblers only bet what they can afford to lose.