OUR new correspondent Kaine Greenwood (@RetroPress) takes a look at Friday night's Super League clash between St Helens and Wakefield. What's he backing?
St Helens v Wakefield Wildcats | Friday 20:00
Wakefield Trinity Wildcats chairman Micheal Carter has expressed his shock at Brian Smith's sudden exit from WF1, stating he was “a little bit stunned”.
If Carter's first response when the former Parramatta Eels coach delivered the news was ‘Good heavens' then mine is more ‘Good Helens!' (Yes, I'm sorry!)
In all honesty, it takes no genius to side with the 13-time champions of the competition over the Wildcats – who only kept their Super League status with a testing 24-16 victory over the Bradford Bulls in what was dubbed a “Million Pound Game”. It wouldn't be a shock to see this reversed at the end of the current campaign but perhaps we can re-visit this a little closer to the time.
There is a reason the Saints look set to start the game a 1/16 favourite – because they should win – but I'm hoping we can concentrate on how they do it.
In 21 ties played over the period between 2006-15 the Langtree Park outfit have been on the right end of the scoreline 18 times, winning by wide margins a number of times: 46-44-40-40 and 34 point gaps among them.
The last time any Wakefield squad travelled away from a fixture on the home territory of Kerion Cunningham's men with the ‘W' was back in 2009, clinging on 22-20 after Paul Wellens missed a late penalty. That result snapped a six-year spell of defeats and hasn't been repeated since.
The four-year-old stadium the 143-year-old club now reside in has seen an aggregate score of 174-50 in the home side's favour meaning the good times seem to transferring with this tie at least.
A fourth-placed finish was as good as it got for Saints overall in 2015 and 2016 needs to set off in some fashion if they wish to improve on that. They currently have a winning 3-0-2 record but none of their points have been picked up in a convincing fashion.
I sense a change of gear, perhaps highlighted by a near full-strength 19 being named, ramping up for tough fixtures with Leeds, Wigan and Widnes ahead after this.
Two red ‘V's will shine bright after this clash in my view, the regular victory sign that is senonimous with Saints' previous successes and the other… the vacancy sign at Rapid Solictors Staduim.
This is pretty much an “all-in” situation we are arriving at all things considered and we either take all the glory or we leave wondering how the cards didn't fall our way. Be good to us St. Helens.
Best Bets
St Helens v Wakefield Wildcats – St Helens -20.5 (4/5 Skybet)
St Helens v Wakefield Wildcats – St Helens to win by 30+ points (6/4 Paddy Power)
St Helens v Wakefield Wildcats – St Helens to win by 51+ points (10/1 Paddy Power)
Want TWO Free Bets And £10 Cash?
Are you yet to sign-up for a betting account at Ladbrokes, Netbet, Bet365 or BetVictor? If so, now is your time as we’ve a bucket load of free bets to giveaway to new customers.
Sign-up to Ladbrokes, Netbet, Bet365 or BetVictor via any of the links on this page, deposit and place your first bet and drop us a line at hello@welovebetting.co.uk. We’ll then arrange for TWO free bets to be dropped into your brand new account and we’ll also cover your first bet with instant cash up to £10.
Remember folks, if you ever want to join a new bookmaker give us a shout – no other site will give you extra bonuses such as free bets and instant cash like WLB!
How To Claim Your Free Bet And Instant Cash:
- Register for a new account at Ladbrokes, Netbet, Bet365 or BetVictor via any of the links on this page. If you don’t use a link from WLB, you won’t be valid.
- Deposit and place your first bet (up to £10).
- Email hello@welovebetting.co.uk to let us know your account username and the bookmaker you’ve joined.
- We’ll arrange for TWO £10 free bets to be dropped into your new account as well as £10 instant cash to cover your first bet.
- Remember, you’ll also be entitled to the new customer bonus or promotion with each of Ladbrokes, Bet365 or Coral. However, if you don’t join via the links on this page, you won’t be valid for our free bet and instant cash giveaway.
- Any questions? Just drop us an email or tweet us at @WeLoveBettingUK.
