Hull FC to win all-Yorkshire clash and away victories for Saints and Rhinos
Published:
Hugo Barnard | February 24, 2016
Hull FC kick off this week’s proceedings in the Super League with a home fixture against Castleford Tigers in an all-Yorkshire clash on Thursday night.
On the other side of the city, Hull KR will play hosts to St Helens on Friday, while Leeds Rhinos face a long trip to Perpignan on Saturday, where they come up against Catalans Dragons.
Hull FC v Castleford Tigers
- Super League
- Thursday, February 25th
- Play starts: 20:00 GMT
- KC Stadium, Hull
- Live on Sky Sports 2
Black and Whites to scrape past Dragons
Both sides go into this game undefeated so far this season, with Hull FC sitting happily at the top of the table with two wins from two and Castleford aren’t too far behind them with a draw and a victory.
Castleford will be going into this buoyed with the news Adam Milner, Oliver Holmes and Andy Lynch have all committed their futures to the Black and Whites by signing new contract extensions with the club.
With no fresh injury news since their last game two weeks ago, they can head to the KC Stadium with confidence of gaining an away result on Thursday evening. However, it would take a lot to beat the in-form Hull FC in their own backyard, meaning they are underdogs at 5/2.
Again, Hull FC have also been lucky with injuries thus far this season and will most likely name an unchanged team to the one that dismantled the Catalans in Perpignan. The hosts are odds-on favourites to make it three wins from three with at 3/10.
Fetuli Talanoa touched down twice in France in Hull FC’s last outing, and expect him to score again anytime at 8/13. Denny Solomana has three tries in two games so far this season for the Tigers, so don’t look past him in the same market at 8/11.
Expect a tight encounter between these two Yorkshire sides, with one score likely to separate them at the full time whistle. For Hull FC to win by 1-5 points, back them at 11/2.
Hull KR v St Helens
- Super League
- Friday, February 26th
- Play starts: 20:00 GMT
- Craven Park, Hull
- Live on Sky Sports 2
Routine win for Saints
Hull KR will go into this game with the shock announcement that their boss Chris Carter has been sacked, despite only being at the helm for 18 months and leading the Robins to the Challenge Cup final last year. Assistant Willie Poching has been put temporarily in charge for Friday’s game against the Saints.
The dismissal will be a bitter blow for coach Carter, whose side were extremely unlucky not to beat Wakefield in their last outing. However, this could inspire the Robins to victory over the Saints, but they are out at 4/1 to do so.
St Helens on the other hand will be looking to put an embarrassing week behind them, after all Super League teams were brushed aside by their Australian rivals in the World Club Challenge series. The only good news for the Saints after last week’s encounter is that they have no new injury worries. So, expect them to make amends for their loss last Friday and come back with a spirited performance against the Robins. They are heavily odds-on at 1/6 to win.
There should be tries galore in this game, with both teams eager to prove their worth. The usually prolific winger Tommy Makinson is yet to score this season, but don’t be surprised if he bundles over at some point at 4/7.
For Hull KR, don’t look further than Ken Sio, who has been on fine form and will look to continue the trend versus the saints. He is at 6/5 to score anytime.
Catalans Dragons v Leeds Rhinos
- Super League
- Saturday, February 27th
- Play starts: 17:00 GMT
- Stade Gilbert Brutus, Perpignan
- Live on Sky Sports 2
Rhinos to Avenge World Series loss
With the Rhinos and Dragons surprisingly sat in the bottom two of the league, with no wins for either sides this season from two games, a victory on Saturday could make or break both teams’ campaigns.
Leeds are looking to avenge their humiliating loss verses the North Queensland Cowboys, whilst the Catalans will want to prove their doubters wrong by beating the champions in front of their hostile home crowd.
After their resounding loss in the World Club Series, to make matters worse they have now lost prop Mitch Garbutt for two games after being sent off against the Cowboys for punching opponent James Tamou. This is another huge blow for Brian McDermott, who is already without seven first team players through injury. Leeds are great chances to win for the first time this season at 7/4.
The Catalans will have a slight boost going into the game on Saturday, after completing the signing of veteran Australian prop Willie Mason on a one-year deal. This signing will no doubt bolster the Dragons’ squad, while installing some much needed experience too. The Catalans will be pumped for this match, and are odds-on 4/9 favourites.
Expect a very tight game between these two out-of-form teams with only a score or two between them. There has been much hype about the young French winger Fouad Yaha, so don’t be surprised if he goes over anytime.
For the Rhinos, Ryan Hall will want to show everyone why he is one of the best wingers in the Super League. After only scoring in Leeds’ first game this season, he can do so again on Saturday.
Round 3 fixture list
Thursday
Hull FC v Castleford
Wigan v Salford
Friday
Hull KR v St Helens
Warrington v Wakefield
Saturday
Catalans v Leeds
Sunday
Huddersfield v Widnes
Related
Coral’s top tip: Hull FC are terrific 11/2 shouts to beat Castleford by 1-5 points.
