Betfred Super League Round 19 Preview

The Betfred Super League is back for another week after the enthralling Magic Weekend that was put on show to the 62000 fans that attended St James' Park, Newcastle.

St Helens vs Huddersfield Giants, Friday, Kick off: 8:00pm

Round 19 kicks off on the Friday where there are 2 games on show, one of which is on Sky Sports Arena where St Helens host Ian Watsons Huddersfield Giants at the Totally Wicked Stadium. Both teams will have their heads high after both teams were victorious and the Magic Weekend. 

The Saints will be pleased after they defeated arch rivals Wigan Warriors 20 points to 18. On the other hand, the Giants were also victorious is there Magic Weekend fixture against the Salford Red Devils who were defeated 30 points to 18. For the Giants, their aim will be to get higher up in the Super League Table. They sit in a comfortable top 4 spot with Wigan and Saints respectably above them in 2nd and 1st, and the French outfit of Catalans Dragons sat 1 point below them in 4th. For Kristian Woolf's men in the infamous red-vee, it's extending the lead at the top of the Super League they have as the final 8 rounds of Super League come thick and fast.

 The key-man I have picked out for Saints is Full-back, Jack Welsby. The tall, fast full-back is playing as a half-back in replace of injured, Lewis Dodd who is out for the season with an Achilles injury. For the Giants, I have picked out New Zealand International, Tui Lolohea. The Giants full-back started the season in the halves with French International, Theo Fages. As the season went on, Lolohea played full-back more and more with young star Will Pryce, son of former Bradford Bulls half-back, Leon Pryce moving into the halves.

Wigan Warriors vs Hull FC, Friday, Kick off: 8:00pm

The other game on the Friday consists of Matt Peets Wigan Warriors and Brett Hodgsons Hull FC. Hodgsons Hull FC travel to Lancashire after a Hull Derby classic at the Magic Weekend.

They edged out cross-city rivals, Hull KR, 34 points to 28. After 4 losses on the bounce and and horrific result to the Leeds Rhinos at home, FC look to regain form as they push for a play-off space, with the final 2 spots up for grabs and they currently sit in one of those places, level on points with the Castleford Tigers. On the other hand, the Warriors were on the losing side as they were defeated by St Helens and they look to bounce back against the Black and Whites of West Hull and hope to close their gap to Saints at the summit of the table.

The key-men I have picked out for this game both play in the full-back role, for Wigan it's speedy full-back Jai Field who had a miserable first year as a Warrior but this season he has set the league alight with his 15 tries in 18 games and his blistering pace. For the Black and Whites, it's loanee Jack Walker who has come in on loan for the rest of the season in replace of the injured Jake Connor. Loanee Walker made his Hull debut last time out in the Hull Derby and picked up Man of the Match for his efforts in the action packed match-up. The number 36 will look to build on that performance and will want to impress the Hull fans again.

Castleford Tigers vs Warrington Wolves, Saturday, Kick off: 3:00pm

Both teams had a very contrasting Magic Weekend on Tyneside with Castleford losing out to West Yorkshire rivals Leeds Rhinos. The Wire made a statement when they defeated Steve McNamara's Catalans Dragons in style, winning 10-36 with George Williams the talking point.

Williams took control of the game as Gareth Widdop went off with a dislocated shoulder. He looks to have played his final game for the Wire as a move to the Castleford Tigers looks almost certain. Castleford, however will be depleted after Magic Weekend after their loss to Rohan Smith's Rhinos. Cas struggled to attack with their only senior half back, Richardson fit with Jake Trueman out for the season and heading to West Hull for 2023. The Tigers still await a return for Gareth O'Brien but thankfully for Tigers fans, Paul McShane will return after serving his 1 match suspension picked up against Huddersfield in Round 17, so Cas will have to make a decision on who they choose to partner up with Danny Richardson in the halves.

The Key men for this fixture is a tough one, for the Tigers I have chosen second-rower Kenny Edwards. The second-rower was on loan at Castleford for the season from Huddersfield Giants but has made the move permanent which has pleased Cas fans. He has been in great form this season and has found new life under Head Coach Lee Radford. For the Wolves, young talent Riley Dean has been picked out for my key-man. The Young Half back will most likely be partnered up with George Williams and will want to impress Daryl Powell as he returns to Wheldon Road.

Toulouse Olympique vs Leeds Rhinos, Saturday, Kick off 7:00pm

Toulouse welcome a charged up Leeds Rhinos side to Stade Ernest Wallon who look to boost their survival hopes after a successful first Magic Weekend for the French Outfit.

Toulouse will be eager to build on their survival hopes after beating relegation rivals Wakefield Trinity at Magic Weekend 38-26. They sit at the bottom of the table but only 2 points behind Wakefield who haven't got the easiest run in. Sylvain Houles men will be looking forward to this one due to their home form helping them be in this race in order to stay in the Super League. Rohan Smiths Rhinos want to return to the UK with 2 points in the bag which will put the pressure on Hull FC and Castleford for the play off spaces available.

The key-man for Toulouse for me is half-back Corey Norman who impressed against Willie Poaching's Wakefield Trinity and will want to continue his form against the Rhinos. The key man for Rohan's men is winger, Ash Handley who has a staggering 6 tries in his last 2 games. Handley will continue to pursue his chase to become Super Leagues top try scorer in which he picked up that award in 2020 scoring 20 tries.

Hull KR vs Wakefield Trinity, Sunday, Kick off: 3;00pm

It's the battle of the 2 worst in form sides in the Super League with both teams losing their last 3 games and both teams suffering Magic Weekend defeats, Wakefield's more costly than Rovers'.

Willie Poaching's Trinity travel to East Hull in which is a must win game to avoid the drop and recently appointed Danny McGuire's Robins want to bounce back after 4 straight defeats. Last time out for the Robins was a disappointing loss to arch rivals, Hull FC where Rovers full-back Lachlan Coote only converted 2/7 conversions which proved to be the difference. The talking point though was Mikey Lewis, the West Hull born half-back scored a hattrick against Hull FC, but was on the losing side come the end of the game. Wakefield last time out at Magic Weekend has put them in a situation where they don't want to be, fighting for survival with Toulouse after losing to them after a second half crumble from the West Yorkshire side after leading 20 points to 4 at half time, with the game finishing 26-38 to the French side.

The key men in this game could potentially be the difference. For Hull KR I have gone with Mikey Lewis, the young half back was immense last time out and will want to get his side back up and running to potentially fight for the play-offs. Jacob Miller gets my key-man pick for Wakefield who has proved he is vital in this struggling Wakefield side. He gave Wakefield a much needed win against Hull FC when he knocked over a drop goal in golden point. He could be the difference in Wakefield's bid to survive.

Salford Red Devils vs Catalans Dragons, Sunday, Kick off: 3:00pm

Rounding off another week of Super League action we have 2 teams that were on the losing side at Magic Weekend, where Salford host the Dragons.

Steve McNamara's men travel abroad to Manchester in a bid to bounce back after a disappointing Magic Weekend as they fell short to Daryl Powell's Warrington Wolves. Paul Rowley's men currently sit in 8th position, only 4 points off 5th place Hull FC, they are amongst that chasing pack who are fighting to be in the top 6 come the end of the season. Catalans look to have cemented their place in the top 4 as they push to sneak in to that top 2 position, where they finished last year, winning the League Leaders Shield and coming short to St Helens in the Grand Final at the Theatre of Dreams. They currently sit in 4th position, 6 points above Hull FC in 5th so their play off place looks to all but be confirmed as they hope to get to another Grand Final and be the first French side to win a Grand Final.

For the Red Devils, I have picked out their number 6, Brodie Croft who was brought in this season from the Brisbane Broncos in the NRL. Croft has the ability to control a game with his excellent ball handling skills and his expert kicking game. For the Dragons I have gone with the opposite number 6, Mitchell Pearce, the 33 year old has bags of experience from the NRL and the former New South Wales player has stood out this season after his former Origin half-back partner, James Maloney retired from the sport last season after a successful couple of seasons with the Dragons and Pearce hopes to follow on from that.