After an exciting Challenge Cup weekend, Super League returns with a tasty looking round 16 that sees four of the top six face off.
Tonight sees a feisty Yorkshire derby between Leeds and Huddersfield with both sides looking for a first win over their fierce rivals in 2014 after a 12 all draw in March.
Leeds go into the game in mixed form with two wins in their last three and off the back of a tough cup tie against Championship table toppers Leigh and will be eager to rise back to the top of the league with current leaders St Helens not in action until Saturday afternoon in Perpignan.
Huddersfield are the fresher of the sides after a week off due to the cup games and will look to make it two wins on the bounce after their win against Wigan somewhat erased their poor showing at Magic to St Helens.
Last season's meeting at Headingley saw the Giants take away a 8-32 win, a repeat of which would delight the travelling fans as it would move them up to fifth and level on points with fourth placed Wigan.
Leeds with be without Carl Ablett and Zak Hardaker who are both suspended while Paul Aiton, Rob Burrow, Jamie Jones-Buchanan, Mitch Achurch are injury casualties while Huddersfield bring in Craig Kopczak and Jodie Broughton in place of Shaun Lunt and Ben Blackmore with the latter now at Featherstone.
Tonight sees a feisty Yorkshire derby between Leeds and Huddersfield with both sides looking for a first win over their fierce rivals in 2014 after a 12 all draw in March.
Leeds go into the game in mixed form with two wins in their last three and off the back of a tough cup tie against Championship table toppers Leigh and will be eager to rise back to the top of the league with current leaders St Helens not in action until Saturday afternoon in Perpignan.
Huddersfield are the fresher of the sides after a week off due to the cup games and will look to make it two wins on the bounce after their win against Wigan somewhat erased their poor showing at Magic to St Helens.
Last season's meeting at Headingley saw the Giants take away a 8-32 win, a repeat of which would delight the travelling fans as it would move them up to fifth and level on points with fourth placed Wigan.
Leeds with be without Carl Ablett and Zak Hardaker who are both suspended while Paul Aiton, Rob Burrow, Jamie Jones-Buchanan, Mitch Achurch are injury casualties while Huddersfield bring in Craig Kopczak and Jodie Broughton in place of Shaun Lunt and Ben Blackmore with the latter now at Featherstone.
Leeds-:
Jones-Bishop, Watkins, Moon, Hall, McGuire, Leuluai, Peacock, Sinfield,
S. Ward, Delaney, Bailey, Kirke, Clarkson, Briscoe, Sutcliffe,
Singleton, Walters, R. Ward, TBC.
Huddersfield -: Grix, McGillvary, Cudjoe, Wardle, Murphy, Brough, Robinson, Crabtree, Kopczak, Ferres, Chan, Bailey, Lawrence, Patrick, Faiumu, Ta'ai, Wood, Broughton, Johnson.
This could be a close one and despite the lack of a break, I see Leeds just winning so Leeds 25 Huddersfield 22.
Surprisingly, there are four games on Friday night with the pick of the ties being the Castleford's second visit to Wigan in the space of a week after their Challenge Cup triumph.
Wigan go into the game sore after seeing their 28 year home record and the prospect of retaining the Challenge Cup disappear and will be eager to get revenge for the loss while also looking to end a three game losing streak to the Tigers.
Castleford may still be in wonderland after securing a semi-final place in the cup but know that a win would complete a league double over the Warriors and extend their run of wins to four which would move them four points clear of their hosts with the sides in third and fourth respectively.
Last season's meeting began the winning run for Castleford as they beat a tired Wigan side that had met Warrington four days previous 18-4 and for Wigan this year's meeting sees a similar problem with a re-arranged game with Widnes this coming Wednesday so hopefully lightning doesnt strike twice with their fixture pile-up.
Wigan make three changes from Saturday's loss with Scott Taylor, Darrell Goulding and Sam Powell replacing Jack Hughes, Ryan Sutton and Greg Burke while Castleford welcome back Justin Carney, Nathan Massey and Ben Renyolds in place of Jake Webster, Andy Lynch and Daryl Clark.
Wigan-: Bateman, Bowen, Burgess, Crosby, Dudson, Farrell, Flower, Gelling, Goulding, Hampshire, James,Manfredi, McIlorum, O'Loughlin, Powell, Sarginson, Smith, Taylor, Williams.
Castleford- Carney, Clare, Dixon, Dorn, Ellis, Finn, Gibson, Hauraki, Holmes, Huby, Jewitt, Mariano, Massey, Millington, Milner, Reynolds, Shenton, Sneyd, Wheeldon.
After Saturday, Wigan need a huge step-up and I hope it comes tomorrow so Wigan 24 Castleford 22.
Widnes play host to Hull with the Vikings looking to complete a league double over the Airlie Birds or the first time in over 20 years and with their mixed form could do with a good win.
Widnes come into the game with only one win in four league games but buoyant after a comfortable Challenge Cup win over Championship side Keighley and eager to close the gap to the top four as a win could see them as high as fifth.
Hull alike their hosts are also in mixed form with one win in four which came in their last outing at London and need a win in order to keep up their hopes of a top-eight finish and a place in the play-offs while also looking to catch city rivals Hull KR.
Earlier in the season, Widnes edged a 0-7 win in horribly wet conditions and both sides would hope for a higher scoring game tomorrow while Widnes will hope to repeat last season's meeting at the Select Security stadium which saw them triumph 36-16.
Widnes welcome back Jon Clarke and Hep Cahill with Paddy Flynn and Phil Joseph also returning to the fold while Hull bring in Liam Watts coming in for Dean Hadley with Setaimata Sa deemed fit to return.
Widnes- Allen, Brown, Cahill, Clarke, Clough, Craven, Dean, Galea, Gilmore, Flynn, Hanbury, Johnson, Joseph, Kavanagh, Leuluai, Marsh, Owens, Tickle, White.
Hull- Bowden, Crooks, Ellis, Heremaia, Horne, Houghton, Lancaster, Miller, Paea, Paleaaesina, Rankin, Sa, Shaul, Talanoa, Thompson, Tuson, Watts, Westerman, Yeaman.
Form suggests this could be hard to call but I think Widnes will come out on top so Widnes 32 Hull 22.
Hull KR host Warrington in what will be the third meeting between the sides in 2014 with both triumphing away from home.
Hull KR will look to complete a double over Warrington after securing a 25-12 win earlier in the season which came only a week after losing to the Wolves in the Challenge Cup so would love to hand a second successive defeat to their visitors while looking to win for a third time in four games.
Warrington will look to avoid being doubled but unlike their hosts played last weekend in a comfortable win over Bradford in the Challenge Cup and are in good form with wins in all of their last five so will be buoyant in the trip up to face the Robins.
Last season's meeting saw the Robins triumph 26-12 with a repeat something the KR faithful would be very glad of along with the prospect of the league double.
Hull KR's Michael Weyman continues after winning his suspension appeal with the recalled Greg Eden returning as Ben Cockayne is out potentially for ten weeks while Warrington bring in two new faces in the shape of George King and Joe Philbin in place of the injured Micheal Monaghan and Richie Myler.
Hull KR-Burns, Carlile, Costigan, Eden, Gardner, Green, Hall, D Hodgson, J Hodgson, Horne, Keating, Langley, Netherton, Ollett, Salter, Ulugia, A Walker, J Walker, Weyman.
Warrington- Asotasi, Atkins, Bridge, Currie, Dwyer, England, B Evans, R Evans, Grix, Harrison, Higham, Hill, King, Monaghan, Ormsby, Philbin, Ratchford, Riley, Russell.
Hull KR to double would be stunning but I see Warrington coming away with a win so Hull KR 18 Warrington 28.
Tommorow's fourth game sees London travel to face Wakefield with both surely glad that Bradford failed to overturn their points deduction but even so this game will mean a lot.
Wakefield will hope to pull away from the bottom two with a win as they sit only six points clear of Bradford and a loss could pull them into a relegation scrap as London would close up on them and with only one win in four are desperate for a win.
London come into the game still looking for their first win of the season after 15 defeats and with their hosts only eight points better off their is thought that this could be their best chance of a win with some tough games ahead.
Wakefield triumphed 50-22 earlier in the season and are on course for a league double and after last season's 46-14 win at home to the Broncos will be eager for a repeat victory and a first for new coach James Webster after Richard Agar left last week.
Wakefield welcome back Wigan bound Taulima Tautai after a period on the sidelines and is joined by Tim Smith who comes in on loan from Salford while London welcome back Will Lovell and Jamie O'Callaghan
Wakefield -Mathers, Riley, D. Smith, Walshaw, Sykes, Godinet, Anderson, McShane, Gilmour, Kirmond, Washbrook, Ryan, Owen, Wildie, T. Smith, Tautai, Sammut, Scruton, Molloy
London-Caton-Brown, Cook, Cunningham, Drinkwater, Farrar, Foster, Greenwood, Griffin, Herold, Krasniqi, Lovell, Macani, Mataitonga, Minns, Moore, O'Callaghan, Slyney, Vea, Wallace
London are in huge need of a win but I see Wakefield completing the double so Wakefield 36 London 18.
Saturday afternoon sees league leaders St Helens travel to sunny Perpignan to face Catalan who will look to secure a sixth consecutive home win while avoiding a league double to their visitors.
Catalan go into the game with two wins and a draw in the last four and will be keen to close up on the top four while extending the gap to those sides on the fringes of the play-off places and will hope to overturn the 44-22 defeat they suffered to Saints earlier in the season.
St Helens sit top of the table and are in good form with three wins in their last four and will be wary of Catalans stunning home record this season where the glorious sunshine has been a factor for the various travelling sides that have suffered this season.
Last season's meeting saw Saints win 6-26, a repeat of which would ensure they would be top at the end of the round despite potential wins for Leeds and Castleford.
Catalan include Greg Mounis, Ian Henderson and Benjamin Garcia who have all recovered from injury with Julian Bousquet, Mickael Simon and Jean-Philippe Baile all dropping out of the squad while Saints include Jonny Lomax, Alex Walmsley, Willie Manu, Josh Jones and Mark Percival while Lance Hohaia misses out as his wife is due to give birth and Andre Savelio is also called up.
Catalan- Escare, Pryce, Pomeroy, Oldfield, Bosc, Elima, Henderson, Lima, Taia, Anderson, Mounis, Pelissier, Whitehead, Millard, Paea, Baitieri, Duport, Cardace, Garcia
St Helens- Lomax, Makinson Turner, Jones, Walsh, Masoe, Roby, McCarthy-Scarsbrook, Soliola, Manu, Flanagan, Wellens, Walmsley, Percival, Wheeler, Dawson, Thompson, Hand, Savelio
Catalan are terrifyingly good at home and I see them continuing that so Catalan 26 St Helens 20.
The final game of the round sees Salford host Bradford with the Bulls looking to add to their win over Wakefield while erasing the disappointment of their points deduction appeal.
Salford go into the game in terrible form with no wins in their last four with the only positive a draw against Hull KR but will look to complete a double over the Bulls after a 38-24 win earlier in the season and after letting Greg Eden, Shannon McPherson and Tim Smith go from the squad due to the impeding arrival of NRL import Kevin Locke will be keen to improve on what has been a poor season so far.
Bradford despite not getting any points back in their appeal do have some confidence after the win over Wakefield in the last round ended a poor run and know that a win on Sunday would put them only five points behind the Red Devils and with a number of the top sides to come in the next month will be keen to pull away from the bottom.
This could go either way but I am tipping Bradford to make it back to back wins so Salford 18 Bradford 23.
Huddersfield -: Grix, McGillvary, Cudjoe, Wardle, Murphy, Brough, Robinson, Crabtree, Kopczak, Ferres, Chan, Bailey, Lawrence, Patrick, Faiumu, Ta'ai, Wood, Broughton, Johnson.
This could be a close one and despite the lack of a break, I see Leeds just winning so Leeds 25 Huddersfield 22.
Surprisingly, there are four games on Friday night with the pick of the ties being the Castleford's second visit to Wigan in the space of a week after their Challenge Cup triumph.
Wigan go into the game sore after seeing their 28 year home record and the prospect of retaining the Challenge Cup disappear and will be eager to get revenge for the loss while also looking to end a three game losing streak to the Tigers.
Castleford may still be in wonderland after securing a semi-final place in the cup but know that a win would complete a league double over the Warriors and extend their run of wins to four which would move them four points clear of their hosts with the sides in third and fourth respectively.
Last season's meeting began the winning run for Castleford as they beat a tired Wigan side that had met Warrington four days previous 18-4 and for Wigan this year's meeting sees a similar problem with a re-arranged game with Widnes this coming Wednesday so hopefully lightning doesnt strike twice with their fixture pile-up.
Wigan make three changes from Saturday's loss with Scott Taylor, Darrell Goulding and Sam Powell replacing Jack Hughes, Ryan Sutton and Greg Burke while Castleford welcome back Justin Carney, Nathan Massey and Ben Renyolds in place of Jake Webster, Andy Lynch and Daryl Clark.
Wigan-: Bateman, Bowen, Burgess, Crosby, Dudson, Farrell, Flower, Gelling, Goulding, Hampshire, James,Manfredi, McIlorum, O'Loughlin, Powell, Sarginson, Smith, Taylor, Williams.
Castleford- Carney, Clare, Dixon, Dorn, Ellis, Finn, Gibson, Hauraki, Holmes, Huby, Jewitt, Mariano, Massey, Millington, Milner, Reynolds, Shenton, Sneyd, Wheeldon.
After Saturday, Wigan need a huge step-up and I hope it comes tomorrow so Wigan 24 Castleford 22.
Widnes play host to Hull with the Vikings looking to complete a league double over the Airlie Birds or the first time in over 20 years and with their mixed form could do with a good win.
Widnes come into the game with only one win in four league games but buoyant after a comfortable Challenge Cup win over Championship side Keighley and eager to close the gap to the top four as a win could see them as high as fifth.
Hull alike their hosts are also in mixed form with one win in four which came in their last outing at London and need a win in order to keep up their hopes of a top-eight finish and a place in the play-offs while also looking to catch city rivals Hull KR.
Earlier in the season, Widnes edged a 0-7 win in horribly wet conditions and both sides would hope for a higher scoring game tomorrow while Widnes will hope to repeat last season's meeting at the Select Security stadium which saw them triumph 36-16.
Widnes welcome back Jon Clarke and Hep Cahill with Paddy Flynn and Phil Joseph also returning to the fold while Hull bring in Liam Watts coming in for Dean Hadley with Setaimata Sa deemed fit to return.
Widnes- Allen, Brown, Cahill, Clarke, Clough, Craven, Dean, Galea, Gilmore, Flynn, Hanbury, Johnson, Joseph, Kavanagh, Leuluai, Marsh, Owens, Tickle, White.
Hull- Bowden, Crooks, Ellis, Heremaia, Horne, Houghton, Lancaster, Miller, Paea, Paleaaesina, Rankin, Sa, Shaul, Talanoa, Thompson, Tuson, Watts, Westerman, Yeaman.
Form suggests this could be hard to call but I think Widnes will come out on top so Widnes 32 Hull 22.
Hull KR host Warrington in what will be the third meeting between the sides in 2014 with both triumphing away from home.
Hull KR will look to complete a double over Warrington after securing a 25-12 win earlier in the season which came only a week after losing to the Wolves in the Challenge Cup so would love to hand a second successive defeat to their visitors while looking to win for a third time in four games.
Warrington will look to avoid being doubled but unlike their hosts played last weekend in a comfortable win over Bradford in the Challenge Cup and are in good form with wins in all of their last five so will be buoyant in the trip up to face the Robins.
Last season's meeting saw the Robins triumph 26-12 with a repeat something the KR faithful would be very glad of along with the prospect of the league double.
Hull KR's Michael Weyman continues after winning his suspension appeal with the recalled Greg Eden returning as Ben Cockayne is out potentially for ten weeks while Warrington bring in two new faces in the shape of George King and Joe Philbin in place of the injured Micheal Monaghan and Richie Myler.
Hull KR-Burns, Carlile, Costigan, Eden, Gardner, Green, Hall, D Hodgson, J Hodgson, Horne, Keating, Langley, Netherton, Ollett, Salter, Ulugia, A Walker, J Walker, Weyman.
Warrington- Asotasi, Atkins, Bridge, Currie, Dwyer, England, B Evans, R Evans, Grix, Harrison, Higham, Hill, King, Monaghan, Ormsby, Philbin, Ratchford, Riley, Russell.
Hull KR to double would be stunning but I see Warrington coming away with a win so Hull KR 18 Warrington 28.
Tommorow's fourth game sees London travel to face Wakefield with both surely glad that Bradford failed to overturn their points deduction but even so this game will mean a lot.
Wakefield will hope to pull away from the bottom two with a win as they sit only six points clear of Bradford and a loss could pull them into a relegation scrap as London would close up on them and with only one win in four are desperate for a win.
London come into the game still looking for their first win of the season after 15 defeats and with their hosts only eight points better off their is thought that this could be their best chance of a win with some tough games ahead.
Wakefield triumphed 50-22 earlier in the season and are on course for a league double and after last season's 46-14 win at home to the Broncos will be eager for a repeat victory and a first for new coach James Webster after Richard Agar left last week.
Wakefield welcome back Wigan bound Taulima Tautai after a period on the sidelines and is joined by Tim Smith who comes in on loan from Salford while London welcome back Will Lovell and Jamie O'Callaghan
Wakefield -Mathers, Riley, D. Smith, Walshaw, Sykes, Godinet, Anderson, McShane, Gilmour, Kirmond, Washbrook, Ryan, Owen, Wildie, T. Smith, Tautai, Sammut, Scruton, Molloy
London-Caton-Brown, Cook, Cunningham, Drinkwater, Farrar, Foster, Greenwood, Griffin, Herold, Krasniqi, Lovell, Macani, Mataitonga, Minns, Moore, O'Callaghan, Slyney, Vea, Wallace
London are in huge need of a win but I see Wakefield completing the double so Wakefield 36 London 18.
Saturday afternoon sees league leaders St Helens travel to sunny Perpignan to face Catalan who will look to secure a sixth consecutive home win while avoiding a league double to their visitors.
Catalan go into the game with two wins and a draw in the last four and will be keen to close up on the top four while extending the gap to those sides on the fringes of the play-off places and will hope to overturn the 44-22 defeat they suffered to Saints earlier in the season.
St Helens sit top of the table and are in good form with three wins in their last four and will be wary of Catalans stunning home record this season where the glorious sunshine has been a factor for the various travelling sides that have suffered this season.
Last season's meeting saw Saints win 6-26, a repeat of which would ensure they would be top at the end of the round despite potential wins for Leeds and Castleford.
Catalan include Greg Mounis, Ian Henderson and Benjamin Garcia who have all recovered from injury with Julian Bousquet, Mickael Simon and Jean-Philippe Baile all dropping out of the squad while Saints include Jonny Lomax, Alex Walmsley, Willie Manu, Josh Jones and Mark Percival while Lance Hohaia misses out as his wife is due to give birth and Andre Savelio is also called up.
Catalan- Escare, Pryce, Pomeroy, Oldfield, Bosc, Elima, Henderson, Lima, Taia, Anderson, Mounis, Pelissier, Whitehead, Millard, Paea, Baitieri, Duport, Cardace, Garcia
St Helens- Lomax, Makinson Turner, Jones, Walsh, Masoe, Roby, McCarthy-Scarsbrook, Soliola, Manu, Flanagan, Wellens, Walmsley, Percival, Wheeler, Dawson, Thompson, Hand, Savelio
Catalan are terrifyingly good at home and I see them continuing that so Catalan 26 St Helens 20.
The final game of the round sees Salford host Bradford with the Bulls looking to add to their win over Wakefield while erasing the disappointment of their points deduction appeal.
Salford go into the game in terrible form with no wins in their last four with the only positive a draw against Hull KR but will look to complete a double over the Bulls after a 38-24 win earlier in the season and after letting Greg Eden, Shannon McPherson and Tim Smith go from the squad due to the impeding arrival of NRL import Kevin Locke will be keen to improve on what has been a poor season so far.
Bradford despite not getting any points back in their appeal do have some confidence after the win over Wakefield in the last round ended a poor run and know that a win on Sunday would put them only five points behind the Red Devils and with a number of the top sides to come in the next month will be keen to pull away from the bottom.
This could go either way but I am tipping Bradford to make it back to back wins so Salford 18 Bradford 23.
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