The Play-offs - Part 2

The Play-offs - Part 2

An eventful final weekend saw the Super 8’s and Qualifiers campaigns concluded with a few eye-opening results which sets up three enthralling match-ups for this coming weekend.

Who would have thought last season’s champions (Grand Finalists for the last four years) Wigan, on the verge of sneaking into the Play-offs on points difference, would be swept aside by Wakefield – an opponent who was already out of the running thanks to St Helen’s win a couple of nights earlier – and miss out on a Play-off place for the first time since 2006?

Hull’s emphatic defeat of Castleford Tigers at the Jungle set up an enthralling all-Yorkshire Semi Final with second placed Leeds.  Whilst St Helens, the only other side to win at the Jungle this season, finished fourth and will take on Castleford.

In the Qualifiers, Widnes came back from France celebrating their first ever win away to Catalans which secured their Super League status for another 12 months and left Catalans with the unenviable task of having to get a win at a partisan Leigh Sports Village in the Million Pound Game.

Elsewhere, the Championship Shield and League 1 Promotion Final also look to be mouth-watering encounters as well.

SUPER LEAGUE SEMI FINALS

Castleford Tigers v St Helens

Thursday, 28^th September 2017 – 19:45pm

The first of the weekend’s big games takes place at the Jungle on Thursday night.  St Helens stunned the home crown in Round 1 of the Super 8’s but that didn’t stop the Tigers from going on to claim the League Leaders shield three rounds later and finish the season ten points clear of nearest rivals, Leeds Rhinos.

The ‘will he start-won’t he start’ saga of Luke Gale will be answered this week.  Can Daryl Powell risk his main man a game early, or will he keep him on the sidelines in the hope that Saints don’t shock them by pulling off a memorable victory so he’s ready for the Grand Final?

It’s a big question but Castleford can’t rely on one man.  They have plenty of other match winners in their side.  Saints on the other hand won’t be bothered who they face as they’ll go out there with the same mentality as ever look for a second consecutive win at the Jungle and a third win over the Tigers this season.

My prediction: Castleford to win by 6+ points

Leeds Rhinos v Hull FC

Friday, 29^th September 2017 – 19:45pm

The other Semi Final will be just as exciting, if not more so.  Leeds Rhinos will host the game but they won’t have it all their own way and I fancy Hull to win this one.

Hull’s Dream Team pairing of Mahe Fonua and Albert Kelly could be crucial, and if they can pair that with another good performance from Mark Sneyd, Hull could run away with this like they did the Challenge Cup Semi Final a couple of months ago.

The Rhinos have made no bones about their own ambitions though.  This will be Danny McGuire and Rob Burrow’s final ever home game for Leeds and they won’t want to throw away a chance of successfully ending their career at Old Trafford like team-mates Kevin Sinfield, Jamie Peacock and Kylie Leuluai did in the treble-winning campaign of 2015.

My prediction: Hull to win by 2+ points

MILLION POUND GAME

Leigh Centurions v Catalans Dragons

Saturday, 30^th September 2017 – 15:00pm

It goes without saying that this game can make or break a club’s future.  Wakefield Trinity went from strength to strength after beating Bradford Bulls in the 2015 match (and just look which way Bradford went!)  A year later Salford sneaked it at Hull KR but Hull recuperated and have bounced straight back up to Super League at the first attempt.  Salford also enjoyed one of their most successful seasons in the summer era and they now look to be a settled side.

So this game brings with it a number of conundrums for both clubs.  Leigh will desperately want to avoid dropping down to the Championship after just one season in the top flight and working so hard to get there.  And there have been a few mutterings that relegation could destroy the Dragons, and French rugby league, if the result goes against them.

I would find it hard to go against what will surely be a partisan Leigh crowd which could sway this result.  Had it been the other way round and the game played in Perpignan, then I could have only seen one winner.  But with the game at LSV that should be enough to get Leigh over the line.

If that happens I feel sorry for the nine English Championship clubs next season who will have to travel to Catalans, Toulouse AND Toronto!

My prediction: Leigh to win by 4+ points

CHAMPIONSHIP SHIELD FINAL

Toulouse Olympique v Sheffield Eagles

Saturday, 30^th September 2017 – 14:30pm (UK time)

Toulouse Olympique have the chance to claim a second consecutive Play-off trophy on Saturday.  Having beaten Barrow Raiders in last year’s League 1 Promotion Final they face Sheffield Eagles in the Championship Shield Final – another game that they are favourites to win.

The Eagles last trip to Southern France ended in a 16 point defeat and I don’t see it being any different this time around even if they did overcome a Batley Bulldogs side that finished seven points ahead of them after the regular season.

However, Olympique have won their last ten games and will be confident of making it 11 from 11.  That should offer some consolation for a team that was tipped by many to grab a spot in this season’s Qualifiers.

My prediction: Toulouse to win by 18+ points

LEAGUE 1 PROMOTION FINAL

Barrow Raiders v Whitehaven

Sunday, 1^st October 2017 – 15:00pm

The final match to take place this weekend sees an all-Cumbrian derby in the League 1 Promotion Final.  It’s the match-up every neutral expected and every supporter of either side probably wanted.

Barrow hammered Newcastle Thunder in their Semi Final and will be everyone’s favourites to claim victory and the second promotion spot on Sunday.  It will be Whitehaven’s first visit to Craven Park this season as both previous meetings were up the coast at the Recreation Ground where both sides claimed a victory each.

It took a drop goal deep in extra time for Whitehaven to finally overcome York City Knights but will hope for a more comfortable victory if possible on Sunday and Carl Forster will have his side thoroughly fired up for this encounter.

My prediction: Barrow to win by 8+ points

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