I can’t wait for what should be an amazing play-offs game between Hull KR and Leigh - but I still think Wigan will win Betfred Super League and end St Helens’ long reign as champions.
Friday’s eliminator at Craven Park should be cracking. In Rovers and the Leopards, there’s two teams going up against each other who we suspected would be dark horses at the beginning of the year. But Leigh, winning the Challenge Cup and making the play-offs for the first time, have been outstanding and exceeded their own expectations. What I like about both sides, though, is that they both firmly believe they can win the Grand Final which is great.
Normally, we get teams coming to the play-offs in the lower spots and they’re just happy to be there and then they get blitzed in the first round. But it’s not the case with these two. Home advantage is key for me and maybe dishing up some Challenge Cup final revenge after what happened at Wembley so I’m going for KR. Leigh have been terrific this season but I think this is where it ends.
Saturday then sees the other eliminator as St Helens and Warrington clash. Some people think Wolves, after just keeping hold of sixth spot on Friday, might go on and do something given the star quality in their side. But I don’t buy into that. There's a fundamental part of the game which you absolutely need to win play-offs games: Cohesive, gritty, team defence.
And Warrington have not shown any of that all year. You can’t change that in the space of a week; it’s mindset and structure. And let’s not forget, Saints have utterly dominated the play-offs and Grand Final for the last four years. So, again, I can’t look past Saints in that game. It’s just not going to be Warrington’s year again.
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As the top two, Wigan and Catalans aren’t playing this week. When assessing their chances of success, Catalans do have a huge advantage playing at home. One game in Perpignan to reach a Grand Final? They’ll take that. And I just think Wigan are the team to beat at the moment.
Wigan captain Liam Farrell lifts the League Leaders' Shield at Leigh (PA)They have bounced back brilliantly from the Challenge Cup semi-final loss to Hull KR and look like a team with the bit between their teeth. And a team who are most focused on winning the Grand Final. But strange things happen in the play-offs so it will be interesting and I do think it could be anyone of the top four: Wigan, Catalans. Saints and Hull KR. But in terms of who becomes champions, I’d have Wigan just a nose ahead in horse-racing talk. Given the history of Super League, my money would have to be on a team who has previously won it and there’s only two of them left: Wigan and Saints.
And if we’re looking at how Super League has gone over the decades, we’re looking at a Saints v Wigan final. But most neutrals would like to see a Hull KR v Catalans final and get another new team on that trophy. That would be success for the sport: two fresh names on the two main trophies this year. However, I do think Wigan have that little bit more in them than anyone else. But don’t be surprised if it’s the Dragons or Rovers they face in that final.
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