Betfred Super League: Saints Looking To Make In-Roads At Magic Weekend

The champs need to put a run of form together
07:00, 04 Jun 2023

After Saturday's frantic opening day of action, day two of Magic Weekend brings champions St Helens and league leaders Warrington Wolves to the stage as part of a second triple-header. Saints in particular need to extend their winning run after a sluggish first half of the Betfred Super League season.

Here is everything you need to know about the Sunday line-up of this year's event.

Wakefield Trinity v Leigh Leopards

Where: St James' Park, Newcastle.

When: 12pm (BST)

TV: Sky Sports Arena

Wakefield's last five: Lost 6-36 @ Catalans (Rd 13), Lost 6-26 v Hull FC (Rd 12), Lost 18-32 @ Warrington (Rd 11), Lost 6-22 @ Wigan (Rd 10), Lost 0-32 v Leigh (Rd 9)

Leigh's last five: Won 30-12 v Warrington (Rd 13), Won 30-4 @ Huddersfield (Rd 12), Won 30-6 v Castleford (Rd 11), Won 20-6 v Leeds (Rd 10), Won 32-0 @ Wakefield (Rd 9)

Betfred match winner odds (80 minutes): Wakefield 13/2, Leigh 1/11, draw 22/1

Handicap betting (Wakefield +17.5): Wakefield 10/11, Leigh 5/6

Milestones:

Mason Lino has made 99 career appearances, including 62 for Wakefield, while Jordan Crowther is set to play his 100th game for Trinity.

LEIGH HAVE BEEN COMFORTABLE WINNERS IN BOTH VISITS TO WAKEFIELD THIS SEASON
LEIGH HAVE BEEN COMFORTABLE WINNERS IN BOTH VISITS TO WAKEFIELD THIS SEASON

Previous meetings:

Round 9, 2023: Wakefield Trinity 0, Leigh Leopards 32

Round 24, 2021: Leigh Centurions 26, Wakefield Trinity 18

Round 13, 2021: Wakefield Trinity 30, Leigh Centurions 20

Round 13, 2017: Leigh Centurions 26, Wakefield Trinity 40

Round 6, 2017: Wakefield Trinity 28, Leigh Centurions 24

Total Super League meetings: 7 (Wakefield 4, Leigh 3, no draws)

Still in search of a first win of the season, Wakefield have made a further move in the transfer market this week in landing David Fifita for a second spell until the end of the season. They will need more than just a feel-good factor on Sunday though as they take on a Leigh side they have already fallen to 32-0 in the Betfred Super League and 40-12 in the Betfred Challenge Cup, both of them at Belle Vue.

The Leopards are riding the crest of a wave having strung together six victories in their last six matches to climb as high as fifth on the ladder. They were big winners over leaders Warrington last week, and with a very winnable Magic Weekend game followed by a home fixture with a Hull FC side they've already beaten away, then a Challenge Cup quarter-final against Championship side York Knights, this could be a big few weeks in the modern history of the Leigh club.

Sportsman stat: Before this season Leigh had recorded 10 Super League victories in 73 attempts at a 13.7% win rate but in 2023 they have collected eight wins in 13 at 61.5%.

St Helens v Huddersfield Giants

Where: St James' Park, Newcastle.

When: 2:15pm (BST)

TV: Sky Sports Arena

St Helens' last five: Won 13-12 @ Leeds (Rd 13), Won 26-12 v Salford (Rd 12), Lost 12-24 @ Catalans (Rd 11), Won 28-6 v Warrington (Rd 10), Lost 14-26 @ Hull KR (Rd 9)

Huddersfield's last five: Won 20-4 v Castleford (Rd 13), Lost 4-30 v Leigh (Rd 12), Lost 0-28 @ Hull KR (Rd 11), Lost 14-20 @ Hull FC (Rd 10), Won 26-14 v Catalans (Rd 9)

Betfred match winner odds (80 minutes): St Helens 4/11, Huddersfield 9/4, draw 20/1

Handicap betting (Huddersfield +8.5): St Helens 20/21, Huddersfield 4/5

Milestones:

Tui Lolohea's next appearance will be the 200th of his career, while Huddersfield team-mate Luke Yates needs one more to bring up 100 in Super League. Meanwhile, Jermaine McGillvary could reach 250 career tries with a hat-trick at Magic Weekend.

SAINTS WERE NARROW WINNERS WHEN THE TWO SIDES MET IN MARCH
SAINTS WERE NARROW WINNERS WHEN THE TWO SIDES MET IN MARCH

Previous meetings:

Round 6, 2023: Huddersfield Giants 12, St Helens 14

Round 19, 2022: St Helens 25, Huddersfield Giants 0

Round 9, 2022: Huddersfield Giants 12, St Helens 24

Round 4, 2021: Huddersfield Giants 10, St Helens 18

Round 11, 2020: Huddersfield Giants 6, St Helens 54

Total Super League meetings: 58 (St Helens 44, Huddersfield 13, one draw)

St Helens might have won three games in succession across league and cup but few would try to claim they are back at peak Saints level just yet under Paul Wellens. They were slow starters in beating Salford Red Devils, then saw off Halifax Panthers in the Challenge Cup by a modest 26-6 scoreline. Last up they edged out Leeds Rhinos in a golden-point thriller which at times they made a bit of a meal of, and they are still on the outside of the play-off spots looking in for the time being.

Huddersfield Giants finally got another win under their belts in Round 13 against Castleford Tigers, but it will take a few more wins against higher-performing opposition for anyone to start calling this a successful season of any kind. Ian Watson remains under pressure amidst a five-from-12 return so far and a sluggish style of play to go with it. Victory over the champs could be just what they need.

Sportsman stat: Saints have won their last six Super League meetings with Huddersfield, but that remains three short of their best run against the Giants in the summer era - with nine-game win streaks having been achieved twice (1998-2001 and 2003-2006).

Hull FC v Warrington Wolves

Where: St James' Park, Newcastle.

When: 4:30pm (BST)

TV: Sky Sports Arena

Hull FC's last five: Lost 22-29 @ Salford (Rd 13), Won 26-6 @ Wakefield (Rd 12), Won 14-10 v Wigan (Rd 11), Won 20-14 v Warrington (Rd 10), Lost 10-34 @ Leeds (Rd 9)

Warrington's last five: Lost 12-30 @ Leigh (Rd 13), Won 21-14 v Hull KR (Rd 12), Won 32-18 v Wakefield (Rd 11), Lost 6-28 @ St Helens (Rd 10), Lost 6-13 v Wigan (Rd 9)

Betfred match winner odds (80 minutes): Hull FC 21/10, Warrington 2/5, draw 20/1

Handicap betting (Hull FC +7.5): Hull FC 10/11, Warrington 5/6

Milestones:

Warrington's Ben Currie has 98 career tries heading into Sunday's Magic Weekend finale.

WARRINGTON BEAT HULL 34-6 AT THE HALLIWELL JONES IN ROUND 7
WARRINGTON BEAT HULL 34-6 AT THE HALLIWELL JONES IN ROUND 7

Previous meetings:

Round 7, 2023: Warrington Wolves 34, Hull FC 6

Round 16, 2022: Warrington Wolves 4, Hull FC 0

Round 9, 2022: Hull FC 18, Warrington Wolves 16

Round 3, 2021: Hull FC 14, Warrington Wolves 14

Elimination Play-Off, 2020: Warrington Wolves 14, Hull FC 27

Total Super League meetings: 59 (Hull FC 23, Warrington 33, three draws)

They might have gone down to Salford in Round 13, but Hull FC coach Tony Smith was quick to praise his side's performance in the 29-22 reverse. That loss ended a four-game winning streak which has seen the Black And Whites' season pulled back on track. They will want to capitalise on their improved form with a win against a Warrington side reeling from an untimely defeat last week.

The Wire were beaten 30-12 by resurgent Leigh Leopards in their last outing, and they will be looking to reassert their authority at the top of the league with a bounce-back result against Hull on Sunday. Daryl Powell will be keen to bury the controversy regarding Josh McGuire's latest disciplinary trouble by getting the Wolves back on track on the field.

Sportsman stat: Hull have lost the last four Magic Weekend fixtures they have played against teams not called Hull Kingston Rovers, including heavy defeats to St Helens (45-0 in 2017) and Huddersfield (55-2 in 2019).

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