Excitement builds ahead of Super League opener

The George Williams-Gareth Widdop partnership will be key if Warrington are to take over from St Helens and dominate affairs in Betfred Super League new season which gets underway on Thursday night.

First up at the Totally Wicked Stadium we have a beauty with Grand Final winners Saints hosting the team they beat in last season’s Old Trafford final Catalans.

St Helens are 1/3 at Betfred to pick up both points to get their pivotal season when they are bidding for a fourth title on the bounce off to a flyer.

And for romantics out there St Helens skipper James Roby, the veteran skipper who is aged  36  and entering his 19th and probably last season in  the red vee, is 20/1 to score the first try of the new campaign.

It is difficult to see anyone  taking over Saints mantle but on paper that  Wire pairing is arguably the  best in the league – and that won’t have gone unnoticed, for absolute certainty, with Wolves’ new head coach Daryl Powell who is sure to capitalise on the superstar duo.It’s a huge opening game for Warrington at Headingley – and that’s not just because Leeds are 8/1, behind Saints at 9/4 and the Wire at 9/2, for Grand Final glory.

The game is the first to be aired live on Channel 4. We’re all looking forward to seeing how innovative the terrestrial channel will be as they look to widen the appeal of this great game.

Aussie comedian Adam Hills – the 51 year old who plays for Wolves’ physical disability team who was brought up supporting Rabbitohs – has teamed up with TV personality and Leeds star Richie Myler and Helen Skelton for the free-to-air coverage. 

It is the first time Betfred Super League has been on terrestrial for 26 years with Channel 4 announcing four games so far:  Leeds v Wire on Saturday, Hull v Saints on Feb 19, Warrington v Wakefield on March 19 – and Wigan hosting my home town club Salford on April 24.  

Williams, who joined the Wire from Canberra Raiders half-way through last season, is 14/1 with us to score the first try of the Wolves’ new campaign at Leeds  – with Widdop at 16/1.

The Rhinos are, however, odds-on favourites to win the game, with home advantage playing a big part. That makes Warrington good value at 6/5, with the superstar team looking to make an impression on the new gaffer Powell.

Salford, who are 100/1 with Betfred for Grand Final glory, host the league’s new boys Toulouse a week on Sunday after their opener against Powell’s former club Castleford Tigers on Friday.

So ahead of Thursday’s big kick off, Betfred have Saints 9/4 favourites to win the Grand Final at Old Trafford on September 24 at Old Trafford with Wire 9/2, Catalans 6/1, Wigan 13/2 and Leeds at 8/1. Castleford and Hull FC are both 22/1, Huddersfield 28/1 and Hull KR at 35/1 with  Wakefield 80/1, Salford 100/1  – and Toulouse the outsiders at 200/1.