Leeds Rhinos, defending their Super League title, make their home debut in this season’s camapign on Friday evening when they entertain St Helens.
The Rhinos got off to a winning start last weekend, away at Hull 16-12, but they had to defend with some determination in the closing stages to beat off a determined Hull fightback.
St Helens, too, set off on a successful note, 40-18 at home to Widnes, but those statistics pale compared with this game last season.
For Saints it was their lowest point in Super League when they were routed 70-0 by a rampant Leeds, the first time they failed to score in the league. They will need no more encouragement than that humiliation to put the record straight this time round.
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However, Saints had little more to cheer in their home fixture against the Rhinos, going down 25-19.
Both sides are unchanged from their opening fixture, and the bookmakers see this as very much a home banker. VC Bet make Leeds 2-7, with Saints 5-2 and the draw 22-1.
There is a bit more to get our teeth into in the handicap market, though, with VC Bet quoting 10-11 the pair, Saints with a ten-point start.
Although Saints can be expected to put up more of a fight than last time, the Rhinos are a top-class outfit who have swiftly found their form. Take the Rhinos to cover the spread.