Widnes v Wigan: Vikings to conquer old foes with a handicap
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Widnes Vikings host long-standing rivals and 2014’s defeated Grand Finalists Wigan Warriors in what promises to be a corker of a Super League curtain raiser on Thursday night.
A fine way to open the new season then, but more importantly; where can Ladbrokes customers turn a profit on the televised clash?
Having mulled over the evidence, we’ve come up with a three-point betting plan which has a win for the underdogs at its head, albeit with a favourable handicap just to be on the safe side.
Widnes Vikings to beat Wigan Warriors (+8 handicap) @ 11/8
Despite faring badly in the away fixtures since returning to the top table, Denis Betts’ Vikings have been a thorn in Wigan’s side at the Select Security Stadium, winning two of the last three and only being bettered by a single point in 2012.
The 24-10 Vikings victory in the last Super League clash back in August is reason enough to get excited about the 3/1 on a repeat on Friday night.
However, Wigan did end up marching all the way to the Grand Final and with 13 of those Old Trafford starters available, affording Widnes a an eight-point cushion seems wise.
First Try: Rhys Hanbury to score first try @ 14/1
Vikings’ Aussie full-back was no stranger to the try line last season, going over 15 times in an impressive individual campaign.
In the absence of last term’s top scorer, Paddy Flynn, the former Crusader is the rightful favourite in this market from the home camp.
To score a try at anytime: Liam Farrell @ 15/8
If you are looking for a near-guaranteed Warriors try scorer then centre Josh Charnley @ 8/13 is your man, having scored five in the rout of Widnes at the DW Stadium and once in this fixture during 2014.
However, at slightly more pleasing odds is Wigan second-row Farrell who also went over twice in the home fixture and bagged himself a dozen tries last season.
*Charnely has also been boosted by Ladbrokes to score the first try of the match from 6/1 out to 8/1.
All Odds and Markets are correct as of the date of publishing.
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