After a gruelling campaign, the Super League Grand Final is upon us, and we have two remarkably different, but no less worthy, competitors facing off in the final, with the all-conquering v the upstarts, the powerhouse v the underdogs, the Saints v the Devils.
Our Rugby League betting expert gives you the best bets from Saturday’s Grand Final.
St Helens
Saints have had an astonishingly good year. They have only lost three times all season, and have scored a quite astonishing 916 points – over 31 points a game this season.
Justin Holbrook’s team this year have been fantastic to watch, and in their coaches last game, Saints will be looking to send him out on a high. St. Helens are huge favourites coming into the game and can be backed at 2/9 with Grosvenorsport.com.
Flying winger Tommy Makinson has had another excellent year and was top scorer with 23 tries this year. He’s been outstanding throughout, and it is hard to imagine him not crossing the whitewash at Old Trafford. Makinson to score anytime is 4/5.
Salford
The Red Devils started the year as one of the fancies for relegation. That certainly hasn’t happened, as Ian Watson’s men deservedly came third in the table, then absolutely obliterated reigning champions Wigan at the DW Stadium in the preliminary final.
Josh Jones, Ken Sio and Niall Evalds have all had excellent seasons, but the plaudits at the AJ Bell this year have belonged to one man.
Jackson Hastings has been unplayable at times, winning the Man of Steel Award, and has made a scarcely believable 36 assists. The Australian halfback holds the key to unlocking every defence in the league, and Saints will need to keep tabs on him at all times if they are to win at Old Trafford.
Salford are 3/1 underdogs, and their flying fullback Evalds is 7/4 to score anytime.
Fairytale for someone
For fans of happy endings, this final is a win-win. Either Justin Holbrook caps a dominant period in Saints’ history with a deserved title, or Salford manage to win it all in a remarkable season.
However, St Helens have really struggled in big games recently, losing in last year’s playoffs, as well as falling flat in the Challenge Cup Final in August.
Salford have nothing to lose, and as we saw against Wigan last week, aren’t afraid to play excellent rugby against the big boys. It should be a wonderful affair, but expect Hastings and co to shock the world and win their first Grand Final. Salford to win by 12 or less offers good value at 4/1, and they could sneak a famous victory.
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