Rugby League Betting – Rhinos to Edge Classic Final

August 25th, 2010 / paul

It’s one of the most eagerly awaited Challenge Cup Finals of recent years and no surprise that this week’s clash between Leeds Rhinos and Warrington Wolves has sold out Wembley Stadium. For Wolves’ coach Tony Smith, it’s a particularly poignant occasion as he led the Rhinos to two Super League titles but they lost to Hull in the Challenge Cup Final in 2005 on the only occasion he led them out at Wembley. Leeds are the current Super League champions and in fair form coming into the Challenge Cup Final having won their last three games, including a dramatic semi-final win over St Helens. They’ve already notched a league double over the Wolves, which is why they are a best Evens with Stan James to be lifting the trophy at the end of 80 minutes. But both matches were hard-fought and defending cup holders Warrington have given every indication that they won’t surrender their crown, won in such scintillating style against Huddersfield Giants 12 months ago, easily.

The Giants were one of the Wolves’ early victims in this year’s competition and, like Leeds, Warrington have won their last three games, being particularly impressive when beating Hull 38-18 last week which included a 16-point haul for Ben Westwood. The marauding second-rower, who has also assumed kicking duties recently, has been one of the Wolves’ success stories this season and looks overpriced at 20/1 with Betfred to win the Lance Todd Man of the Match award at Wembley. Team-mate Lee Briers is currently 7/1 in this particular market with Betfred and Boylesports, while Leeds’ Danny Maguire can be backed at 8/1 with Skybet.

I’ve weighed up this final from several angles but whichever way I approach it, I just can’t see either side pulling clear of the other. The likely absence of Warrington’s England star Chris Bridge has swayed me towards the Rhinos, bidding for a first Challenge Cup win in 11 years, so I’m going for a 6-10 winning margin in favour of the Yorkshiremen at Coral‘s 6/1.