Former Super League coach Ian Millward previews the latest round of matches, as well as picking his best NRL bets.
Click here for this weekend's Super League guide including team news
Recommended bets:
2pts Catalan Dragons (-4) at evens - have a good home record against the Giants
2pts Manly Sea Eagles (-14) at evens - on a roll and have a great recent record against Newcastle
Castleford v Warrington (+14) - Sunday, 1530 BST
Warrington have the second worst points difference in Super League and are only averaging 5.5 points in attack so that shows why they are struggling.
Leaders Cas will be bringing back a whole host of players they rested last week - including Luke Gale, Michael Shenton and Zak Hardaker - and I see this being another miserable day for the Wolves.
Cas to win and cover.
Leigh (+6) v Wigan - Thursday, 2000 BST (live on Sky Sports)
Leigh are being hurt by the absences of Micky Higham and Gareth Hock, but Harrison Hansen returns from injury to face his former club while half-back Ben Reynolds and back-rower Glenn Stewart are also back.
The Centurions have won just one of their last eight games but do not forget this is a very big derby match and means a lot to the town.
I always think Wigan play much better when captain Sean O'Loughlin is in the side, but he is ruled out along with hooker Sam Powell.
Sam Tomkins could return for them next week afer injury which is a boost but he is going to take a lot of time to get up to speed.
Wigan have won just one of their last six and have lost the last three, but I still expect them to be too strong so the call is for them to win and cover.
Salford v Hull FC (+2) - Friday, 2000 BST (live on Sky Sports)
I like Salford's craft and kicking game and in the likes of Todd Carney, Rob Lui and Martin Dobson they have half-backs who can make a difference.
It's second against fifth but if you look at the points difference it's Salford +160 and Hull +20 which is a fair indication of where these teams are.
Hull did beat Wigan last week but continue to miss Gareth Ellis.
They were beaten 54-18 at home by Salford recently and games between these two usually have big scores.
I like Salford's consistency and I see them winning and covering, while in the under/over team points market I would certainly favour over in this one.
St Helens v Widnes (+12) - Friday, 2000
Saints have won two out of three under new coach Jason Holbrook and they beat Widnes three times last season.
For a side who have not had the best of seasons so far, they still have the second best defensive record in Super League.
The Vikings have won their last two to lift themselves off the bottom of the table and beat Saints 16-14 back in April.
But St Helens were in a real rut at that time and are now rejuvenated. Their forwards have more size and if they win the ruck they will win and cover.
Catalan Dragons v Huddersfield (+4) - Saturday, 1700 BST (live on Sky Sports)
I'm making the Dragons my best of the weekend, to beat Huddersfield and cover.
The French side have a very good record at home against the Giants, although there is only a minimal difference between them.
They lost 26-6 last week at Widnes but had four players sin-binned so I expect their discipline to be much better at home.
The Dragons are at full strength with Julian Bousquet back from suspension Louis Anderson returning from injury.
Greg Bird will be missed but Luke Walsh and Richie Myler are matchwinners and I'm behind the hosts in this one.
Wakefield (+6) v Leeds - Saturday, 1900 BST
These sides currently sit joint third in the table and who would have thought we would be saying that at this stage of the season.
I think the time has come to accept that Wakefield are a side who are playing well and victory here would earn them third spot outright
They have won six games on the spin and that takes some doing.
Leeds have won three of their last five, but those wins came against poor sides and I still have my doubts about them.
Wakefield to win this one for me.
NRL
Manly v Newcastle (+14) - Friday, 0900 BST
Manly are on a real roll at the moment and have won their last six games against Newcaste, five of them by a margin of 16 points or more.
Newcastle have a habit of doing pretty well in the frst 40 minutes of games, but then conceding plenty in the second half.
Manly are in a rich vein of form so I take them to win and cover.
Brisbane v South Sydney (+12) - Friday, 1050 BST
Although Brisbane Broncos have lost their last two, they have been by relatively small margins and they are a strong side at home so I expect them to bounce back here.
It is interesting to note that they have won 13 of their last 16 home games where the start against them has been double figures or more.
Half-back Andrew Reynolds remains sidelined for the Rabittohs and that only makes their task harder.
Wests Tigers (+12) v Sydney - Sunday, 0700 BST
Sydney have won their last eight games against Wests and if they arrive with a killer instinct and some real intent they can continue that run.
They are fourth in the table and face a side who have won just three games so far so form should prevail.
The Roosters to win and cover.
Posted 1343 BST on 08/06/2017
