Wigan Warriors v Leeds Rhinos: Prediction, Tips and Odds

There are just two rounds remaining of the Super League regular season and Wigan Warriors have one hand on the League Leaders' Shield following last week's win over title rivals Hull KR.

The champions are looking for back-to-back first-place finishes and will all but seal top spot with a win over Leeds Rhinos at the DW Stadium on Friday.

However, the Rhinos are on the rampage and must win both remaining matches to have any chance of sealing their own place in the play-offs with a top-six finish, and they will be buoyed by their good recent record against the Warriors.

Leeds Rhinos +10 - 1/1

Wigan Warriors have once again been the team to beat over the course of another gruelling Super League season and they have top spot in their sights following last week's crucial 24-20 win over second-placed Hull KR.

The Warriors had to battle for every point last Friday and things are unlikely to be any different a week later, with Leeds looking a totally different side to the one that limped through the first half of the campaign.

Rohan Smith was sacked early on in July following Leeds' poor form and was replaced by fellow Australian Brad Arthur, and the turnaround has been remarkable.

The Rhinos have won five of eight matches under Arthur to surge up the table and put themselves on the brink of an unlikely play-off spot.

It's three wins on the bounce for the Headingley men, who hammered the Warriors in a shock 30-4 victory just over a month ago, and that result was the latest in a line of decent results for the Rhinos against Wigan.

The Loiners have won four of their last six meetings with the reigning Super League champions and they know it is win or bust at the DW Stadium this Friday.

That should see a spirited performance once more, so backing Leeds with a chunky 10-point start on the match handicap looks a decent bet in this mouthwatering contest.

Wigan Warriors penalty first scoring play - 11/2
Leeds Rhinos penalty first scoring play - 4/1

Leeds hammered Wigan only last month and the meetings between these two prior to that resulted in a 50-0 victory for the Warriors at Headingley in 2023, but those outcomes were out of character for this fixture which is often a tight affair.

That looks likely to be the case this week with so much at stake for both teams and the regular season finish line firmly on the horizon.

Points could be at a premium this week and both sides will look to score with any given opportunity, so backing either team to open the scoring with a penalty-kick at goal looks a great-value opening bet.

Wigan's Adam Keighran and Rhyse Martin of the Rhinos are two of the best kickers in the game, so they will relish the chance to take a shot at goal, particularly in the early stages of the match when both outfits are looking to get their noses in front.

The pair rarely miss when given opportunities to go for goal so backing either side to start the scoring with a penalty looks a profitable way to go.

In a game of fine margins neither side will want to pass up such a golden opportunity at the DW Stadium.

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Wigan Warriors v Leeds Rhinos odds

Wigan Warriors - 2/9
Leeds Rhinos - 10/3

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This article was written by a partner sports writer via Spotlight Sports Group. All odds displayed on this page were correct at the time of writing and are subject to withdrawal or change at any time.