Hull youngster raring to go

Having endured an injury-stricken 2012 campaign, centre Joe Arundel can’t wait to get going with Hull FC (12/1 – Super League Grand Final 2013 outright with bet365) for the Super League campaign next year.

The 21-year-old was forced to watch from the sidelines for much of last season with the Castleford Tigers, as the West Yorkshire outfit struggled and finished level on points with bottom side Widnes Vikings with just six wins in 27 outings.

However, Arundel has moved on to pastures new and signed a four-year deal with the Airlie Birds, who will be looking to challenge in the Super League playoffs again next term.

The youngster, who is set to return to action in pre-season, is looking forward to getting back in the thick of the action with Hull (12/1 – Challenge Cup 2013 outright with bet365) in 2013.

He told the club’s official website: “I’ll be pretty much ready to go from the start and I’m really looking forward to starting afresh. I just want to get back to where I was as quickly as possible and then take my game even further.

“It’s been a bit of a nightmare year really. The first operation went wrong and I had to go on a waiting list for ages before I could have a second one, but I’ve had a good break and I’m feeling fresher than ever.”

Robins starlet seals Warriors switch

Talented youngster Scott Taylor has completed a “dream” move from Hull KR to the Wigan Warriors (9/4 – Super League Grand Final 2013 outright with bet365) ahead of next season.

The 2012 Challenge Cup winners are believed to have paid a substantial fee for the 21-year-old, who still had two years left on his deal at New Craven Park.

Taylor, who has signed a two-year deal with the possibility of extending for a third at the DW Stadium, was delighted to secure the switch to a Wigan (7/2 – Challenge Cup 2013 outright with bet365) side he has admired for some time.

The front-rower said: “I’m over the moon a team like Wigan has come in for me, they are one of the best teams in the world and this is a massive opportunity for me.

“Whilst growing up, Wigan were always a team I followed with interest and I enjoyed watching some of the game’s top stars playing for them.

“Wigan are a massive club and I can’t wait to meet all my new team-mates and staff at the start of pre-season. I’m still in shock that I’ve signed for Wigan, it’s a dream come true for me.”

Wolves and Rhinos ready for Grand Final

Both sides are set to be at full strength when Warrington Wolves and Leeds Rhinos contest the Super League Grand Final at Old Trafford on Saturday evening (Warrington 4/6 – To Score First with bet365).

The Wire, who finished second in the table at the end of the regular season, are out for revenge after losing in the semi-finals to the men from Headingley 12 months ago.

However, the Wolves did see the Rhinos off in the final of this year’s Challenge Cup so have already shown they know how to beat Brian McDermott’s men.

Warrington have never appeared in the Grand Final before while Leeds are making their fifth appearance in six years as they look to prove they have again timed their run to perfection having finished fifth again.

Leeds welcome back Danny McGuire from suspension while forwards Richard Moore and Chris Clarkson have also been included in their 19-man squad.

Warrington have selected Garreth Carvell and Tyrone McCarthy in their squad after they missed out in the semi-final win although coach Tony Smith looks set to keep the faith with his team.

The Wolves are 4/9 to win the match with bet365 while the Rhinos are available to back at 15/8.

Cooper desperate for Wolves chance

Warrington Wolves forward Mike Cooper is hoping he will get his chance to play at Old Trafford to take on the Leeds Rhinos in the Grand Final on Saturday (Leeds 13/8, draw 20/1, Warrington 8/15 Match Betting with bet365).

The 24-year-old was unfortunate to miss out on the Challenge Cup final at Wembley against Leeds back in August with the Wire (1/2 Super League title outright with bet365) coming out on top in the capital.

Cooper featured in the Super League semi-final victory over St Helens last weekend and will be looking to beat Garreth Carvell to a place in the side for the showpiece event of the rugby league season.

Having been a Manchester United fan all his life, Cooper is desperate to play at the home of the Red Devils and is hoping head coach Tony Smith will give him the nod for Saturday.

He said: “You certainly can’t relax at our club. We’re all striving to be better players.

“Hopefully I’ve done enough in my last couple of performances to get in the team but you never know. We’ll have to wait and see what happens.

“I’m a massive Man United fan and my whole family are so it would be extra special for them to see me play here.”

Wolves wary of Rhinos threat

Warrington Wolves hooker Mickey Higham believes there is no chance of his side taking Leeds Rhinos lightly in the Super League Grand Final on Saturday (Leeds 13/8, draw 20/1, Warrington 8/15 – Match Betting with bet365).

Wolves booked their place in the final of the competition thanks to a comprehensive 36-18 victory over St Helens and the Wire will now go up against defending champions Leeds.

The clash at Old Trafford on Saturday will see a repeat of the two teams that featured in the final of the Challenge Cup this term, with Warrington coming out on top with a 36-18 victory.

However, Leeds (6/4 – Super League Grand Final outright with bet365) have won the Grand Final four times in the last five seasons and Higham is fully aware of what the Rhinos are capable of.

He said: “I did fancy Wigan. It could have gone either way at the end but it went for Leeds. That’s why they are a champion team, they’ve been there the last six or seven years.

“They had a defeat in the Challenge Cup so they have quite a few things to motivate them this week.

“It’s going to be a tough one but, if we can stick to our strategies and our guns, hopefully we can get them again.”

McDermott lauds Leeds’ ‘steel’

Coach Brian McDermott has insisted Leeds will be hard to beat after they put in a ‘sensational’ performance to secure their place in the Super League Grand Final next Saturday (Leeds 6/4 Grand Final Winner with bet365).

The defending champions took early control of Friday’s contest at Wigan, building an 11-0 lead at the break, although the Regular Season winners stormed back into the contest in the second half with two converted tries giving them the advantage.

However, Leeds captain Kevin Sinfield kicked a late penalty which epitomised the never-say-die attitude of the Rhinos to earn a 13-12 win and book a return to Old Trafford and a fifth Grand Final appearance in six years.

McDermott was full of praise for his troops and knows that they have the desire, experience and commitment to be a match for anyone at this stage of the season.

“It’s hard to find words to describe my players,” McDermott said. “They’re just a sensational group of people.

“We stay tough and at this time of year you needs balls of steel to succeed. When everyone else loses their nerve, we manage to keep ours.”

Leeds will discover their Grand Final opponents when St Helens host Warrington in the other semi-final at Langtree Park on Saturday night (Saints 11/10, Wolves 4/5, Tie 18/1 – Match Betting with bet365).

Smith plots Saints downfall

Warrington coach Tony Smith insists his side can get the better of St Helens on Saturday, despite the heavy defeat at the hands of the Saints in their opening play-off fixture (Super League matches – St Helens 11/10, Warrington 4/5, tie 18/1 with bet365).

St Helens romped to a 28-6 victory at the Halliwell Jones Stadium two weeks ago but Warrington bounced back to beat Hull last Saturday, while Saints enjoyed the weekend off.

However, Smith insists his side will not be affected by the extra fixture and is confident Warrington can come out on top and secure a place in the Grand Final, where they will face the winner of Friday’s showdown between Wigan and Leeds should they see off Saints.

“We probably weren’t in need of a week off. We were hoping for the break but we didn’t particularly need one,” said the Australian. “We’ve been able to rotate, rest and freshen people up at different stages this year so are feeling ready to go with a lot of our players feeling fresh and looking forward to it.”

He added: “The team that performs the best on the night will take the spoils.”

Warrington won their Super League game at Langtree Park earlier in the season and have been boosted by the returns of Garreth Carvell and Ben Westwood, who is on the shortlist for the Man of Steel award, ahead of Saturday’s contest.

St Helens welcome back Chris Flannery but will again be without Michael Shenton, who hasn’t featured in the play-offs due to a hand injury (Handicap with tie – St Helens (+2) 10/11, Warrington (-2) 10/11, tie 16/1 with bet365).

Smith looks to half backs

Warrington Wolves coach Tony Smith believes the key to beating St Helens this Saturday and booking their place in the Super League Grand Final lies with the half-back pairing of Lee Briers and Richie Myler (Match Betting – St Helens 11/10, tie 18/1, Warrington 4/5 with bet365).

The duo combined well for the Wolves in last weekend’s 24-12 victory over Hull FC, which set up the clash with St Helens.

And Smith says he will look to Briers and Myler again on Saturday as his side look to gain revenge for their defeat to Saints earlier in the play-offs, and move a step closer to earning a first-ever Super League triumph (Warrington 3/1 to win the Grand Final with bet365).

“It’s nice to see the half backs combining as they did. In some systems you play left and right half backs and they never come together and meet. But I’m a bit of a traditionalist and I like it when the half backs pass to one another and make each other look good,” explained Smith.

“I thought they were good like that on Saturday, and they will have to devise some ways to break down our opponents this weekend.”

The Wolves finished second behind Wigan in the Super League table and were favourites to book their place in the semi-finals when they met Saints in the opening week of the play-offs.

But the visitors stunned the home crowd with an accomplished performance, and they will be seeking a repeat on home territory this weekend as they aim to lift the Super League trophy following an amazing run of five consecutive Grand Final defeats (St Helens 10/3 to win the Grand Final with bet365).

McDermott concern at ban

Leeds Rhinos coach Brian McDermott has expressed his concern for the sport after seeing key play-maker Danny McGuire suspended for the Rhinos’ clash with Wigan (Match Betting – Wigan 1/4, tie 22/1, Leeds 10/3 with bet365).

The winner of Friday’s match will qualify for the Super League Grand Final, where they will face the victor of the game between St Helens and Warrington, but if Leeds are to defend the title they won in 2011 then they must do it without McGuire, who was banned after being found guilty of a dangerous tackle in the Rhinos’ victory over Catalan Dragons.

“I accept the decision as Danny copped the guy on the chin and the panel were forced to make a very big call, but I just worry about the future if players are being banned for getting their tackles only slightly wrong,” said McDermott, who led Leeds to Grand Final success in his first season in charge.

“For as long as rugby league has been around, the team that tackles and runs hardest usually wins matches, but players are becoming hesitant about attempting strong tackles, because they are worried about being banned.”

Leeds will be aiming to win the Super League Grand Final from fifth place for the second consecutive year, while Wigan are chasing their first Old Trafford success since 2010 (Leeds 8/1, Wigan Evens to win the Grand Final with bet365).

McDermott hails Hardaker progress

Ahead of their Super League play-off showdown with Wigan Warriors, Leeds Rhinos boss Brian McDermott has praised Zak Hardaker for his Young Player of the Year nomination (Wigan 1/4, draw 22/1, Leeds 3/1 – Match Betting with bet365).

The 20-year-old has been instrumental in guiding Leeds (8/1 – Super League Grand Final outright with bet365) to the last four of the competition this season, with just 80 minutes at the DW Stadium on Friday standing between the West Yorkshire outfit and a place in the Grand Final once again next month.

Hardaker was named alongside John Bateman of the Bradford Bulls and Josh Jones for the award and McDermott has been full of praise for the former Featherstone Rovers youngster who has made the full-back position his own this season.

He told the Yorkshire Evening Post: “He has been outstanding. He has been good in the big games, which is a good indicator for anybody who has got a long future in our game.

“He is clearly a very good player, we can see that. He plays against the lesser teams and does some remarkable things with the ball.

“He is very good defensively, but the most pleasing thing for me is he has stepped up in the big games and had a real crack.”