West Yorkshire derby features in rest of Super League action

The final action from the first round of the new Super League season pits Huddersfield against Hull, while Leeds travel to Craven Park and it’s derby day as Castleford host Wakefield.

Last season’s Challenge Cup runners-up the Tigers begin their campaign by welcoming rivals Wakefield. Having this as the first game of the campaign is apt in many respects, as, without a doubt, form goes out of the window in what is historically a fiercely contested derby.

Castleford are odds-on at 1/3 with Coral to win the match, and assistant coach and former player Danny Orr insists that they have recruited well in the close season.

“You are always hopeful before a season starts and we think we’re ready to have a good go again. If we can do better than last year it will be a fantastic season. It’s going to be very tough, but hopefully as we did last year we’ll improve our standards and get better every single week,” Orr said.

“But just because we were good last year there’s no God given right that we are going to be good this time. It just doesn’t happen for you, you have to keep working hard on improving your game and see where it takes you. I think we’ve recruited well and the players we’ve brought in will do a good job for us,” he continued.

“Luke Gale’s got a lot of Super League experience in his half-back position and I think he’s going to be really good for us.”

Leeds Rhinos, meanwhile, travel to Hull KR, and skipper Kevin Sinfield insists he’s fresh for the new campaign.

“Freshness is the word I’d use,” Sinfield said, when asked how he felt after pre-season. “Everybody throughout Super League will tell you they’re in the best shape of their life and I could stand here and tell you that myself,” he continued, with the Rhinos odds-on at 4/9 for the win.