Brian Carney says Warrington face tough task against Leeds Rhinos

Sky Sports expert Brian Carney thinks Warrington Wolves may be up against it when they play host to Super League leaders Leeds Rhinos in Friday’s massive Super League encounter (Sky Sports 1, 7.30pm).

Warrington have won three of their first four and are currently third in the table but Leeds are one of the two unbeaten teams left (along with St Helens) and have really impressed Carney.

“The most impressive side of the season so far,” he said. “They beat Hull Kingston Rovers in their first game but leaked a lot of points.

“After that, people thought they would try to use the experience in the side to get through games but that they would get caught out.

“Not a bit of it. Last week they were 12-0 down to Hull FC and they scored 43 points with no reply in the second half. They were absolutely brilliant.

“In Kallum Watkins, you are looking at a Super League superstar. He will have been identified by Warrington Wolves as a man they need to shut down.

“Warrington have been 50-50 so far this season. They went to Hull and won 7-6, then they beat Hull Kingston Rovers and were good in patches, inspired by Stefan Ratchford.

“They have got to improve but they have players who have improvement in them. Daryl Clark, Chris Hill, and Ashton Sims are going to have a battle royal in the front row against (Jamie) Peacock and (Kylie) Leuluai.”

In Thursday’s live match, Castleford travel to Huddersfield (Sky Sports 3, 7.30pm), and Carney is looking forward to the match.

“Don’t miss this game, it is one worth watching,” he said. “Castleford and Huddersfield finished high in Super League last year but have had disappointing starts to the season

“However, Castleford’s Justin Carney is a classy player and he made mincemeat of Josh Charnley when they beat Wigan 42-14 last Friday. Nobody could get near him and anybody watching this game will be excited by him.

“Luke Dorn was also very good in his return and, in Luke Gale, I think Castleford have the in-form half-back in the competition, and a man with the potential to receive international honours at the end of the season.

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“Huddersfield will be terribly disappointed with how their season has started. I went to their first game, a 19-0 defeat at home to Hull, and they were abject.

“But Danny Brough inspired a win over Widnes and his battle with Luke Gale will be the one to watch.

“Huddersfield have some great players in the side but it seems that, if Brough is not on song, the Giants will not be on song. That is something that (coach) Paul Anderson will have to address.”

One of the surprises of the season so far has been the form of Wigan, who have won just one of their first four games, going into Friday’s match at home to Hull.

“It has been a very strange start to the season for a team that could have won the Grand Final last year,” said Carney.

“Many thought they would have won it, had Ben Flower (who was sent off early on against St Helens) stayed on the field.

“They started the season with a draw against Widnes and haven’t played particularly well in a game since then. They lost to Hull Kingston Rovers and everyone expected a reaction against Castleford from the Wigan side.

“(Coach) Shaun Wane usually gets a reaction but Castleford tore them to pieces, and players were making mistakes that you would not usually associate with them.

“It is very difficult to put your finger on what is wrong. Certainly, the personnel Shaun Wane would have liked to start the season with are available to him.

“Sean O’Loughlin is the one major one who is absent and that may be related to the issues that they have. But, more or less, Shaun has all the players available to him. They are just not clicking.

 “I don’t think he will change the personnel (for Friday). The players have to look at themselves for the answers to this one.”