Super League: Barrie McDermott and Terry O'Connor are back with their predictions
Friday 1 May 2015 15:36, UK
The boys are back and ready to tear into each other once more as they go head-to-head with their Super League predictions.
On the pitch, Barrie McDermott and Terry O'Connor liked nothing better than tearing into the opposition.
They may have hung up their boots but that competitive streak still runs strong and we have found a way to channel their energies.
The boys are back and ready to tear into each other once more as they go head-to-head with their Super League predictions.
Each week they will give their predictions for the Super League games; they will score one point for a win and if they both pick the winner, then the pundit with the closest score gets an extra point.
Last year, McDermott pipped O'Connor to the title, and although Terry demanded a recount, he finally conceded that Barrie was the rightful winner.
Let battle commence!
Current standings
BARRIE - 51
TERRY - 56
Huddersfield v Leeds: 7.30pm, Thursday, Sky Sports 2
Terry says: The likes of Eorl Crabtree and Ukuma Ta'ai have been superb for Giants this season. They're the best defensive unit in the competition and are the only side not to have conceded 200 points in the first 12 games. Last week in their game against Hull FC, they showed us the ruthless side that Paul Anderson has been asking to see.
When you watch Huddersfield, they get a lot of plaudits for what they do down the middle, but it's what they do out wide which is what impresses me. Jermaine McGillvary is one of the most powerful players who, if put in a one-on-one situation, will almost always beat his opposite number and score tries.
Leeds come into the game on that back of a bad loss to Warrington. I know that Kevin Sinfield would not have made that week about himself, but the build-up to that encounter was dominated by talk about his 500th game. They looked out of sorts and unfortunately for Giants, I see them bouncing back with quite a lot of venom to make up for that defeat. Huddersfield have had a great run of form in this fixture in the past - though they lost to Leeds earlier in the year, they had gone seven games unbeaten against the Rhinos prior to that.
Prediction: Leeds are the best team in the competition as statistically they boast the most tries, most tackle busts, most breaks, the most offloads - the list goes on. They are the league leaders for a reason and will be tough to dismantle, so I am going with a Leeds win by 12 points.
Barrie says: I was impressed by Huddersfield last week. I thought they played well under difficult circumstances, and winning two in a row will give them good momentum going into this game. There were three defeats for them before that, but they were all by less than six points, so this is a team that is improving on a weekly basis.
There were some unsung heroes that have given them this impetus, with Scott Grix really growing into his role as each game goes by. As a unit they are functioning very well, ably led by Ukuma Ta’ai in the forwards who scored three tries in the last two games.
Huddersfield are an efficient side but they are facing a Leeds outfit that will want to make amends for a poor showing against Warrington. Wolves were good but the Rhinos were never at the races, so they will want to rectify that with a big performance this week.
In the last three encounters between these two sides, there has been a draw, a two-point win for Giants and a four-point win for Leeds, so it'll be a close one.
Prediction: They are still four points clear at the top of the table and a win could put more daylight between them and the chasing pack, I’m going with a Leeds win by 6.
Wigan v Hull KR: 7.30pm, Friday, Sky Sports 3
Terry says: People have been saying that Wigan haven’t really hit their straps. They are currently third in the competition - one point off second - so I would say there will be a few teams that wish they weren’t hitting their straps.
Throughout the competition they’ve been utterly brilliant in defence, though they conceded a soft try to Wakefield last week which they will want to address. Starting a game with focus will be important, and they will need to get that right this week.
Hull KR made a lot of mistakes against Catalans and I said at half-time that they were going to fix that aspect of the showdown, but they didn’t appear to and ended up losing the game. That loss was their fifth straight defeat on the road and it doesn’t get any easier for them as they face a stern test at Wigan.
Prediction: Normally I’d be happy to back Hull KR in this game but Chris Chester has asked me personally to stop backing his side as they keep losing every time I do! So with his request in mind I’m going with a Wigan win by 14 points.
Barrie says: These sides can certainly play. Despite the win, I don’t think Wigan would have been particularly happy with the way they played against Wakefield. On top of that nobody would have expected them to only have five wins by this stage of the competition, so there is pressure on them to improve.
The Warriors had a few disappointing losses on the road but will arrive home with renewed confidence after the away win last weekend and they are always a tough team to beat at the DW.
Hull KR will have been disappointed with their loss against Catalans and it further adds further fuel to the fire when you know how much more difficult it will be against Wigan. They looked tired in that game and it’s likely the result of a tough Easter period.
Prediction: Hull KR attack really well, and if they can take control of the game early on then they are definitely in with a shout, but I expect Wigan to be too strong, so I think it will be a Wigan win by 10.
Live First Utility Super League
Hull FC v Salford
Terry: Hull by 10
Barrie: Hull FC by 8
St Helens v Wakefield Wildcats
Terry: Saints by 14
Barrie: Saints by 16
Castelford v Catalans
Terry: Castleford by 10
Barrie: Castleford by 12
Warrington v Widnes
Terry: Widnes by 4
Barrie: Warrington by 7
