Barrie McDermott and Terry O'Connor give their Super League predictions
Friday 17 July 2015 19:10, UK
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.
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 - 99
TERRY - 100
Warrington v St Helens: 7.30pm, Thursday, Sky Sports 1
Terry says: A game that always gets you on the edge of your seat! Warrington at home will surely feel confident, with no fresh injuries from the game against Wakefield and with Ben Currie, Ashton Sims and Anthony England all available after completing suspensions. The availability of Matty Russell helps the Wolves enormously; he's a player that gets the roll started and a genuine running threat every time he gets the ball.
With Russell at full-back Stefan Ratchford moved to loose forward, which was like a throwback to those old school ball handling players in the 80s. With Richie Myler and Gareth O'Brien organising, Daryl Clark and Brad Dwyer looking to expose weaknesses close to the ruck, and Russell running early in the tackle count with Ratchford floating around waiting for those chances – I'd say they are pretty dangerous.
A first half hat-trick from St Helens new signing Adam Quinlan was a decent way to announce yourself to Super League and to the home fans. The seventh full-back to be used this year by Saints looked to be pretty at home with his performance. He showed great awareness to position himself in the right place – a natural footballer that won over the fans from St Helens.
A win is a win but deep down the way that Saints played defensively wouldn't have pleased Keiron Cunningham. A 35-34 win was a throwback to the late 90s, early 2000s Saints sides that just wanted to outscore opponents; this team prides itself on good dominant aggressive line speed.
St Helens are still hunting for that top spot, and they are hoping Leeds will fall at one of the final two hurdles. All they can do is 'control the controllables', turn up, play, pick up the points and then focus on the next game.
Prediction: I fancy Warrington in this game because of the lads returning for them, the home advantage and the freedom with which Stefan Ratchford will play. Warrington by eight.
Barrie says: Wolves v Saints games have been outstanding contests in recent years, and this one should be another thriller. Warrington played Wakey and scored 40 points including two from Matty Russell, who looks like he's getting better each week. Daryl Clark was in good form and Tony Smith played the versatile Stefan Ratchford at loose forward to great effect. Saints won a dramatic game against Huddersfield and snatched the game 35-34 after a Luke Walsh drop goal gave them the two league points to keep up the chase for the top spot.
They're just one competition point behind Leeds after the Rhinos were beaten at Wigan last week. Saints look like they've bought a little gem in Adam Quinlan, who scored a hat-trick on debut, and the intangible benefit of that win last week will stand them in great stead for this one.
Prediction: Back in March, Warrington won 32-24 in a cracking game but I think Saints will have just enough in this one – Saints by eight.
Hull KR v Hull FC: 7.30pm, Friday, Sky Sports 1
Terry says: This game will determine which league of eight Hull KR play in. Anything other than a win will see them in the bottom four. Playing at home with the Red and White fans of Hull behind them could give them the inspiration that they need. Being beaten by Salford last week means these last two games are must-win games.
The pressure is on both teams to perform and, like in all derby games, discipline could be key. The Robins gave away 13 penalties last week which didn't help them.
A win for Hull will see them in the top eight. They played with plenty of skill against a Castleford side that had won the last five and that sort of form is needed again.
They didn't have the best opening 40 minutes and trailed 14-6 at half-time, but three tries in the second half put them on the front foot to claim victory. Without Gareth Ellis, a young man with a big future stepped into his boots and made his debut – Brad Fash earned praise from former West Tigers star Ellis.
The man who holds all the answers for the Robins is the brilliant Albert Kelly. His ability to create something out of nothing and pull points out of the bag is up there with the best of them in Super League. Can the likes of Dane Tilse and Adam Walker overpower the FC forwards who will be lacking the mighty Mickey Paea? That favours Hull KR.
Both 19-man squads were announced on Wednesday and they look strong. It is a game that divides households in the city and one that I look forward to because of the energy generated, not only on the pitch but also in the stands.
Prediction: I'm going to go with Hull KR to keep the dreams alive and take it to the final round next week. Hull KR by eight.
Barrie says: Both sides have had a tough period after playing six games in a month and their form has suffered, so this is a perfect hangover tonic for the Hull teams. A mad Hull derby is just the thing to get them going. The Magic Weekend had them lining up on opposite sides of the halfway line and it was the Black and Whites who took the points on that occasion.
Rovers are two competition points behind their neighbours and need this win or it's the middle eight for them. Motivation is high but their last game against Salford was a shadow of the potential that Chris Chester's team were showing when they beat Widnes, Warrington, Catalan and Salford in consecutive weeks in June.
Prediction: The Black and Whites have won in their last two outings and will win this one if Ellis and Mark Minichiello can get stuck into their opposite numbers Kevin Larroyer and Tyrone McCarthy. I’m calling Hull FC by 10.
Catalans Dragons v Huddersfield: 4.55pm, Saturday, Sky Sports 1
Terry says: A win at home will see Catalan safe in the top eight and that's thanks to the home form of the Dragons.
They started strong at Widnes last week, going 12-0 up in the first 12 minutes after slugging it out with Widnes' big six. The next 65 minutes saw them concede 29 points without reply, and it was only in the final three minutes that they scored a further two tries.
Laurent Frayssinous talked about them losing shape in attack as they fatigued. One player who did look strong throughout was Elliott Whitehead; his strength and speed was a constant danger against Widnes.
Missing Foua Yaha, Todd Carney and Eloi Pelissier from the 19-man squad that was announced on the Friday, the Dragons gave debuts to Jordan Sigismeau, who looked good on the flanks. He made more metres carrying the ball than any of his team-mates. They also had 17-year-old old Lucas Albert in the halves making his debut and looking very industrious with the ball throughout.
Huddersfield coach Paul Anderson left Langtree Park a very frustrated man after losing by one point to St Helens. He knows they had enough opportunities to win the game. The players also know a bit more composure could have meant league points. They had three chances in the first 10 minutes - a possible 18 points down the drain.
That could turn into a positive as well. The home form of the Dragons means that Huddersfield need to turn up in the correct frame of mind and that's the challenge they face.
Prediction: Will Carney be back to take on Danny Brough? That could be the game as they are evenly matched. Can Huddersfield be only the second team to win in the south of France in 2015 following Leeds’ round seven win? I think they will - Huddersfield by six.
Barrie says: Against Widnes, yet again the Dragons got off to a good start and let the game edge away. The season is in the balance and this game would go a long way to securing a top-eight place. The Dragons are a better side than they have shown on the road but at home it's a different matter.
Huddersfield were very unlucky last week and Paul Anderson talked about his side's lack of composure in key moments of the game - against St Helens they created enough chances to win two games.
In Jermaine McGillvary they have one of the top finishers in the game and he showed last week with two tries that he's right up there with the plethora of top-drawer wingers in the game today.
Prediction: To lose by just a drop goal last week would have given them confidence to become only the second team to get the 2 league point away at Stade Giles Brutus and I think they’ll do it. Huddersfield by eight points.
Wigan v Widnes
Terry: Wigan by 10
Barrie: Wigan by 8
Leeds v Salford
Terry: Leeds by 12
Barrie: Leeds by 18
Wakefield v Castleford
Terry: Castleford by 12
Barrie: Castleford by 12
