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2018 Super League – Widnes Vikings vs Leeds Rhinos Preview

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AT A GLANCE

When? Sunday 25th February 15:00

Where? The Select Security Stadium

What channel is it on? Widnes Vikings vs Leeds Rhinos will not be televised live

Where can I stream the match? N/A

Are tickets still available? https://ticketing.shopvikings....

THE STATISTICS

THE LOWDOWN

WIDNES VIKINGS

Head Coach: Denis Betts

Squad: S. Albert, W. Albert, Cahill, Chamberlain, J. Chapelhow, T. Chapelhow, Craven, Dean, Gilmore, Hanbury, Heremaia, Inu, Leuluai, Marsh, Mellor, Olbison, D. Walker, Whitley, Wilde

Unavailable: Patrick Ah Van, Charly Runciman, Lloyd White, Alex Gerrard, Ryan Ince, Greg Burke, Chris Houston, Brad Walker

  • Widnes fell to defeat to local rivals Warrington in their last outing, going down 10 points to 18.
  • Denis Betts has made four changes to his 19-man squad with Stanton Albert, Wellington Albert, Ted Chapelhow and Ed Chamberlain coming in. Olly Ashall-Bott, Greg Burke and Brad Walker drop out whilst Chris Houston will serve the first game of a two-match ban.
  • Widnes have won four of the last five Super League meetings between the two sides and will look to extend that run here.

LEEDS RHINOS

Head Coach: Brian McDermott

Squad: Ablett, Briscoe, Delaney, Dwyer, Garbutt, Golding, Hall, Handley Jones-Buchanan, Keinhorst, Moon, Myler, Oledzki, Ormondroyd, Parcell, Singleton, Sutcliffe, Walters, Watkins

Unavailable: Keith Galloway, Brett Ferres, Anthony Mullally, Nathaniel Peteru, Jack Walker, Adam Cuthbertson, Stevie Ward

  • Leeds were unsuccessful in their quest to claim the World Club Challenge as they were heavily defeated 38-4 by Melbourne Storm in Australia.
  • That defeat came at a heavy cost for Leeds with them picking up several injuries. Stevie Ward and Adam Cuthbertson will miss up to eight weeks each whilst Jack Walker also picked up a knock.
  • Leeds have won their last six Super League contests but travel to a ground that they haven’t won on since 2015.

KEY STATS

  • Widnes Vikings have won 4 of the last 5 Super League meetings between the two sides
  • Leeds Rhinos have won their last 6 Super League matches
  • There has been a total of 331 points scored in the last 6 Super League meetings between the two sides at an average of 55.2 per game
  • There has been a total of 61 tries scored in the last 6 Super League meetings between the two sides at an average of 10.2 per game
  • Widnes Vikings' Corey Thompson has scored 7 tries in his last 4 Super League meetings between the two sides
  • Leeds Rhinos' Kallum Watkins has scored 11 tries in his last 9 Super League meetings between the two sides

THE PREDICTION

Widnes haven’t been able to build on their empathic win on the opening weekend of the season but now face a Leeds side that they have had the better of in recent years. The Rhinos have not won at Widnes since 2015 and their quest to stop that run has been hit by some big injuries following their World Club Challenge clash in Australia. Those injuries might prove pivotal as Widnes can yet again get the better of Leeds in this one.

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