Super League has a break this week as the Challenge Cup takes centre stage.
Last season’s top eight in Super League enter in the last 16 and the draw did not disappoint with 12-time winners St Helens handed a daunting trip to Castleford.
We have studied the odds and in our Challenge Cup accumulator tips, a £5 stake will return around £118 if all five recommended bets come in.
Featherstone to beat Halifax @ 7/20
This tie may not stand out as much as those featuring Super League clubs but it promises to be an exciting clash between two of the Championship’s leading sides. Featherstone came out on top when the teams met on the opening weekend of the season and are well placed for another shot at promotion. Halifax have won their last seven matches and sit only two points behind second-placed Rovers in the Championship but home advantage will see Featherstone through.
Hull KR to score first at Salford @ 7/5
Rovers have quickly recovered from their heartbreaking relegation at the hands of Salford, averaging 40 points a game to top the second tier. The Red Devils were seconds away from the drop but they have proved they belong in Super League this year. Salford should have enough to progress but Rovers will start fast as they aim to avenge their Million Pound Game agony.
Hull to overcome 10-point deficit against Catalans @ 91/100
Holders Hull begin their defence in good form having won their last four Super League games. They beat Catalans on their way to Wembley last year and although the Dragons won at the KCOM Stadium in February, they will have no answer to the Black and Whites on this occasion.
St Helens to cover 12-point start at Castleford @ 91/100
The Tigers have been unstoppable on home soil this year, averaging 50 points in winning six out of six in Super League. St Helens beat Castleford at home on Easter Monday but have only won once on the road this season. It is hard to look past the Tigers for a quarter-final place but Saints will get closer than any side to visit the Jungle so far in 2017.
Warrington to overcome 8.5-point first-half handicap against Widnes @ evens
The Wolves will be out to go one step further after Danny Houghton’s terrific tackle denied Ben Currie a winning try in last year’s final. Widnes will be grateful for the distraction after recording only two wins in their 13 Super League games. But Warrington ran 40 points in against Saints last time out and they will pick up where they left off to heap more misery on the Vikings.
