Kick-off: 1800, 09/10/2021
Stadium: Old Trafford
TV: Sky Sports
Catalans may struggle to add Grand Final glory to this year’s League Leaders Shield success when facing St Helens at Old Trafford.
Saints are chasing a hat-trick of victories in the season finale and were simply outstanding in their semi-final triumph over Leeds.
Their relentless approach both with and without the ball makes the holders hard to oppose at the Theatre of Dreams.
We like 13/8 for the favourites to win by 1-12 points for our first Super League Grand Final prediction.
A Look At Catalans Dragons’ Betting Odds
Catalans won 19 of their 23 regular-season matches, notably coming from 30-12 behind to beat Saints 31-30 at last month’s Magic Weekend in Newcastle.
The Dragons did finish off by losing to Huddersfield and Wigan, though, and were far from convincing when beating Hull KR 28-10 in the play-offs.
Getting Man of Steel hero Sam Tomkins back from injury will be a major boost and his brother Joel is hoping for support from neutral spectators.
“The atmosphere for our semi-final was one of the best I’ve ever played in, including finals,” said the forward, one of five ex-Wigan players in the Catalans squad. “It was outstanding what the fans did.
“Logistically, it’s going to be difficult for them to travel in the same numbers this week, so I’m really hoping that maybe the neutrals – the Wigan fans and the other fans in Super League – might get behind us at Old Trafford.”
Goalkicking stand-off James Maloney is another key figure for Steve McNamara’s team, but they can’t afford to make as many ball-handling errors as they did versus the Robins.
Looking at the Super League Grand Final odds, we like 17/20 for the first scoring play to be a try to Saints.
A Look At St Helens’ Betting Odds
While Catalans will be competing in their maiden Grand Final, St Helens have made it this far for a record 13th time, plus they have already lifted the Challenge Cup this term.
The manner of last week’s 36-8 demolition of Leeds was a real statement of intent, with the Rhinos battered into submission on both sides of the ball.
Saints will come up against a more powerful pack on Saturday, but it is their professionalism and superior work-rate up front which can lay the platform for another success.
Full-back Lachlan Coote featured in a convincing victory over Salford at this venue in 2019 and last year’s dramatic 8-4 defeat of Wigan at Hull’s empty KCOM Stadium.
He will move on after this match and declared: “It would be unreal to go back to Old Trafford and finish on a high there. I’m grateful to be part of this special group.
“Last year didn’t really feel like a Grand Final but I’m sure this year it’s going to be back to the old ways.”
One wager worth adding to our Super League Grand Final betting tips is 2/1 for a drop goal to be scored.
Tommy Makinson slotted one over in the 23-6 win over Salford two years ago and famously hit the woodwork with an attempt last term, when Jack Welsby pounced on the rebound to score the deciding try.
Additional stats
Semi-final results:
CATALANS 28-10 Hull KR
ST HELENS 36-8 Leeds
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