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 IAN MILLWARD COLUMN
Picture Manly - can finally get off the mark.

EAGLES TO FINALLY SOAR

By Ian Millward

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BETTING BOX
FIXED ODDS
2.75 pts Castleford (-4) v Wakefield at 10/11 (Sky Bet). In great form and too hot for derby rivals.
2pts double Melbourne (-12) and Manly (-8) both 10/11 (general). Both can bounce back from disappointing defeats.

Huddersfield v Celtic (+18)

The Giants were very impressive last week and have been for a while. Liam Fulton is close to being ready to feature for them and he has played a lot with Brett Hodgson in the NRL and their combinations will be a real handful for sides.

They look really good at the moment with plenty of flair in the halves and they will be too good and too quick for the Crusaders. A home win is a banker and if they stay focused they should cover the start.

Castleford v Wakefield (+4)

The Tigers have been very good this season and have the ammunition to score points. I like the way they powered home having been down against Bradford and they are going really well right now.

Wakefield had an easy win against Leigh last week but this is their acid test. It will be tough for the Wildcats for all this will be a blood-and-thunder local derby. It has to be Tigers to win and cover. They are one of the better teams right now and could have too much for their opponents.

Bradford (+8) v Leeds

It's hard to know what to make of Bradford. They have capitulated in their last two games having looked all over the winners and now they face the champions.

Paul Deacon is out for the Bulls and he is a very good organiser but it provides Ben Jeffries with the chance to stamp his authority on the side. He has more speed than Deacon and that could be an influence against the Rhinos.

I was a bit disappointed by Leeds against St Helens last week, they were in the position to win the match but in the end went down to a better side. They don't normally suffer back-to-back defeats so expect something of a backlash here.

They can win this game and cover the start. When you are on a bad run, as the Bulls are, it is easy to get into a negative mind-set and get run down in matches even when you are leading for long spells.

Bradford lack a cutting edge out wide and Leeds can take advantage with Rob Burrow and Danny McGuire the key figures.

Storm v Panthers (+12)

Melbourne come off a shock loss at home last week, they don't usually lose in front of their own fans. Penrith won last week but their defence was still loose at times and Melbourne, good defensively themselves, can take advantage. They were complacent last week, it won't happen again, and with some of the best players in the game at their disposal, should cover the start.

Sea Eagles v West Tigers (+8)

Manly, the NRL and World Club champions, sit at the bottom of the table without a win all season but that should change here. With Brett Stewart back, a player who averages a try-a-game at home, they have more firepower and can win and cover in front of what is going to be a massive crowd.

  • Handicaps courtesy of Sky Bet.

  • Preview posted at 1205BST on 09/04/2009.

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