Wigan Warriors vs Leigh Leopards Predictions: Dupree 11/2 to score for dominant champs

All-conquering Wigan Warriors look to cement their status as the team to beat again in the Betfred Super League on Friday when they host local rivals Leigh Leopards in the ‘Battle of the Borough’ (kick-off 20:00 BST, live on Sky Sports Arena).

Indifferent Leigh have seen an impressive win at Catalans Dragons sandwiched in between losses at Leeds Rhinos and Hull KR. An intense derby offers up the ultimate chance to make a statement. Here are my Wigan Warriors vs Leigh Leopards predictions.

Wigan Warriors vs Leigh Leopards Odds

The Warriors are Super League and World Club champions, as well as Challenge Cup and League Leaders' Shield holders, so there's absolute no surprise that they are heavy 1/4 favourites for this one. Adrian Lam's Leigh are 16/5 to cause a shock at the Brick, with the draw priced at 18/1.

Team News

Wigan return from the international break in good nick, with this the first of two local derbies in as many weekends ahead of the upcoming St Helens showdown.

A double boost sees try-scoring prop Tyler Dupree return from suspension, and goal-kicking centre Adam Keighran also available after his ban. The men to drop out of the squad are hooker Kruise Leeming and Jacob Douglas.

Leeming will miss half of the rest of the season with an ankle injury picked up in the recent win over London Broncos. Coach Matt Peet’s other concern this week was around centre Jake Wardle, who missed England’s win in France but has been given the green light to play this weekend.

Star full-back Jai Field remains a long-term absentee, with Peet confirming he expects the Australian to be out for another month as he recovers from a hamstring tear.

His absence has seen Bevan French revert to full-back, with youngster Jack Farrimond and Ryan Hampshire both getting a chance in the halves.

All four of Wigan’s England internationals have been named this weekend.

Rugby League Odds

Leigh name arguably their strongest squad of the year, as key forward John Asiata returns.

With Robbie Mulhern also having returned to the pack, along with hooker Edwin Ipape and Tom Amone, the Leopards are starting to look much more like the side who have been so formidable since their return to the top flight.

Handicap 3-way: Wigan Warriors -12  @ 1/1

Looking at Leigh’s squad, this could be really tasty. Wigan are without doubt the team to beat again this season and the table remains deeply unpleasant reading for Leopards fans with their side lying down in ninth. They are a better team than that however, and we should see a big upturn now all their key players are back in the mix.

That said, this is certainly not a fixture that I expect Wigan to lose. Having had four players on England duty while everyone else had a fortnight between games, may give Leigh a little incentive, but I still expect a Wigan win in a fierce contest.

I was looking at Wigan by over 18 points on the handicap at 19/10 until Leigh’s squad was announced, and that Leopards group can keep it closer than that. But I don’t think they can win here. Leigh haven’t won at Wigan since 1983 – it is 13 straight Warriors wins in this fixture in fact, and that is a run we will see continue here.

Wigan won 40-12 at Leigh earlier this year. This should be closer than that and I am going to play it slightly cautiously and go for Wigan -12 on the handicap.

Tyler Dupree anytime tryscorer @ 11/2

A slightly less cautious selection this one, with Liam Marshall, Abbas Miski and Jake Wardle Wigan’s most likely try scorers, and Josh Charnley the man who Leigh tend to send over the line most.

Dupree is one of my favoured selections this year as a value try-scoring prop who tends to thrive in physical games like this with his quick feet and soft hands.

Having served a three-match ban he will be fresh – although there of course might be the chance he doesn’t even get straight back in the team yet. I think he will though, and I like the look of him to have a chance or two near the line to crash over. The 11/2 odds imply a 15.4% chance he'll come through.

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