Hull KR vs Wigan Warriors Prediction: 21/10 bet on champs to edge leaders

The game of the round in the Betfred Super League takes place at Sewell Group Craven Park on Friday as the leaders Hull KR host the champions Wigan Warriors with the Robins looking to go five points clear at the top of the table. (kick-off 20:00 BST, Sky Sports Action).

Rovers have dominated the first six rounds with a 100-per-cent record, but Wigan will come knocking with a point or two to prove after surprise early defeats to Leigh Leopards and Leeds Rhinos. Below are my Hull KR vs Wigan Warriors predictions, with all the latest team news and full match odds from title sponsors Betfred.

Hull KR vs Wigan Warriors Odds

There's only the slightest glimmer between these two sides in the markets, with Rovers available at 20/21 for the win in 80 minutes and Wigan 10/11 to pick up the two points.

The draw in normal time is a narrow 16/1, with the handicap options also not giving up much either way. The Robins have just a 0.5-point advantage in the regular two-way market, and the 10/11 against Rovers' name and 5/6 about Wigan are also not far removed from the match-winner stakes.

Team News

The big bit of team news for the home side is the absence of Steve Prescott Man of Steel award winner Mikey Lewis. The England half-back suffered a groin issue in last week's Hull derby in the Betfred Challenge Cup, with Jez Litten excelling in his place.

Arthur Mourgue could also come into the halves having been cup-tied last weekend, with Danny Richardson perhaps a safer option after also being named in the 21-man squad.

Forward James Batchelor returns to the squad after a hamstring injury that kept him out of the derby, while Lee Kershaw has gone on loan to Castleford Tigers and sees his place go to Noah Booth. Bill Leyland, who has been loaned to Huddersfield Giants for a fortnight, is the man to drop out of the squad to accommodate the return of Mourgue.

Rugby League Odds

Wigan had already been knocked out of the Challenge Cup by Hull FC so come into this game with the extra freshness of a two-week break.

Abbas Miski is named in the squad but his fitness remains uncertain due to a problematic knee injury that has sidelined the winger since round three.

Miski takes the place of prop Luke Thompson, who is absent this week. Still out are Ethan Havard (hamstring) and Adam Keighran (MCL). Hooker Brad O'Neill is included having made his return from injury in round five against Salford Red Devils.

Wigan Warriors 1-12 points @ 21/10

This should be a brilliant game to watch and is a very difficult one to call. Hull KR are the team to beat right now, make no mistake about that. But can they beat the champions without Mikey Lewis? Jez Litten was terrific in the derby win last week but, with all due respect to Hull FC, Wigan will be a tougher nut to crack.

The handicap odds also suggest this is a toss of a coin in the first game between the two sides since October's Grand Final, won 9-2 by Wigan.

I have this game as being tight and low-scoring too, and the absence of Lewis makes me side with the Warriors to come away with a vital win. Do I say that with much confidence? How can you confidently back against a team who hasn't lost a match yet this year?

Wigan won three of the four meetings between the teams last year, with Rovers winning the home Super League fixture 26-10.

This is a watertight, resilient Hull KR team that Willie Peters has put together and I can't wait to see how Wigan boss Matty Peet goes about unlocking it.

It's such a tough one to call but I am trusting my gut in backing a narrow Wigan win at an implied probability of 32.3%.

Jai Field anytime tryscorer @ 15/8

I've been on Jai Field all season in the anytime tryscorer market and it has never let me down. The Warriors full-back is level with Mikey Lewis on seven tries at the top of the charts and has the chance to move clear in this one.

Betfred are offering Super League Double Delight in this one, so if Field - or any other selection - scores the first try of the match and then goes on to score another, we will double your first tryscorer price.

But I am going with Field in the anytime market as I believe the stardust of Field and Bevan French could be the difference in the absence of Lewis.

You can read all our latest Rugby League Betting Tips at our dedicated Betfred Insights Rugby League content hub.