Warrington Wolves vs Leigh Leopards Prediction: Home comforts for Wire

Warrington are back at the Halliwell Jones Stadium on Saturday afternoon looking to respond to their first defeat of the season, and welcome a Leigh side bidding to build on their golden-point win over Toulouse. (Kick-off 15:00)

That was just the Leopards' second victory of the Betfred Super League campaign and they will need to raise the bar again to compete with the Wolves. Read on for my Warrington Wolves vs Leigh Leopards predictions.

Warrington Wolves vs Leigh Leopards Odds

Team News

Warrington's defeat at Leeds last week came at a cost, with in-form forward Kelepi Tanginoa ruled out through injury in one of two changes made this week by head coach Sam Burgess. We probably jinxed Tanginoa after his four-try Challenge Cup display by backing him in the anytime scorer market at AMT Headingley, as he instead limped off with a groin issue.

The Wolves also lost prop Luke Yates in Leeds but he is named in the initial 21-man squad.

There is a recall for James Bentley, with the former Leeds forward yet to properly launch his Wire career but in line to make his Super League debut for the club.

Young forward Max Wood drops out having gone to play for Oldham in the Championship on a short-term loan, with Ewan Smith coming into the squad in the second change.

There is still no place for Marc Sneyd, with the half-back having lost his place in the side to youngster Ewan Irwin who continues to impress despite a few tough moments against the Rhinos.

As for Leigh, boss Adrian Lam has not yet had anything like his first-choice squad available. This week sees doubts over Tesi Niu, Keenan Brand and Jack Hughes. All three are named in the initial squad but I'd be amazed if they all play. First-choice forwards Owen Trout and Joe Ofahengaue were named last week but did not play. You would expect them to feature this week.

Young centre Will Brough, the son of former Scotland international Danny, could make his Super League debut at centre depending on the injuries to Niu and Brand.

Handicap 3-way Warrington Wolves -10 @ 11/10

We backed Warrington with the handicap at Leeds, which turned out to be a shrewd pick given the Rhinos' narrow victory which handed the Wolves their first loss of the campaign, while taking Toulouse with the start at 1/1 also proved the play in Leigh's thrilling golden-point win.

So what will this week bring, as Warrington bid to bounce back from a loss for the first time this year and Leigh have the rare feeling of seeking back-to-back victories?

I've been at every Wire game so far this year and there is definitely a different feel around the Halliwell Jones. The squad looks strong, but crucially the team looks far more composed on the field - perhaps the influence of Steve McNamara who has joined the coaching staff this term. The key move in the halves has been fascinating, with the brilliant Sneyd now sidelined by rising star Irwin who is clearly being tipped for big things at Wire.

Even the absence of young full-back Cai Taylor-Wray hasn't really been felt, because of the form there of winger Josh Thewlis.

These games are usually pretty fierce but I have Warrington to bounce back with a win. The key to these games at home is to get the crowd involved early and keep them interested, and that is what the Wolves have been doing.

The handicap is 10 points which feels about right and I would fancy the home side to beat that. Leigh need bodies back - if Trout and Ofahengaue play then that gives them a much bigger chance, but they remain short in the outside backs.

Last year's meetings between these two teams both went Leigh's way - by 22 and 4 points respectively, with the Wolves gaining revenge in the Cup with a 21-14 semi-final win.

Warrington have looked very good at home this year though and I expect that to continue.

Josh Smith anytime tryscorer @ 1/1

Warrington now have real strike across their outside backs, with England winger Matty Ashton hitting the ground running after his lengthy ACL injury lay-off, Thewlis excelling at full-back and Josh Smith proving himself a regular try scorer.

Smith has four tries in his last three games, Ashton scored a hat-trick on his injury return in the Betfred Challenge Cup and Thewlis has five in his last four. The injury to Taylor-Wray has actually coincided with Ashton's own return from injury which has allowed Thewlis just to switch from wing to full-back to accommodate Ashton.

That has left Warrington with a very dangerous axis and real strike on both sides of the pitch and I would confidently back any of the above in the anytime market this week. Ashton is just 1/2 for an anytime try, Thewlis 10/11 and Smith at 1/1 which is just about enough to get my nod.

For Leigh I am looking at Josh Charnley and Innes Senior, both 6/5.

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