Warrington Wolves vs Wakefield Trinity Prediction: Back Cai for a try in Wire’s second win

Warrington Wolves can make it two wins from two at the start of the new Betfred Super League season on Saturday when they welcome a Wakefield Trinity side who recorded their first win last week at Huddersfield. (17:30 GMT, BBC Two and Sky Sports+).
Trinity boss Daryl Powell will always feel he has a point to prove when returning to the Halliwell Jones Stadium, so this could prove a spicy encounter. Below are my Warrington Wolves vs Wakefield Trinity predictions, full team news and Betfred's match odds.
Warrington Wolves vs Wakefield Trinity Betting Tips
*odds correct at time of publication
Team News
Hull KR's victorious appearance in the World Club Challenge last Thursday meant a blank weekend for Warrington, who have now had a fortnight off since their opening-round win over St Helens.
And head coach Sam Burgess is likely to field a consistent side this week, making just one change to the initial 21-man squad as Ewan Smith comes in to replace Luke Thomas.
What that means is that the wait continues for a frustrated Matty Ashton. The England wing suffered a nightmare ACL injury last season but had a great pre-season of rehabilitation and was in line to feature against Saints in that Round 1 win. Burgess opted to be cautious with Ashton and delay his return - I spoke to the player after that and he was really frustrated not to be involved but completely understood the need for patience.
Ashton is still not included this week but I'm told that is down to a sickness that has stopped him training, rather than any injury, and we will see him before too long. So Warrington should line up pretty much the same as they did in Round 1.
As for Trinity, former Wolves boss Powell makes three changes to the squad who scraped to their first win of the season last week at Huddersfield. All three are positive moves, with the return of Jayden Myers, Jordan Williams and Caius Faatili. There is no Mason Lino though, the half-back picked up a hamstring injury last week, while two-try Lachlan Walmsley is also missing along with Tray Lolesio.
Warrington Wolves vs Wakefield Trinity Odds
The Wire are big favourites here, with Betfred posting them at 3/10, implying a 76.9% probability of them coming out on top. Wakey are 11/4, with the draw a 18/1 bet.
Warrington are giving up 10.5 points on the standard two-way handicap, lengthening their price to 20/21. Wakey are 5/6 to make the most of the head start.
Handicap 3-way Alternative 2: Warrington -14 @ 11/8
I was very impressed by Warrington in Round 1 and they will feel the benefits of having had last week off. They dominated St Helens and even when Saints threatened a second-half fightback it was snuffed out, which is a good sign for a Wire side that has always been capable of folding under pressure.
But what I liked most was the atmosphere around the Halliwell Jones Stadium. There was a sell-out crowd for the first time in over half a century and a feeling that, with Steve McNamara in the coaching setup now alongside Burgess, this team could actually do something this year.
Trinity on the other hand just about did enough to win at Huddersfield but were well off the pace in their surprise Round 1 defeat to Toulouse. I say surprise - readers of this column will know we fancied the French side to start the season well, and the Betfred Super League new boys are already two wins from two!
Wakefield won this fixture 30-16 last year, and thumped the Wolves at home too, 40-10. That was a surprise double and not one I think will be repeated. I am on Warrington in this one to maintain their encouraging start.
Odds correct at time of publishing.
Warrington -4.5 & Cai Taylor-Wray to Score a Try @ 13/8
The star man of Warrington's season-opening win over Saints was livewire young full-back Cai Taylor-Wray.
The 20-year-old scored a stunning try and was a menace throughout. He has since signed up with a leading NRL agent, underlining the feeling that Wire's number one can be a star of the future.
I'm backing the youngster to star again this week. He is 1/1 to score a try any time, but for a bit more value I am combining that with a home victory too.
For Wakefield, my selections very much depend on who is selected in the outside backs. We backed Lachlan Walmsley last week and he crossed twice, but he is not involved this week.
I would be looking instead therefore at Myers if he is fit to start. He was really impressive last season and is a 7/4 chance to cross for a try in this one, with Oliver Pratt (6/4) my other fancy.
Odds correct at time of publishing.
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