Wigan Warriors vs Bradford Bulls Prediction: 5/1 bet backs struggling Warriors to return to form

After four defeats in their last five Betfred Super League games, seven-time champion Wigan Warriors are desperate to get back on track when they welcome injury-hit Bradford Bulls to the Brick Community Stadium (15:00 BST, BBC iPlayer).

The Bulls were barely able to field a side last week as they lost a fourth match in a row, so there is a lot at stake for both teams in this one. Read on for my Wigan Warriors vs Bradford Bulls predictions, match odds from Betfred, and all the latest team news.

Wigan Warriors vs Bradford Bulls Odds

The Warriors are huge favourites at 1/20, with Bradford out at 9/1.

The draw is a 25/1 shot, with Wigan giving up 27.5 points on the two-way handicap.

Team News

Wigan suffered a big blow this week with the loss of England winger Liam Marshall for a significant period. Marshall suffered a hamstring tear in last week's defeat at Warrington and is expected to miss 12 weeks.

Young centre Dayon Sambou will be out for a similar period with a knee injury, while fellow centre Adam Keighran has been playing out of position at half-back to cover for another injured senior player in Harry Smith. There is still no Bevan French.

The Warriors bring in a couple of youngsters this week - the versatile Josh Cartwright and half-back George Marsden.

Bradford were only able to name a 19-man squad ahead of last week's 48-12 home defeat by Hull KR, and many of those were academy players. There is a full contingent of 21 this week but it remains significantly under strength,

In the absence of any recognised half-backs, Bulls head coach Kurt Haggerty has moved this week to bring in Ben McNamara on a short-term loan from Leigh. Ben's father Steve played himself for the Bulls, of course.

Hooker Andy Ackers returns to the side, as does Guy Armitage. There is no veteran prop Jack Ormondroyd though - he was included last week even though unfit - with Harvey Ward also dropping out.

Still absent are first-choice halves Jayden Nikorima and Rowan Milnes, Joe Keyes, Joe Mellor, Esan Marsters, Waqa Blake, forwards Eribe Doro, Ryan Sutton and Dan Russell, Luke Hooley and new signing Phoenix Steinwede.

Rugby League Odds

Wigan by 16-20 @ 5/1

Two heavyweights of the British game meet in Wigan but both are badly out of form and significantly weakened by injuries. Bradford's lengthy casualty list exposes the threadbare nature of their squad, while although Wigan are in better shape their injuries are to very key men.

At anywhere near full strength you would back Wigan to win this game without even reading this column. And despite the peculiarly off-colour Wigan that we have seen slump to sixth in the table, it still feels inconceivable that they will lose again. Especially at home to an injury-ravaged Bulls who are on a four-game losing streak of their own.

I feel this may be a tough watch given the lack of form on either side and the absence of the likes of Marshall, French, Nikorima and Blake. But I am struggling to back Bradford having watched them concede 18 tries in their last two games. And even having seen how much the Warriors are underperforming, this just feels like a really good game to get Wigan back on track against a side so low on bodies.

The handicap is 28, which, given how both sides have been going, I am probably going to stay away from. These sides met in March for the first time in 12 years, with Wigan easing through in the Betfred Challenge Cup that day with a 30-6 win. Home fans will hope for something similar.

My instinct is a decent Wigan win, and if they rediscover their fluency then the handicap is coverable. I'm going to aim a little lower in the margins though given Wigan have only managed three tries in their last two games. Which probably means we will see a spectacular return to form.

Liam Farrell Anytime Tryscorer @ 7/4

A bit of a punt for my second selection this week given Wigan have been struggling for tries and are without two of their most potent men in French and Marshall, as well as their chief creator in Harry Smith.

The main threats are our regular pick Field (2/5) and prolific young winger Zach Eckersley (2/5).

Veteran England forward Liam Farrell has already occupied a few different positions this season and may be again used as a centre in the absence of anyone else.

So 7/4 for a Wigan centre is actually a great price, even given their recent scoring problems. There is an incentive too - Farrell is just one try short of 150 in a Wigan shirt, so this could be the day for that milestone.

Find more Rugby League Betting Tips here at Betfred Insights